Indianapolis Colts vs Buffalo Bills: Keys to the Game

The Indianapolis Colts are in Buffalo today to open the season against the Bills. This is Rex Ryan’s first game a head coach of the Bills that is returning a top-5 defense from last season. Could this be a trap game for Indy?

The Indianapolis Colts enter Buffalo with high expectations. They are considered Super Bowl contenders and open the season against a Buffalo Bills team that has been tagged as a darkhorse in the AFC East. This game will be a chess match of strengths versus weaknesses. The outcome will be based upon the variables for both teams. It will be strength vs strength.

–= Related: Colts Game-by-Game Predictions =–

The Colts had the 3rd ranked offense in 2014 while the Bills defense was ranked 4th. This game will come down to the variables. Those variables are the players who can either excel in their matchups and execute or fail to execute and give up pivotal plays. Let’s identify the variables whose performance could make or break the game.

Variables on the Buffalo Bills

Ronald Darby:

Defensively, their secondary does not have the weapons at cornerback coming into week one. Stephon Gilmore will likely shadow T.Y. Hilton all over the field.

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This leaves rookie from Florida State, CB Ronald Darby left to cover Andre Johnson.

Leodis McKelvin

is not playing so its rookie versus All-Pro.The Bills said they are comfortable with running a single safety and press coverage high against the numerous weapons on the Colts offense. We will see today whether Rex knows something the rest of the league, or if this is just bravado.

Tyrod Taylor:

On offense, the question mark for the Bills is starting quarterback, Tyrod Taylor. Can he live up to the hype and make the right decisions to lead his team to the playoffs? He is a dual-threat quarterback who can easily extend plays with his legs. in the past, the Colts have struggled against mobile quarterbacks. Can Taylor capitalize on that and lead his team to the win? Taylor is entering his fifth season but is limited in game-time experience having played as a backup in Baltimore before coming to Buffalo.

LeSean McCoy:

Typically, Shady McCoy is not considered a variable but he is coming off of a hamstring injury and has admitted he will not be 100% for this game. If McCoy can get 20-25 touches without re-aggravating his hamstring, he can relieve the pressure off Taylor. If he is unable to play a meaningful number of snaps, Taylor will be forced to make more plays on his own. With limited experience, Taylor will need McCoy to remain on the field to keep the Colts defense off-balanced against the Bills read-option plays. If McCoy cannot go Karlos Williams will replace him.

Variables on the Colts

Jack Mewhort:

It is the matchup of their front seven against a Colts offensive line that is widely considered the weakness of their offense. Second-year starter Jack Mewhort is starting at right tackle and will have his hands full protecting against Hughes and Williams. Expect Colts tight end Dwayne Allen to be kept in-line for a majority of snaps early to help Mewhort against the pass rush.

Rookie Defensive Tackles:

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For the first time ever the Colts will be starting two rookies on their defensive line. Rookies

David Parry

and

Henry Anderson

will start alongside veteran

Kendall Langford

. Parry and

Anderson

were teammates in Stanford and work well in tandem with their previous years of chemistry. However, this is their first NFL game and at this level the game is much tougher. For a rookie, this can be a difficult transition. For two rookies, should they both struggle, it could be very problematic for the defense.

Darius Butler:

D-Buts is a great slot defender, but he will slide outside today will Greg Toler continues to heal from a neck strain. If Vontae Davis shadows Sammy Watkins, this will leave Butler against Robert Woods. Butler will need to maintain press coverage on Woods to disrupt the quarterback’s timing. If he does not maintain tight coverage, Woods could become a big-play threat with his shiftiness in space.

Final Thoughts

The matchups in the trenches will determine the outcome of this game. If the Colts can protect Luck and open holes for Frank Gore, then the Colts will be able to control the tempo. If the pocket is clean for Luck he will have time to throw surgical strikes all over the field. Gore and Luck’s play-action alone could become a force as long as the offensive line steps up and executes against the Bills.

Buffalo’s defensive line that is one of the best in the league. Defensive tackle, Marcell Dareus will not play today while he serves out a one-game suspension. Despite his absence, the Indianapolis Colts offensive line will be facing Mario Williams, Kyle Williams, Ex-Colt Jerry Hughes, and Dareus’ replacement Corbin Bryant. The Colts will have to identify and execute their protections at the line to keep Luck and Gore clean.

Both, Anderson and Parry, are more than capable of getting into the backfield and disrupting the run game. Facing a mobile quarterback, both can create the interior pressure necessary to hurry the quarterback, but it is unlikely they will be able to catch Taylor once flushed out of the pocket. The Colts will have to work as a team to set the edge and maintain the edge and contain both Taylor and McCoy allowing the interior linemen to make the play.

The Colts have not won a road opener since 2006. Let’s see if they can step up in what will be a raucous Ralph Wilson stadium and take home the win. Looking at these matchups it could be a blowout or a close finish. You can tune-in to the Colts at the Bills live on CBS at 1:00 pm EST. Be sure to check back for more Colts coverage following the game at InkonIndy.com

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