The Indianapolis Colts (7-5) are hitting the road for a Week 14 bout against the Cincinnati Bengals (6-6) on Sunday at Paycor Stadium.
In what will have heavy implications for the AFC playoff picture, this game is expected to be a battle down to the wire. Both teams will be trotting out backup quarterbacks in the form of Gardner Minshew and Jake Browning.
The Colts are riding a four-game winning streak for the first time since 2018 and have won five of six games on the road this season. Meanwhile, the Bengals are coming off a big road win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, their first victory since Jake Browning took over as the starter for the injured Joe Burrow.
Here are some key matchups to watch in this Week 14 game between the Colts and Bengals:
Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase vs. Colts secondary
This is the matchup that could make or break the game for the Colts. Chase is among the elites at wide receiver and despite the injuries to Joe Burrow this season, the third-year wideout continues to post Hall-of-Fame level production. Chase enters this week with 86 receptions for 1,063 yards and seven touchdowns. He’s coming off an 11-149-1 game against the Jaguars in Week 13.
The Colts may be getting rookie Julius Brents back in the mix after he returned to practice this week. But it’s going to be a tough task for the entire secondary to slow down one of the greats.
Colts RT Blake Freeland vs. Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson
The Colts will be once again without right tackle Braden Smith, who has dealt with several injuries this season. That means another start for rookie Blake Freeland at right tackle. Freeman has shown some flashes of potential, but he’s also struggled with consistency in pass protection.
That’s going to lead to a crucial matchup against one of the AFC’s most productive pass rushers. Hendrickson’s 11.5 sacks are tied for the sixth-most in the NFL while he’s tied for 11th with 17 quarterback hits and ninth with 12 tackles for loss. The Colts will have their hands full with this one.
Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. vs. Bengals secondary
There is no denying who the catalyst for the Colts offense is. Pittman is enjoying a career year on the final year of his rookie contract, and it’s likely the Colts are going to pay him. With at least eight receptions in five consecutive games and coming off consecutive 100-yard outings, Pittman will be the primary focus for the Bengals defense.
That means cornerbacks D.J. Turner II and Chidobe Awuzie will be primarily in coverage on Pittman. This is a matchup the Colts must exploit if they want to set the pace in this game. According to Pro Football Focus, Awuzie has allowed a 108.2 passer rating on 37 targets while Turner has allowed a 91.4 rating on 43 targets.
Colts DE Samson Ebukam vs. Bengals LT Orlando Brown Jr.
Ebukam has become one of the star signings from free agency in 2023. He currently leads the Colts with 8.0 sacks and is second on the team in quarterback hits (13) and tackles for loss (eight). He also ranks third-best in ESPN’s run-stop win rate (37%) among all edge defenders. Suffice it to say, Ebukam has been an impact player in both phases of the game.
Meanwhile, Brown has had his share of struggles in pass protection this season. According to Pro Football Focus, Brown’s 46 total pressures allowed are tied for the most among all NFL tackles. Ebukam’s impact will be massive in this game.
Bengals iOL vs. Colts DT Grover Stewart
One of the biggest storylines for the Colts this week is the return of defensive tackle Grover Stewart from a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s PED policy. His return comes at a much-needed time considering the Colts’ struggles in defending the run during his absence. During the first weeks of the season, the Colts allowed 113.5 rushing yards per game. In the next six weeks during Stewart’s suspension, they allowed 153 rushing yards per game and at least 125 in every game during that stretch.
The Bengals, meanwhile, have had success running the football in terms of win rate. According to ESPN, Cincinnati ranks 10th in run-block win rate this season, which makes this a vital matchup for both teams looking to control the line of scrimmage.
