1
00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:09,800
Speaker 1: What's up everyone? Welcome into another episode of the Two

2
00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:13,920
Speaker 1: Minute Drill podcast presented by Nerd Wallet. I'm JJ Stankobitz,

3
00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:17,560
Speaker 1: joined today by my man Casey Valier, talking a little

4
00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:21,360
Speaker 1: last minute updates of Week fifteen. A big game, massive

5
00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:24,320
Speaker 1: massive the Colts against the Denver Broncos. Case the Colts

6
00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:27,480
Speaker 1: playoff odds with a win or at sixty six percent.

7
00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:29,479
Speaker 1: With a loss, they dropped to nine percent. I can't

8
00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:31,159
Speaker 1: think of a game in Week fifteen that's had like

9
00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:35,360
Speaker 1: these implications when there are still three more games to

10
00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:36,360
Speaker 1: play after this one.

11
00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:37,760
Speaker 2: That's one thing that we were kind of talking about

12
00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:40,240
Speaker 2: this week is it's late in the season, but it's

13
00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:43,360
Speaker 2: still early when you think about what the playoff odds

14
00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:47,040
Speaker 2: really are. And yeah, I mean, ultimately, the winner of

15
00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:49,159
Speaker 2: this game more than likely is going to be a

16
00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:49,800
Speaker 2: playoff team.

17
00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:51,599
Speaker 1: I mean, I know, I think that's probably fair.

18
00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:53,520
Speaker 2: It's probably fair to say, and it's wild to think

19
00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:55,440
Speaker 2: that after this game there's still three more games for

20
00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:57,160
Speaker 2: both teams. So that is it is kind of a

21
00:00:57,200 --> 00:00:59,280
Speaker 2: wild thing to think you're this late in the season

22
00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:02,040
Speaker 2: but you're still that early in the playoff push. Yeah,

23
00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:03,800
Speaker 2: I mean, it's a crazy predicament Denver.

24
00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:06,040
Speaker 1: After they play the Colts, they got a gauntlet is

25
00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:08,440
Speaker 1: they got at the Chargers on Thursday Night football, So

26
00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:11,319
Speaker 1: that's four days after this game, they go to the Bengals,

27
00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:13,400
Speaker 1: who I know they're five and eight, but they you know,

28
00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:16,480
Speaker 1: they got a top five offense. Joe Burrow, Jamar Chase, Yeah,

29
00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:18,399
Speaker 1: look right, yeah, I mean they can beat anyone on

30
00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:20,600
Speaker 1: any night. Their defense might be Swiss cheese, but like

31
00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:24,399
Speaker 1: they're a good, dangerous football team. Then you end the

32
00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:26,200
Speaker 1: season with the Kansas City Chiefs, who may or may

33
00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:28,960
Speaker 1: not have something to play for in that game. The Colts, meanwhile,

34
00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:32,000
Speaker 1: they face teams that have double digit losses down the stretch.

35
00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:35,679
Speaker 1: I think that's why these odds swings so significantly. Taking

36
00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:37,920
Speaker 1: into account, the Broncos still would have a one game

37
00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:40,520
Speaker 1: lead on the Colts, right, but if the Colts win

38
00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:41,800
Speaker 1: this game, all they have to do is tie the

39
00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:45,280
Speaker 1: Broncos record, and with their remaining schedule home against the Titans,

40
00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:47,360
Speaker 1: on the road against the Giants, home against the Jags,

41
00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:49,800
Speaker 1: you feel pretty good about those odds.

42
00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:52,560
Speaker 2: And all three of those teams have been mathematically eliminated

43
00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:55,080
Speaker 2: from playoff contention, So that is when you look at

44
00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:57,000
Speaker 2: you know, strength of schedule. The rest of the way,

45
00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:59,600
Speaker 2: you definitely favor that Colt schedule. So that's why in

46
00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:02,360
Speaker 2: this game is just massive, Like you can beat around

47
00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:04,040
Speaker 2: the bush and say, oh well, there's still a road

48
00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:06,760
Speaker 2: or a path you can find. The easiest way to

49
00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:08,359
Speaker 2: do it is to get a victory on Sunday.

50
00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:10,040
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean. And the other thing too is if

51
00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:12,800
Speaker 1: the Texans lose to the Dolphins, they don't have an

52
00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:14,359
Speaker 1: easy schedule down the stretching, I'd.

53
00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:16,280
Speaker 2: Get real questionable there in the AFC South. For sure.

54
00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:18,800
Speaker 1: They go to Kansas City on December twenty first, and

55
00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:21,480
Speaker 1: then they host the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas four days later,

56
00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:23,720
Speaker 1: and then they end the season at Tennessee. And I

57
00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:25,640
Speaker 1: know Tennessee is kind of limping to the finish, but

58
00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:29,360
Speaker 1: that's a Titans team that ended the jag season last year. Absolutely,

59
00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:32,520
Speaker 1: so you know that that is a you would much

60
00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:35,160
Speaker 1: rather get those divisional opponents at home, like the Colts

61
00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:37,840
Speaker 1: have right on the road, because as we've seen, you

62
00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:39,639
Speaker 1: go on the road in Week eighteen against a team

63
00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:42,440
Speaker 1: you think you should beat that's in your division, sometimes

64
00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:43,240
Speaker 1: it doesn't go your way.

65
00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:44,560
Speaker 2: It's kind of crazy when you look at the way

66
00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:46,839
Speaker 2: the schedule has worked out, because early on we talked

67
00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:49,800
Speaker 2: about Man all of these road you had that gauntlet

68
00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:51,920
Speaker 2: where it was you were on the road for essentially

69
00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:54,200
Speaker 2: the entire month of October and it was all your

70
00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:56,480
Speaker 2: road divisional games. And now you kind of look at

71
00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:58,239
Speaker 2: the end of the season, it's like, kind of nice

72
00:02:58,240 --> 00:02:59,760
Speaker 2: to have that late by, even though we were all

73
00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:02,280
Speaker 2: talking about Man such a late bye, late bye some

74
00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:04,680
Speaker 2: home games to close. Not a bad way to kind

75
00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:05,680
Speaker 2: of wrap things up, for sure.

76
00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:07,359
Speaker 1: But it all comes down to this game in Denver.

77
00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:09,760
Speaker 1: If the Colts lose this game, like you mentioned, case,

78
00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:12,400
Speaker 1: there is a path, but it is not one that

79
00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:16,160
Speaker 1: you want to follow that it's very complicated. It's one

80
00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:18,480
Speaker 1: that you know we'll get there if we have to

81
00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:20,799
Speaker 1: get there, right. But let's hope the Colts can win

82
00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:22,560
Speaker 1: this game, and let's talk about some guys who might

83
00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:26,200
Speaker 1: be back for this game, starting with Josh Downs. Shane

84
00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,639
Speaker 1: Stikeen would not say on Friday, as we're recording this,

85
00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:30,800
Speaker 1: he wouldn't totally commit to Downs playing, but he said

86
00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:31,880
Speaker 1: he looks good.

87
00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:32,280
Speaker 2: Yep.

88
00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:36,120
Speaker 1: Downs was a full participant in practice on Thursday. Due

89
00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:39,640
Speaker 1: to the shoulder injury that kept him out of Week thirteen.

90
00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:42,920
Speaker 1: If the Colts do get Josh Downs back case, that's

91
00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:47,080
Speaker 1: Anthony Richardson's favorite target right going into this game against.

92
00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:48,560
Speaker 2: It without a doubt. I mean, Josh Downs, he just

93
00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:52,160
Speaker 2: he does so many things that you don't realize until

94
00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:54,800
Speaker 2: he's out and then you're like, that's where we miss him.

95
00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:56,440
Speaker 2: You miss him there, you miss him there. So that

96
00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:58,480
Speaker 2: is one of the things that getting Josh Downs you

97
00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:02,000
Speaker 2: talk about a security blanket. It's so key, especially because

98
00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:05,120
Speaker 2: we have seen kind of the development since Anthony Richardson

99
00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:07,520
Speaker 2: was reinserted back into the lineup of you know, kind

100
00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:10,120
Speaker 2: of hitting those layups if you will, and Josh Downs

101
00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:12,360
Speaker 2: is probably the king of the layups because her like

102
00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:14,680
Speaker 2: I always love third down, third and you know third

103
00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:17,760
Speaker 2: and manageable. Where is Josh Downs Because he's probably gonna

104
00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:19,159
Speaker 2: be the guy it's gonna be a git to that

105
00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:20,839
Speaker 2: first down and those are what are gonna be so

106
00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:24,080
Speaker 2: key in this game because we've talked about it all year.

107
00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:26,799
Speaker 2: Time of possession and all of that. So being able

108
00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:29,960
Speaker 2: to sustain drives offensively and Josh Downs does that better

109
00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:30,920
Speaker 2: than anybody else on this team.

110
00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:33,560
Speaker 1: I think I think he just kind of unlocks the

111
00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:36,120
Speaker 1: entire passing game for the Colts as well, because you

112
00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:40,640
Speaker 1: think about how Alec Pearson, Michael Pittman Junior, your primary

113
00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:43,600
Speaker 1: outside guy's kind of playoff downs, Yeah, where Downs is

114
00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:45,800
Speaker 1: the guy who can he can separate against man coverage

115
00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:47,599
Speaker 1: if you try to do that in the slot against him,

116
00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:50,240
Speaker 1: or he he knows exactly how to find space within

117
00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:53,920
Speaker 1: his zone out of the slot. Having said that, Aleck

118
00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,920
Speaker 1: then becomes your your downfield threat and your guy can

119
00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:59,080
Speaker 1: maybe win on kind of like a deep over route

120
00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:00,719
Speaker 1: where he can just kind of u his speed to

121
00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:03,520
Speaker 1: separate from a corner. Pitts the guy who's a sort

122
00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,039
Speaker 1: of your slasher, yeah, where you know, if he gets

123
00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:08,440
Speaker 1: a quarter yard a separation on a slant or a dig,

124
00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:10,839
Speaker 1: he can make a play. But it all kind of

125
00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:13,400
Speaker 1: comes together because of Josh Downs. And I think that,

126
00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:15,599
Speaker 1: you know, as we look back on that Patriots game

127
00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:17,880
Speaker 1: that maybe it was a little bit uneven at times

128
00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:21,080
Speaker 1: with the passing game. Having Downs in there and kind

129
00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:23,880
Speaker 1: of pushing everyone into a different role in terms of

130
00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:27,000
Speaker 1: the pass catching pecking order. I think is so valuable

131
00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:29,560
Speaker 1: going against a Broncos team that's gonna play a ton

132
00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:31,640
Speaker 1: of man coverage. You got Pats or Tan out there,

133
00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:35,359
Speaker 1: whoever he's covering, he's going to take him away. And

134
00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:38,000
Speaker 1: that's no selec to whoever, whether it's Alec, whether it's

135
00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:40,719
Speaker 1: ok whether it's Ady Mitchell. That is because for my money,

136
00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:42,920
Speaker 1: Pats or Tan's the best corner in the NFL. He's

137
00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:45,039
Speaker 1: gonna take him away. But if you have Josh Downs

138
00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:46,719
Speaker 1: out there, all of a sudden, okay, you got some

139
00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:48,400
Speaker 1: more options out there. And I think it just brings

140
00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:48,919
Speaker 1: it all together.

141
00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:52,279
Speaker 2: And I mean we mentioned it earlier, the late bye.

142
00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:54,640
Speaker 2: It kind of gave him a couple of weeks and

143
00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,000
Speaker 2: we've talked about how important this game. It's kind of

144
00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:58,880
Speaker 2: nice that you were able to get the victory against

145
00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:01,320
Speaker 2: New England. He had two additional weeks. When we talked

146
00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:02,680
Speaker 2: to him in the locker room this week, he said

147
00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:05,120
Speaker 2: that the week against the Patriots was kind of his

148
00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:07,080
Speaker 2: by spy, which he can't really do much. So he

149
00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:09,600
Speaker 2: kind of ramped things up last week. And you know,

150
00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:12,960
Speaker 2: we talked to him on Wednesday Thursday and he said

151
00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,080
Speaker 2: he should be good to go. So he thinks he's

152
00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:16,599
Speaker 2: a little more confident than what we were able to

153
00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:19,520
Speaker 2: hear from, you know, on Friday, But ultimately that's one

154
00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:22,120
Speaker 2: of the things that you've gotten two weeks of Josh

155
00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:25,400
Speaker 2: Down's healing up, and you just unleash him because he

156
00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:26,760
Speaker 2: is so vital to this offense.

157
00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:29,680
Speaker 1: Yeah, check the Friday injury report when that comes out.

158
00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:32,520
Speaker 1: We're recording this before the final injury report comes out,

159
00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:34,919
Speaker 1: but that'll be out usually about four o'clock on Friday,

160
00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:36,200
Speaker 1: so you can check to see if he is a

161
00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:38,839
Speaker 1: questionable designation or if he doesn't have a designation that

162
00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:41,160
Speaker 1: means he is good to go. Or let's talk about

163
00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:43,360
Speaker 1: two guys who are on injured reserve but return to

164
00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:46,200
Speaker 1: practice this week. That would be center Ryan Kelly and

165
00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:50,440
Speaker 1: linebacker Jalen Carlis case on those two guys, Kelly was

166
00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:54,200
Speaker 1: limited on Wednesday and Thursday. Carlives was full. Yes, so

167
00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:59,799
Speaker 1: maybe a little more question if Kelly's gonna play versus

168
00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:02,400
Speaker 1: car Lives. Tanner Borderlini was also full. It looks like

169
00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:04,920
Speaker 1: he's gonna be good to go. So if Kelly can't play,

170
00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:08,920
Speaker 1: you would have Bordolini in there. But if Ryan Kelly plays,

171
00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:11,920
Speaker 1: I think this would be huge because you're going into

172
00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:15,200
Speaker 1: the most hostile atmosphere you're going into all season in Denver,

173
00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:17,640
Speaker 1: you get a December game. I was just talking to

174
00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:21,560
Speaker 1: Eric Dealala, the Broncos team reporter, and he said, in Denver,

175
00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:23,960
Speaker 1: they're talking about this is the biggest Broncos game since

176
00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:24,880
Speaker 1: Super Bowl fifty.

177
00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:25,600
Speaker 2: Wow.

178
00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:28,000
Speaker 1: Okay, because of the implications of it, because Denver hasn't

179
00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:31,040
Speaker 1: been to the playoffs since y yeah, and so you

180
00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:34,320
Speaker 1: know that atmosphere in Denver is going to be electric,

181
00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:37,880
Speaker 1: it's gonna be loud, it's gonna be tough. And having

182
00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:40,320
Speaker 1: a veteran center, especially against a team that loves the

183
00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:42,680
Speaker 1: blitz right in the Denver Broncos, I think having a

184
00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:46,000
Speaker 1: veteran back there would really behoove this offense. Now, having

185
00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:48,760
Speaker 1: said that, if Ryan Kelly isn't ready to play, you

186
00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:50,240
Speaker 1: can't just say, all right, hey man, you got to

187
00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:52,680
Speaker 1: get out there, Like, if he's not ready, he can't play.

188
00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:55,720
Speaker 1: But if there's a shot that you can get Ryan

189
00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:57,440
Speaker 1: Kelly back for this week, I just I think that's

190
00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:00,440
Speaker 1: so important for what you can do in terms of

191
00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:03,680
Speaker 1: diagnosing what Denver's doing, keeping a cool head against that

192
00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:05,720
Speaker 1: Vance Joseph defense in that kind of environment.

193
00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:07,600
Speaker 2: Absolutely, I mean that is one of the things that

194
00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:12,640
Speaker 2: you don't realize what all a sinner does in some

195
00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:15,120
Speaker 2: like you know, the average football fan maybe, but he

196
00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:18,920
Speaker 2: is so vital to when you talk about diagnosing a defense,

197
00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:21,800
Speaker 2: keeping everybody kind of on that, you know, right, I mean,

198
00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:24,400
Speaker 2: he's the leader of that line, right. Ryan Kelly has

199
00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:26,480
Speaker 2: done such a wonderful job for so long. I mean,

200
00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:29,720
Speaker 2: that's a reason why when you constantly see the Colts

201
00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:31,880
Speaker 2: offensive line to start, Ryan Kelly has just been a

202
00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:34,520
Speaker 2: staple and he has been such a good player for

203
00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:37,720
Speaker 2: this Colts team. And he will help Anthony Richardson in

204
00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:40,520
Speaker 2: that kind of scenario because I mean, when you talk

205
00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:44,000
Speaker 2: about the depth or the veterans on this team, it

206
00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:47,080
Speaker 2: really isn't that veteran Leyden team, you know, And and

207
00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:49,160
Speaker 2: Ryan Kelly brings that. This is a guy who has

208
00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:51,920
Speaker 2: played in playoff games, He's played in these types of environments,

209
00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:54,640
Speaker 2: so that definitely will help in that. And you talk

210
00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:56,840
Speaker 2: about this this Broncos thing, one of the things I

211
00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:59,920
Speaker 2: didn't didn't realize until this week is that they have

212
00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:05,320
Speaker 2: at a sellout at home every week since nineteen seventy. Yeah,

213
00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:08,280
Speaker 2: so you talk about a big game, they're already coming

214
00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:10,880
Speaker 2: when it's not you know, these biggest games. So you

215
00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:13,160
Speaker 2: put all this playoffs, you're out in the NFL, and

216
00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:15,640
Speaker 2: they still show up. So yeah, yeah, yeah it's gonna

217
00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:17,920
Speaker 2: be it's gonna be a raucous environment. If people have

218
00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:20,080
Speaker 2: talked about the altitude, all of that's gonna play into it.

219
00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:22,199
Speaker 2: But if you can get Ryan Kelly back, I mean,

220
00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:23,520
Speaker 2: he's just one of those guys that you just to

221
00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:25,880
Speaker 2: feel very very calm about what that offensive line is

222
00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:27,360
Speaker 2: gonna do because it is gonna keep everybody right there

223
00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:27,920
Speaker 2: where they should be.

224
00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:30,199
Speaker 1: Having said that, Tendor Borderline's having a really good seals

225
00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:32,199
Speaker 1: He's been great, Yes, So like I don't want to

226
00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:34,760
Speaker 1: diminish what he can do from a you know, a

227
00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:37,679
Speaker 1: physical standpoint in there. From a mental standpoint, he is

228
00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:40,520
Speaker 1: playing really good football. But I again, I just I

229
00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:42,240
Speaker 1: lean toward give me the guy who's the longest ten

230
00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:44,240
Speaker 1: year member of the Colts, if he can play at

231
00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:46,080
Speaker 1: center making a big impact in this game.

232
00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:48,640
Speaker 2: No, exactly, not a not a stab at Borderline at

233
00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:50,480
Speaker 2: all or same with I mean, you gotta tip your

234
00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:51,880
Speaker 2: cat started a great game.

235
00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:55,440
Speaker 1: Yeah, like relative to expectations, Man Dandy Pinter had a

236
00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:56,000
Speaker 1: awesome game.

237
00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:59,000
Speaker 2: Against I mean you have, it's been very impressive what

238
00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:02,240
Speaker 2: this this whole staff. Give them a massive pat on

239
00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:04,360
Speaker 2: the back for what they've done with this offensive line

240
00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:08,400
Speaker 2: because it's been kind of a revolving door all season long,

241
00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:10,520
Speaker 2: and you really haven't missed a beat they have put

242
00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:13,080
Speaker 2: in guy, I mean Mackinsoalvez has played so well as

243
00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:13,440
Speaker 2: a rookie.

244
00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:16,679
Speaker 1: Tanner Ward probably he's gonna go on Sunday as well. Right,

245
00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:18,320
Speaker 1: Brandon Smith's out, YEP.

246
00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:20,880
Speaker 2: It has been impressive to see what this rookie group

247
00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:24,480
Speaker 2: has done because they have come in for big shoes

248
00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:25,760
Speaker 2: to fill, and they've done.

249
00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:28,640
Speaker 1: A really good job at linebacker with Jail and Carlies.

250
00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:31,280
Speaker 1: I'm curious if he comes back, if he's gonna start,

251
00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:33,160
Speaker 1: or he's gonna be kind of that you know, you're

252
00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:35,760
Speaker 1: kind of third linebacker, or if it's still gonna be

253
00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:38,400
Speaker 1: Grant Stewart. I think Stewart's played pretty good football. Yeah,

254
00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:41,000
Speaker 1: he's been especially against the run, he's been really solid.

255
00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:43,720
Speaker 1: So something to keep an eye on there as we

256
00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:46,360
Speaker 1: go forward. And then the other guy who is out

257
00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:48,360
Speaker 1: for this game is wide receiver Ashton Duel and we

258
00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:51,160
Speaker 1: mentioned Braden Smith will not play. No, Ashton Dulan. You

259
00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:53,280
Speaker 1: lose a you know, kind of a core special teamer there,

260
00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:56,680
Speaker 1: and a guy who provides good depth a wide receiver.

261
00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:59,680
Speaker 1: But you know, for the most part, though, Cayse the

262
00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:02,040
Speaker 1: Colts getting healthy there as the season has gone on,

263
00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:04,160
Speaker 1: and that that is not something you can take for

264
00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:06,160
Speaker 1: granted at this point in the NFL calendar.

265
00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:07,720
Speaker 2: No, not at all. I mean, if you think about

266
00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:10,040
Speaker 2: the guys that have been hurt throughout the year, you know,

267
00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:12,200
Speaker 2: you got a guy like Taekwon Lewis back a couple

268
00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:14,920
Speaker 2: of weeks ago. You had DeForest Buckner who was on

269
00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:17,440
Speaker 2: IR at one point he has been back, and ultimately

270
00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:19,440
Speaker 2: since all of that has happened, it's really been a

271
00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:22,080
Speaker 2: healthy bunch. So that's where I've kind of looked at

272
00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:24,200
Speaker 2: this bye week as a bit of a blessing where

273
00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:27,800
Speaker 2: you anticipate, you know, you want the bye week earlier

274
00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:30,000
Speaker 2: just because you know, you want to make sure you're

275
00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:31,880
Speaker 2: you're rested up and gear it up for all these

276
00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:34,680
Speaker 2: but ultimately where it came, it's kind of been best

277
00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:38,160
Speaker 2: case scenario because you mentioned the health, you have been healthy,

278
00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:40,200
Speaker 2: so this is more of a week to you know,

279
00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:43,120
Speaker 2: really rest up and you got that you know, final

280
00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:46,240
Speaker 2: four game, a final four push to really just hone

281
00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:48,600
Speaker 2: in on everything you need to do and you're already healthy.

282
00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:50,840
Speaker 2: So it's been a very big positive for this team.

283
00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:52,800
Speaker 2: And I mean if you're able to get you know,

284
00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:55,680
Speaker 2: we mentioned it there with Ryan Kelly and and Jalen Carlis,

285
00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:58,680
Speaker 2: because Carlis also gives you another special teams guy that's

286
00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:01,320
Speaker 2: had you know, like a good amount of run early

287
00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:03,679
Speaker 2: in his career. So that's one thing that it's going

288
00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:06,000
Speaker 2: to be very beneficial for this team starting to get

289
00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:08,280
Speaker 2: really back to that full depth of what you saw

290
00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:09,040
Speaker 2: at the beginning of the year.

291
00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:11,559
Speaker 1: There are only two guys on the Broncos injury report,

292
00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:15,000
Speaker 1: safety Brandon Jones, but then cornerback Rilly Moss. I want

293
00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:17,360
Speaker 1: to talk about him here because he's had a really

294
00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:20,719
Speaker 1: solid season, but you felt him not being on the

295
00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:23,720
Speaker 1: field against the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football. He's

296
00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:29,000
Speaker 1: the other outside corner opposite Patrick Certan, and Cleveland went

297
00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:31,800
Speaker 1: after Levi Wallace in that game. It looks like if

298
00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:34,440
Speaker 1: Riley Moss can't play, Chris Abrams drained the rookie from

299
00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:38,600
Speaker 1: the Zoo is going to play on the outside that's

300
00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:41,760
Speaker 1: a spot though that if Riley Moss ultimately does not play,

301
00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:45,160
Speaker 1: whoever you got lined up against that other cornerback to me,

302
00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:46,760
Speaker 1: that's a matchup the Colts are going to try to

303
00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:48,200
Speaker 1: exploit right from the start of this game.

304
00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:50,360
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's one thing that when you dive into the numbers,

305
00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:52,480
Speaker 2: you look at the Broncos overall, and they've been a

306
00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:54,880
Speaker 2: really really good defense, really good, but then you look

307
00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:57,360
Speaker 2: at what happened against a three and ten Browns team

308
00:12:57,400 --> 00:12:59,880
Speaker 2: that's kind of been in flux. I mean offensively, it's

309
00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:02,560
Speaker 2: a you know, one week they look good, the next

310
00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:04,719
Speaker 2: day don't, which is kind of the jamis Winston ef

311
00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:09,360
Speaker 2: you're getting seen, But man, that was that was a

312
00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:12,240
Speaker 2: complete explorer delivered me from pick six. I mean, what

313
00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:14,000
Speaker 2: a quote, but I mean yeah, I mean he throws

314
00:13:14,040 --> 00:13:16,680
Speaker 2: for almost five hundred yards and you have a couple

315
00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:18,400
Speaker 2: of pick sixes and you lose a game. But it

316
00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:22,160
Speaker 2: is wild because you kind of, I don't know necessarily

317
00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:24,400
Speaker 2: if you can, you know, follow that same game plan

318
00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:27,160
Speaker 2: because you know, the Broncos know what happened as well,

319
00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:29,680
Speaker 2: But I think it might give you an idea on

320
00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:34,240
Speaker 2: ways to attack a defense that throughout the entire season

321
00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:36,480
Speaker 2: had been a really good one. So that is what

322
00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:38,880
Speaker 2: I take the most from that that last outing against

323
00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:42,360
Speaker 2: the against the Browns was it's given you an area

324
00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:45,040
Speaker 2: where you can attack, and especially if Roddy Moss can't go.

325
00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:47,080
Speaker 2: I mean, Levi Wallace has been a pretty good corner

326
00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:50,120
Speaker 2: in this league for a long time. But clearly you

327
00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:53,160
Speaker 2: know that that you know, Age sometimes is undefeated, and

328
00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:55,960
Speaker 2: that's maybe we're getting close to that spot where you

329
00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,000
Speaker 2: know he maybe has lost a step here or there.

330
00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:00,520
Speaker 2: I don't know much about Chris Abrams Drain. I remember

331
00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:02,559
Speaker 2: his name being mentioned in the draft par he.

332
00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:04,439
Speaker 1: Was kind of the second guy to Ennis Reichstraw, who

333
00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:08,120
Speaker 1: was a second round pick the Lions. You know, but

334
00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:12,839
Speaker 1: a guy who is a good player but is untested,

335
00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:15,360
Speaker 1: you know, like a guy who you're gonna try to

336
00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:17,959
Speaker 1: if if he's out there on the field, he's the

337
00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:19,920
Speaker 1: guy you're gonna go at. You're not going at Patrick's

338
00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:22,560
Speaker 1: ertel in this game. All right. One last thing here

339
00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:25,520
Speaker 1: case that I'm curious about, is like, what is the

340
00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:29,680
Speaker 1: blueprint for beating the Broncos, because lately the last two

341
00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:32,520
Speaker 1: losses Denver has had were to Kansas City, where you

342
00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:35,880
Speaker 1: just get Patrick Mahomes devil magic to win that game,

343
00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:38,480
Speaker 1: and then you get blown out by the Ravens on

344
00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:42,040
Speaker 1: the road where Lamar Jackson Derrek Henry kind of you know,

345
00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:43,720
Speaker 1: powered that. So you have two of the best players

346
00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:46,760
Speaker 1: of their position in the NFL. The one I'm looking

347
00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:49,280
Speaker 1: at here is in Week six, the Los Angeles Chargers

348
00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:52,680
Speaker 1: beat the Broncos twenty three to sixteen, and it you know,

349
00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:54,960
Speaker 1: you look at it, and okay, Justin Herbert was twenty

350
00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:57,680
Speaker 1: one to thirty four for two thirty seven. Yeah, he

351
00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:01,520
Speaker 1: was Okay. The ground, they averaged three point four yards

352
00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:04,320
Speaker 1: per carry, but La ran it thirty eight times. Yeah,

353
00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:07,600
Speaker 1: in this game, JK Dobbins in ninety six yards on

354
00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:09,840
Speaker 1: twenty five carries, and they just said, we're gonna run

355
00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:11,880
Speaker 1: it at you, and that's what we're gonna do. I

356
00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:14,200
Speaker 1: wonder if this is going to be kind of a

357
00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:16,640
Speaker 1: similar type game plan for the Colts offense. Hey, we're

358
00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:18,520
Speaker 1: just we're gonna run it, and we're gonna run it,

359
00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:20,840
Speaker 1: and we're gonna run it. Now, the Colts defense has

360
00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:22,920
Speaker 1: not been as good as the Chargers defense this year,

361
00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:24,840
Speaker 1: so you might have a bit of a different game script.

362
00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:27,960
Speaker 1: But I think looking at this, LA did get a

363
00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:30,200
Speaker 1: little bit of success running the football in this game.

364
00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:32,600
Speaker 1: Can that be something the Colts go back and look

365
00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:34,400
Speaker 1: at and say, Okay, let's try to pull some stuff

366
00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:36,640
Speaker 1: from this game and apply it in Week fifteen.

367
00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:38,800
Speaker 2: That's kind of what I think. There's there's a part

368
00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:41,560
Speaker 2: of me that we've all been waiting for that dynamic

369
00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:45,520
Speaker 2: backfield of Taylor and Richardson, and I mean, you know,

370
00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:47,840
Speaker 2: by all accounts last the last time out the Colts,

371
00:15:47,920 --> 00:15:50,600
Speaker 2: you know, maybe their yards per carry wasn't where it

372
00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:53,520
Speaker 2: should have been, but they definitely utilized the run a

373
00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:55,480
Speaker 2: lot more in that game against the Patriots. So I'm

374
00:15:55,520 --> 00:15:58,040
Speaker 2: assuming you're gonna see more of that. I think Josh

375
00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:01,360
Speaker 2: Downs adds a different pack to the offense, allowing you

376
00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:03,320
Speaker 2: to do a little bit more of both of those.

377
00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:05,760
Speaker 2: But I would agree with you, I think the running game, Yes,

378
00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:09,040
Speaker 2: this Denver's rush defense has been very, very stingy, and

379
00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:11,160
Speaker 2: they're they're they're pretty good. But I do think that's

380
00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:14,479
Speaker 2: an area this Colts team's gonna have to highlight because ultimately,

381
00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:16,120
Speaker 2: you know, we could talk about this guy, that guy,

382
00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:17,760
Speaker 2: Jonathan Taylor is one of your best players on this

383
00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:21,200
Speaker 2: football team. Yep, he's in. These are big moments. You

384
00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:24,240
Speaker 2: want your best players playing their best in these big moments.

385
00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:27,120
Speaker 2: So I think Jonathan Taylor offensively is gonna have to

386
00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:28,880
Speaker 2: be a guy that helps guide you to a victory.

387
00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:31,480
Speaker 1: Absolutely great points to their case. There you go, all right,

388
00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:33,720
Speaker 1: that's gonna do it for us here on this episode

389
00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:36,280
Speaker 1: of the two minut Drill Podcast presented by Nerd Wallet.

390
00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:38,760
Speaker 1: We'll be back next week before the Colts face the

391
00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:41,520
Speaker 1: Tennessee Titans. Thanks for listening. I'll be back with Bill

392
00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:45,760
Speaker 1: Brooks late Sunday night early Monday morning for a breakdown

393
00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:48,360
Speaker 1: of the Colts and Broncos on instant reaction for my man,

394
00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:51,280
Speaker 1: Casey Valley, Amjjes Tankobitz. Thanks for listening to this episode

395
00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:53,800
Speaker 1: of the two minut Drill Podcast presented by Nerd Wallett.

396
00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:54,880
Speaker 1: Talk to you next week. So long,