Indianapolis was routed 30-14 at home by Kansas City last weekend. Green Bay suffered a tortuous 33-32 loss to Atlanta last Sunday.
Colts QB Andrew Luck was sacked 6 times last week and has been dropped 31 times on the year. It is hard to sustain drives when you are getting sacked so often and he is routinely hit even when he gets the ball off. The Packers have 19 sacks on the year and hope to have OLB Clay Matthews (check status) back from a hamstring injury for this game. Green Bay is missing their top 3 CBs but hope Quinten Rollins (groin) can return from a 3-game absence. Indianapolis WR T.Y. Hilton suffered a hamstring injury last week and is questionable for this game. TE Jack Doyle has really elevated his play this year (31-318-4) and is 2nd on the team in catches and yards and tied with Hilton with 4 receiving TDs. Luck spreads the ball around as evidenced by 9 different players with 11+ receptions. RB Frank Gore had only 9 carries last week as few teams abandon the run as quickly as the Colts. However, he has rushed for 532 yards (4.2 ypc) so Green Bay better not sleep on the run game.
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers had a big game against the Falcons despite missing WRs Randall Cobb and Ty Montgomery. Both players have also lined up in the backfield as RBs Eddie Lacy and James Starks are still MIA with injuries. Montgomery should be back while Cobb is questionable. WR Davante Adams has 25 catches over the past 2 games and leads the team in receptions and yardage. WR Jordy Nelson is having a good bounce-back year and both players should have several opportunities to make plays against a pass defense that yields 288 ypg. WRs Geronimo Allison and Trevor Davis each caught TD passes last week as Rodgers can seemingly make a star out of anyone. Rodgers ran for 60 yards last Sunday and is the best running threat on the team right now. Newly-acquired RB Knile Davis was cut on Monday leaving the backfield bare save for RB Don Jackson.
Public Money Consensus
In this NFL week 9 game between Indianapolis and Green Bay the public is leaning heavily to the Packers to cover the 7 point spread with 76% confidence. The over/under bettors are a little less decisive with only 64% thinking this game will go over the 52.5 point total.
