Reggie Wayne and the Colts will face the Vikings on Sunday in Indianapolis. (AP Images) |
Viking at Colt -- Week 2
Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Ind. (turf, indoors)
When: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (Fox)
Spread: Vikings by 1.5
Records: Vikings (Overall: 1-0, NFC North: 0-0); Colts (Overall: 0-1, AFC South: 0-0)
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Sept. 14, 2008: Colts 18, Vikings 15; Nov. 8, 2004: Colts 31, Vikings 28. Series record: Indianapolis/Baltimore Colts lead 15-7-1.
What matters: Basically, this season for the Colts is what it is. As trite as that sounds, it would be easy for Indianapolis to find positives in almost any outcome. A loss is just more experience for rookie quarterback Andrew Luck, but a win certainly puts the Colts back on track to compete in the AFC South. At this point, it's most important that they grow as a team and get better each week. They weren't able to do that last season.
Who matters: In Indy's season opener at Chicago, wide receiver Reggie Wayne was back to his old self. He had nine catches -- at least half of which were one-handed -- for 135 yards, and he showed the ability to find space against a solid secondary. With Austin Collie still questionable, Luck will certainly be looking in Wayne's direction again this week, just as he did against the Bears when he targeted the veteran 18 times.
Key matchups: Even though he may not be 100 percent, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson still poses a major challenge to a banged up Colts defense. With inside linebacker Pat Angerer out (foot), and outside linebacker Dwight Freeney questionable (ankle), Peterson could run wild. The Colts defense will also have to deal with wide receiver Percy Harvin. As a unit, the Colts did not defend the pass well last week in Chicago, as Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall lit them up.
Injuries of note: Collie (concussions) was said to be cleared by coach Chuck Pagano for the second straight week, but it looks as if Collie may again be trending towards not playing. Freeney has an ankle sprain, but the severity remains in question. There are some who believe that the veteran could be out several weeks, but he has not yet been officially ruled out for Sunday.
For the Vikings, it appears Peterson is at or near full strength.
Inside stuff: Rookie wide receiver T.Y. Hilton missed last week's game with a shoulder injury, but he is back at full strength. If he gets the ball in the open field, look out. His game is similar -- though nowhere near as developed -- as Harvin's.
Connections: The most obvious, of course, is Vikings coach Leslie Frazier, who coached under Tony Dungy from 2005-06. Colts quarterback Andrew Luck and Minnesota backup RB Toby Gerhart played together at Stanford, where Gerhart mentored Luck.
Stat you should know: The Colts are a perfect 9-0 against the Vikings at home.
Looking ahead: After Minnesota, the Colts will get a visit from Jacksonville in advance of their bye week. The schedule gets much harder the next week, starting with Green Bay at home before a trip to play the Jets.
Prediction: Colts 33, Vikings 21
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Colts blogger Evan Hilbert, follow @CBSColts.