SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

BY ADAM GREENE

In the preseason, both these teams were expected to be contenders. Hell, I predicted as much myself, but injuries and bad luck have once again cost the San Francisco 49ers. They try to get their season back on track as the host the Indianapolis Colts, a team that’s had its own injury issues with starting quarterback Carson Wentz on Sunday Night Football.

This game is, frankly, more important for the 49ers, who are desperately trying to keep pace with two of the best teams in the league in their own division, the Los Angeles Rams and undefeated Arizona Cardinals. Indy has a little more breathing room in the AFC South, but their margin of error is small. A couple more losses before the midway point of the season and they could be too far out of the playoff race to make up the ground.

This the 46^th meeting between the two teams as the Colts, while currently in the AFC, were an old NFL team before the AFL/NFL leagues merged in 1970. While they did share a conference, there weren’t any real meaningful games as the Niners were mostly terrible in the 60s and the Colts had a dynasty in Baltimore. Indy leads the all time series 26-19 and has won four straight going back to 2005. Their last meeting was in 2017, with the Colts taking a 26-23 victory in overtime.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (-4, O/U: 44)

Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.

Broadcast: NBC

Kickoff: Oct. 24, 8:20 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (2-4)

Last week the Colts took their turn delivering a beat down to the Houston Texans, 31-3. Carson Wentz was named the Pro Football Focus offensive player of the week, throwing for 223 yards and two touchdowns. Jonathan Taylor rushed 14 times for 145 yards and two scores. T.Y. Hilton, in his first action of the season, caught four passes for 80 yards. Indianapolis’ defense sacked Davis Mills twice, intercepted him twice and forced a fumble.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (2-3)

San Francisco is on the ropes. With seven available playoff spots in the NFC, four teams in that same conference are currently 5-1 and likely have four seeds sewn up barring something catastrophic. While it’s too early to talk elimination, the 49ers have lost three straight and face a difficult four game stretch, playing three 2020 playoff teams and the Cardinals over the next month. Those same Cards knocked off the Niners 17-10 a week ago in Trey Lance’s first start. Lance finished 15 of 29 for 192 yards and a pick. He rushed for 89 yards.

THE PICK

Jimmy Garoppolo is expected to be back for San Francisco, but he’s still banged up and the rest of the team isn’t all that healthy either. Indy is a tough draw, with Wentz on a recent tear having thrown 144 passes without a pick. He’s second only to the Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford in 40-plus yard completions. He’s getting healthier by the day and I think that’s what will doom San Fran here. Colts 24, 49ers 20

Last week

Straight up: 10-4

Against the spread: 10-4

Season

Straight up: 63-31

Against the spread: 50-44

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