New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts Matchup Preview (12/18/21): Betting Odds, Depth Charts, Live Stream (Watch Online)

New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts Matchup Preview (12/18/21)

Longtime rivals the New England Patriots (9-4) and Indianapolis Colts (7-6) matchup in week 15 at Lucas Oil Stadium.  The Patriots are coming off a bye won their last game, 14-10 in week 13 over the Bills.  New England had the fewest pass attempts (three) in a win by any team since week 3 of the 1974 season per NFL.com.  The Colts are coming off a bye won their last game, 31-0 in week 13 over the Texans; it was Indianapolis’s first road shutout since December 6, 1992, at New England.  Per NFL.com, New England became the first team to score at least 30 points per game and allow fewer than 10 points per game in the month of November since the 2000 Ravens who won Super Bowl XXXV.  Indianapolis has outscored their opponents 171-100 in their last five games having gone 4-1.  

New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts Betting Odds

The Colts are a 2.5-point home favorite over the Patriots.  New England is 9-4 against the spread in 2021; 6-0 on the road.  Indianapolis is 4-0-1 against the spread in their last five games after allowing less than 150 yards passing in their previous game; the Texans threw for 94 yards in week 13.  New England is 5-0 against the spread in their last five games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.

The Patriots are +750 to win Super Bowl LVI.  The Colts are a team that could be dangerous come playoff time, they’re +1000 to win the AFC this season.  

My Prediction: I’m taking the Patriots who are +2.5 to win 28-21, going over of 45.5 points. 

TV Schedule

Date: 12/18/21
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis, IN
TV Coverage: NFL Network

New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts Live Stream

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New England Patriots Analysis

In 2021, the Patriots are averaging 346.5 yards of total offense per game, while scoring 26.9 points per game.  

In blustery Orchard Park in week 13, Mac Jones truly was a “game manager.”  The outstanding rookie was 2-3 for 19 yards and an 84-quarterback rating in the victory over Buffalo.  He had one pass attempt in the first half, which was the fewest attempts by any team in a first half since at least 2000.  During the Patriots seven-game winning streak, Jones has thrown for 1,397 yards and nine touchdowns.  The 15^th overall pick in the 2021 draft has thrown for 2,869 yards, 16 touchdowns with a 70.3 completion percentage.  He has more than 20 completions in a game eight times in 2021.  The Alabama product has simply been fantastic and is -500 to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

The Patriots’ rushing attack is averaging 123.5 yards per game, ninth in the NFL.  Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels drew up a game plan to take the ball out of their young quarterback’s hands.  They decided to harken back to a bygone era and keep the ball on the ground due to the wintry weather in Buffalo.  New England rushed for 222 yards on 46 carries: 4.8 yards per attempt.  Damien Harris was the star of ground game vs. Buffalo.  He rushed for 111 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown.  His 64-yard score was the longest rushing touchdown by a Patriot since Curtis Martin’s 70-yard rushing touchdowns against the Bears on September 21, 1997.  Per NFL.com, Damien Harris has tied Tony Collins, Craig James, and John Stephens (seven) for the third-most games with 100 plus rushing yards among New England players in their first three seasons.  Harris has nine rushing touchdowns this season, most by a Patriots running back in a season since LeGarrette Blount scored a franchise-record 16 in 2016.  Harris is also leading New England is rushing with 754 yards; averaging 62.8 yards per game. 

Jakobi Meyers is the Patriots leader in receptions with 59, he has 620 yards and a touchdown.  Kendrick Bourne is the Patriots leading receiver in yardage with 623 yards, he has 42 receptions with five touchdown catches.  Nelson Agholor has been another receiver who has contributed to the Patriots passing game this season, catching 32 passes for 416 yards.  On the season he has three touchdowns, since 2020 he has 11 touchdown receptions.   

The New England defense is allowing 310 yards of total offense per game, ranking them third in the league.  They’re allowing 15.4 points per game this season, ranking them first in the NFL.    During their seven-game winning streak they are allowing 10.4 points per game.  

Matt Judon had a sack, three solo tackles, a tackle for loss and three quarterback hits in the victory over the Bills in week 13.  The free-agent signee from Baltimore is tied with Chandler Jones and Mike Vrabel for the most sacks by a Patriots player in a season since 2000 with 12.5 sacks.  He’s also the fourth New England player with at least 12 sacks in a season since 1982.

New England Patriots Depth Chart

QB: Mac Jones
RB1: Damien Harris
RB2: Rhamondre Stevenson
RB3: Brandon Bolden
WR1: Jakobi Meyers
WR2: Kendrick Bourne
WR3: Nelson Agholor
TE1: Hunter Henry

Indianapolis Colts Analysis

The Colts are averaging 368.1 yards of total offense per game, which is 11^th in the league.   They’re scoring 28.5 points per game ranking them third in the NFL.  

Quarterback Carson Wentz threw for 158 yards, one touchdown and completed 72.7% of his passes in the victory vs. the Texans in week 13. In his last five games, Wentz has thrown for 1,022 yards and eight touchdowns.  In his first season with Indianapolis, he has thrown for 2,948 yards, 22 touchdowns, five interceptions with a 63.3 completion percentage.  The former Philadelphia Eagle has had a passer rating in a game of at least 100 seven times this season.  After being sacked a league high 50 times last season, Wentz has been sacked 22 times in 2021.  He has one of the best offensive linemen in the league blocking for him in Quentin Nelson.   The sixth pick overall in the 2018 draft, Nelson has allowed one sack in his last 2,098 pass-blocking snaps per PFF.  Wentz’s health will be a huge factor as the season hurdles towards the playoffs.  When healthy he is one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the NFL.

Michael Pittman Jr. caught six passes for 77 yards in the win against Houston in week 13.  The second-year receiver from USC is leading the Colts in all receiving categories with 67 receptions for 882 yards and five touchdowns.  In 26 career games, he’s averaging 12.9 yards per reception.  Zach Pascal has started 12 games for Indianapolis this year, catching 35 passes for an average 9.9 yards per reception.  

Indianapolis rushing attack is averaging 151.7 yards per game which is second best in the NFL.  

In the win vs. Houston, Jonathan Taylor rushed for 143 yards on 32 carries and two touchdowns.  The Indianapolis running back is leading the league in rushing with 1,348 yards.  In the Colts last five games (4-1), he has rushed for 699 yards: 139.8 yards per game.  The second-round pick in the 2020 draft has rushed for at least 100 yards and one touchdown in seven games this season; tied for most in a season in Indianapolis history.  Taylor has scored 18 touchdowns this season (16 rushing and two receiving), tied for the second most touchdowns in a season in Colts’ history.  The former Wisconsin Badger is the fourth player in Colts history with at least 2,000 yards rushing in their first two seasons; he has 2,517 career rushing yards.  Currently, Jonathan Taylor is +2000 to win the 2021 NFL MVP.  

The Indianapolis defense is allowing 342.1 yards per game; ranking them 13^th in the league.  They’re allowing 21.9 points per game which is ninth in the NFL.  

Indianapolis Colts Depth Chart

QB: Carson Wentz
RB1: Jonathan Taylor
RB2: Nyheim Hines
WR1: Michael Pittman Jr.
WR2: T.Y. Hilton
WR3: Zach Pascal
TE1: Mo Alie-Cox
TE2: Jack Doyle

New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts Daily Fantasy Picks

New England tight end Hunter Henry is showing what he can do when healthy.  The free agent acquisition from the Chargers is a reliable and effective receiver.  He has been taking on the role Rob Gronkowski once served for the Patriots.  On the season he has 35 receptions for 394 yards: averaging 11.3 per reception.  His seven receiving touchdowns in 2021 are the most since his rookie season in 2016.  

Per NFL.com, Jonathan Taylor has at least 18 fantasy points in 10 straight games.  He has at least one rushing touchdown in 10 straight games.  In 28 career games, he has 30 touchdowns overall (27 rushing and three receiving).