The Indianapolis Colts are set to take on the Baltimore Ravens in one of their toughest matchups of the 2020 NFL season. In order to come out on top, two main things must happen. Philip Rivers needs to play at a high level and the Colts need to contain Lamar Jackson.
Granted, the second part of the “must do” list is much more difficult. Jackson is the reigning NFL MVP and is going to be tough to stop. However, Rivers has to play a good game and that is something the Colts can control.
Rivers has had a solid start to his career with the Colts. He has had some rough plays here and there, but overall he has been good.
Through the first seven games of his tenure with the Colts, Rivers has completed 69.7 percent of his pass attempts for 1,860 yards, 10 touchdowns, and six interceptions. His turnover number has been a bit concerning, but he can turn that around.
At 38 years old, Rivers is in the final stage of his NFL career. Some believe he could retire after this season, while others believe he has another year or two left in him. Either way, this week is a chance for him to prove that he can still lead a team to serious contention.
With all of that being said, let’s dive in and take a look at what the Colts can expect from Rivers this week against the Ravens.
Baltimore has been known for their defense in recent years. This year, they rank No. 10 in the league in passing yards allowed per game with just 222.6. Against the run, the Ravens rank No. 7 in the league at 100.3 rushing yards allowed per game.
Obviously, their defense is still strong and will give the Colts a tough task. Rivers will need to take care of the ball first and foremost, while also making plays.
No one should be expecting Philip Rivers to come in and dominate the Ravens. He isn’t going to throw for 350 yards and four touchdowns. However, if he plays smart and takes what the defense gives him, he should end up with a solid all-around performance.
It would be reasonable to expect around 230 passing yards and two touchdowns. An interception has to be added in to this prediction. Rivers has made a few boneheaded plays throughout the season that have cost the Colts, and Indianapolis can only hope that his interception this week won’t cost them the game.
Expect this matchup to live up to the hype that it is receiving. Indianapolis is a legitimate contender in the AFC when Rivers is playing good football. No one should expect a monster performance, but the above prediction would be a solid game that would give the Colts a chance.
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