Colts Heavy Underdogs On Road vs. Vikings

The Indianapolis Colts have a lot going on right now.

Not only have they lost two consecutive games to drop them to a record of 2-4, which prompted head coach Shane Steichen to say he's "looking at everything," but this week, they fired general manager Chris Ballard, who was in his 10th year on the job.

This Sunday, they face an undefeated Minnesota Vikings team that, despite being 5-0, still has plenty of room for improvement.

The Colts enter this game comfortably as underdogs, as FanDuel Sportsbook has listed the Vikings as 6.5-point favorites. A further indication that this game will play into Minnesota's hands is that the total point over/under is just 41.5 points.

Colts quarterback Daniel Jones is playing below the level he was in the early portion of last season. He's on pace for a career-worst mark in completion percentage (59.6%), and the second-worst touchdown rate (1.8%), interception rate (2.8%), passing yards per game (215.0), and passer rating (71.1). Jones currently has the second-most turnovers in the NFL (nine), and the Vikings' defense is tied for the second-most takeaways (10).

Led by the steady offensive line, running back Jonathan Taylor has been the best part of the Colts' offense, totaling over 120 yards from scrimmage in three out of six games (including 151 last week), and scoring seven touchdowns.

While the Vikings' run defense is performing well, ranking fifth in yards per game (86.6) and tied for 13th in yards per carry, they've been run against the least, seeing just 108 carries. Taylor and Seth McGowan may be the key to victory if the line is up to the task.

The Colts still struggle in the passing game to get route runners open with separation. Teams have been able to key in on top receiver Josh Downs, especially on third down, leaving Laquon Treadwell (31) and Keenan Allen (34) to create separation and get open.

Pro Bowl tight end Tyler Warren will miss his second straight game with a groin injury, adding to the challenges. As a blocker, Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree, and Pharaoh Brown will step in, while Will Mallory will primarily fill the pass-catching role of the tight end group.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Colts' base pass rush has been nearly nonexistent. In the last two weeks, opposing quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Cam Ward had been sacked a combined 22 times entering their games with the Colts. The Colts got a grand total of one sack and two other hits on those quarterbacks.

If you don't have a pass rush, then you better at least be solid in coverage, but the Colts will be without top cornerback Sauce Gardner, who left last week's game with a calf injury and is out again this week. He'll be replaced by Cam Taylor-Britt in the lineup.

The Colts' slot cornerback Justin Walley (knee) is also questionable. If he can't play, it'll likely be Kapena Gushiken in his spot.