Green Bay (7-2) at Indianapolis (6-3)
This game is a BIG UNKNOWN for me. Indy is favored, and a lot of experts are picking them.
Even this article pointed to something I didn’t know, or had forgotten... Packers not winning in Indy.
But, it is a game I have no read... I sort of like GB. It just goes against everything you see.
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LINK TO ARTICLE
Green Bay (7-2) at Indianapolis (6-3)
4:25 p.m. ET (Fox)
I don't usually pick games based solely on where they're being played, but I have to do that here because
the Packers have NEVER won in Indianapolis. There are only two cities where the Packers have never won a game, and somehow, Indy is one of them. As someone who grew up 90 minutes away from Indianapolis, I know exactly why this is happening: These quaint midwestern cities suck you in with politeness and good manners and then when you least expect it, they spit you out. The irony here is I'm pretty sure that also describes Philip Rivers, who was clearly built to live in the midwest: He's overly polite and he has nine kids.
As fun as that Rivers clip was, I don't think this game is going to come down to him. I think it's going to come down to how well Aaron Rodgers plays against Indy's defense, and spoiler alert, I don't think he's going to play well.
The Colts have actually been one of the best pass defenses in the NFL this year. For one, they've held opposing quarterbacks to a QB rating of just 78.9, which is the best in the NFL this year (To put that in perspective, Dwayne Haskins has a QB rating around that level, so the Colts basically make every quarterback look like Dwayne Haskins). Also, the Colts have given up the second-fewest passing yards in the NFL this year. Since they're so good against the pass, you might think you can run on them, but that's not the case, either. Indy is surrendering just 91.8 yards per game on the ground, which is the third-best number in the NFL.
Guys, I'm being sucked in by Indy's folksy charm and I think I'm going to have to pick them. I really hope they don't spit me out.
The pick: Colts 23-20 over Packers
sports.nbcsports.com
