INDIANAPOLIS – The Colts' lone home game over a 41-day stretch will come on Sunday afternoon.
When the Colts and Chiefs meet at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday it will be a rematch of a historic playoff victory back in the 2014 Wild Card.
What are the key ingredients to victory, presented by Papa Johns, when the Colts (3-4) take on the Chiefs (4-2) in Week Eight? 1. Protect The Rock
-A major reason why the Chiefs have won 14 of their last 16 regular seasons games is what they do defensively in taking away the football. The Chiefs' 10 interceptions are the most in the NFL. Andrew Luck has been very effective in protecting the football this season. That will be tested on Sunday.
2. Is Moncrief Back?
-Donte Moncrief has returned to practice this week. The Colts could have the services of their No. 2 receiver this weekend for the first time in six games. Moncrief's potential return comes at a critical time with a Kansas City defense having Marcus Peters, one of the NFL's best cornerbacks.
3. String 'Em Together
-The Colts are in search for their first winning steak this season. To put themselves back at the top of the AFC South, the Colts are going to have to start stringing them together. Over the next eight weeks the Colts are going to play six teams currently in the playoff picture.
4. Keep Luck Upright
-Watching Andrew Luck work the past two weeks, you see cleaner pockets. This is allowing Luck to sift through his progressions. Luck is having a really strong start to 2016 in the areas of improvement he needed to have---interception rate, completion percentage.
5. D-Line Depth Bolstered
-The Colts have Henry Anderson and Zach Kerr back to practice. Their return would aid a defensive line group that will see a committed ground game and a quarterback who gets the ball out very quick. Chiefs RB-Spencer Ware is averaging 5.2 yards per carry
6. Put Teams Away
-The last two weeks the Colts have had two-score leads on the road. In both games, they've had the ball with the chance to expand those leads. Yet those games still came down to the final minutes. It's time for the Colts to take advantage of those rare opportunities. Coming into Week Eight, the Colts are one of six NFL teams to have had every game this season within one score in the fourth quarter.
7. Continuity Up Front
-Jack Mewhort (tricep) returned to practice on Wednesday, but his status for Sunday is in question after he missed Thursday's session. If Mewhort is ready for Sunday, does that mean the Colts will go back to what many believe is the normal five for this team (Anthony Castonzo, LG-Jack Mewhort, C-Ryan Kelly, RG-Denzelle Good, RT-Joe Haeg)? That was the group the Colts used when everyone was healthy against the Bears and Texans.
