Colts (0-3) at Dolphins (1-2)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
TV: CBS
Tipico Sportsbook line: Dolphins by 2 ⁄2
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Colts’ keys to victory: Start with the health of QB Carson Wentz. He has dealt with multiple lower-body injuries in the last few months, and if Wentz is at less than 100% or even unable to play, the Colts become painfully one-dimensional on offense. Defensively, they’ll need to crash the pocket and get a lot of penetration against the Dolphins’ porous offensive line. There’s a significant talent advantage for Indianapolis here.
Dolphins’ keys to victory: The Miami offense continues to be under construction after a slow start to the season. With Tua Tagovailoa out with a rib injury, backup QB Jacoby Brissett is charged with finding some of the chunk plays the Dolphins hoped to create with all of their added speed at wide receiver. But can the Dolphins block Colts DL DeForest Buckner? Defensively, Miami has the coverage options to stack the box against RBs Jonathan Taylor, Nyheim Hines and the rest of the Colts’ running game.
Matchup to watch: Colts LB Darius Leonard vs. Dolphins TE Mike Gesicki. Miami has plenty of weapons in the passing game, but Gesicki’s presence over the middle can help manufacture more oneon-one opportunities on the perimeter. Can Gesicki get cooking with one of the NFL’s best inside linebackers prowling the middle? Or will the Colts get the handful of game-changing plays for which Leonard is known?
Who wins? The Miami defense has the athletes on the perimeter to squeeze the Colts’ passing game and force this game into a grind.
Dolphins, 20-17
Kyle Crabbs, Dolphins Wire