Scott Logush
Editor-in-Chief
The series of international NFL games continues with the New England Patriots getting ready to take on the Indianapolis Colts in Frankfurt. With an early morning kickoff that is set to bring us straight into a packed afternoon slate of games, can New England find the winning column again?
Notable Injuries
The Patriots will be without offensive tackle Trent Brown and wide receiver DeVante Parker with an ankle injury and concussion respectively. This makes a bad receiver group even worse and hamstrings the one spot of promise on this offense, the offensive line. The Colts are not feeling the injury bug as bad, with the most notable one being Anthony Richardson on injured reserve.
Key Matchups
The loss of Trent Brown for this game means Mac Jones is going to have an absolutely brutal time trying to pass the ball. He played well against Washington, the deep ball was there and on target but dropped, and the receivers overall let him down. DeForest Buckner and Samson Ebukam will have a field day with a depleted New England offensive line. Indianapolis also has a very solid secondary and will have no problem shutting down this receiver group.
Let’s have a quick talk about Gardner Minshew. He is as careless as can be with the football right now. Indianapolis could, and should, run the ball as much as possible this week. Their offensive line will absolutely steamroll New England’s defense. Minshew has a turnover worthy play percentage of 6.3 percent, the third-highest in the league behind P.J. Walker’s 7.7 percent and Tyson Bagent’s 6.6 percent. Minshew is just playing carelessly, and New England should be able to capitalize. Take the ball out of Minshew’s hands, and the Colts should win fairly easily.
Prediction: 24-17 Indianapolis
I have no faith in this New England offense, especially after seeing it live. When it’s not one thing it’s another, and what can go wrong has absolutely been going wrong. Jones has had two solid games all season, and this roster is too injured and depleted to pick up the slack.
2023 Prediction Record: 6-3
