The Colts blew a chance to take control of the AFC South and now need plenty of help to squeeze into the playoffs. They first must have a healthy quarterback to line up under center on Sunday. The Dolphins have nothing to play for and it showed last week. Maybe they’ll at least show up on Sunday.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Miami Dolphins N/A
Indianapolis Colts N/A
Over/Under N/A
ODDS ANALYSIS
With no official word on who will start at quarterback for Indianapolis, the spread and total have yet to surface.
KEY INJURIES
Matt Hasselbeck – Has been knocked out of each of the last three games with back, shoulder, neck and rib injuries. He gave way to Charlie Whitehurst in last week’s loss to the Texans and is questionable to play Sunday. Whitehurst is the only healthy quarterback on the roster right now.
Mike Pouncey – Miami’s starting center is reportedly done for the remainder of the year after leaving last weekend’s game with a left leg injury. Pouncey was carted off the field after getting rolled up on in the third quarter. The Dolphins also had to do without tackle Brandon Albert as he went down at the end of the first half with a knee injury. Jamil Douglas took over at center with Ulrick John filling in for Albert.
KEY MISMATCH
Quan Bray did his part last weekend to help get the Colts good field position, they just couldn’t take advantage of it in their loss to Houston. In a game where Indy’s offense will likely again struggle with third-stringer Charlie Whitehurst ready to get the call at quarterback, Bray’s electrifying returns will be counted on to flip the field. Only this time he may need to take one to the house for his team to capitalize. And the way he’s been handling the return role, that’s only a matter of time. The undrafted rookie had four punt returns for 67 yards, including a team season-long 33 yarder, and three kickoff returns for 80 yards against the Texans last week. All those excellent returns went to waste, though. His kickoff return average of 28.1 yards is the fifth-best in the NFL among players with a minimum of 17 attempts.
KEY STAT
86.5 – Indianapolis’ rushing yards per game. The Colts will rely on the ground attack without a quarterback and could have a big game against Miami’s 29th ranked run defense.
BETTING ANGLE
The Colts could be in need of a backup quarterback for Sunday’s game if Hasselbeck can’t play and Whitehurst is forced to start. That’s because the Titans claimed Alex Tanney off the Colts practice squad and Griff Whalen, the team’s emergency quarterback, was placed on injured reserve Monday. Andrew Luck has already been ruled out for the game. One player who is ready to step in is punter Pat McAfee, who was the team’s emergency quarterback until Whalen was given that role. Despite their issues at quarterback, the Colts are still alive for their third straight division title with two wins and two losses by Houston, or through other more complicated scenarios, all of which require one thing – getting a little luck along the way.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
The Colts gave it a shot this season, going all in at free agency in an attempt to get to the big game, unfortunately they were hit hard by the injury bug and it continues to plague them. Indy can use that as an excuse for their dismal season. The Dolphins can’t, they simply underachieved. This was supposed to be the year Ryan Tannehill moved up the ladder of elite quarterbacks in the NFL, Ndamukong Suh cemented the defense and the Phins ended their playoff drought. Things were so bright back in September. I guess Joe Philbin wasn’t the problem after all. The Dolphins quit on the season a few weeks back and last week they were embarrassed by a bad San Diego team. Sure, there was the emotion of possibly the last game at Qualcomm Stadium for the Chargers, but come on, they’re still bad. What does that make Miami? The Colts are beat up, banged up and still have a glimmer of hope for the postseason. The Dolphins got nothing. Indy gets this one even if they have to use their punter at quarterback.
Indianapolis 18, Miami 15
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