Peyton Manning is playing like an MVP.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
The 6-0 Indianapolis Colts are probably the strongest team in the NFL at the moment. With the consistent guidance of QB Peyton Manning and a defense flying under the radar, the team has a lot of confidence in their quest for a championship run.
The 49ers sit at 3-3 and are a huge question mark at quarterback with a defense that has struggled recently. The Colts should waltz through the 49ers, right? The Colts don't think so.
"They had the last minute play against Minnesota and almost won last weekend at Houston," said Manning. "The Atlanta game was the only one that wasn't close. They have a very sound defensive scheme, good players, and it will be a good test for us."
And the 49ers will have a good test as well. Defending the Indianapolis offense will be a task that the 49ers know they can succeed in. But stopping Manning and his 1,880 passing yards sounds like a bad omen for a 49ers secondary that gave Atlanta WR Roddy White and Texans TE Owen Daniels career days. But the 49ers did hold WR Andre Johnson to only two catches last Sunday.
It will take a lot for the 49ers contain WR Reggie Wayne and TE Dallas Clark. The 49ers can't forget the team's newest offensive weapons in Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon. Anthony Gonzalez has a chance to return to the lineup for the Colts from a knee injury. It's a handful for the 49ers defense.
Colts head coach Jim Caldwell still believes that the 49ers can stay with the Colts because of what Mike Singletary has put in on the 49ers.
"They do all of the little things and all the intangibles in terms of hustle, grit, fight, determination and desire," said Caldwell. "You can see all of that on film in every single phase of their operation. I certain would attribute the great majority of that to Mike and his personality."
When Singletary was asked about the struggling running game, he said that the struggles have come in part when the opposition is putting eight men in the box. However, he didn't shy away from changing his philosophy of establishing a running game.
"We're going to do whatever we need to do win," he said. "Three receiver, four receiver, five receiver, I don't care. We're going to do whatever we need to do to win. But we're going to run the ball."
The running game will receive a lot of focus, but with QB Alex Smith getting his first NFL start since the 2007 season, the protection for Smith has to be superb. The change in offensive line with RT Tony Pashos being placed on IR forces Adam Snyder to return to the right tackle position and Chilo Rachal to resume his role at right guard. The 49ers are thin on the offensive line and the pressure from the Colts defense will be a huge problem for the 49ers.
One player that will give the 49ers trouble is DE Dwight Freeney. He will be lined up against left tackle Joe Staley and Freeney's streak of sacks per game (he has seven so far this season) will be on the line.
The Colts will most definitely apply pressure on the 49ers offense to score to keep up with them. And the 49ers defense has to find ways to prevent the score. It's not going to be an easy game for the 49ers, but this will be a learning point for the team in their attempt to put together some consistency..
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