The NFL is an unpredictable league, but one thing seems to be certain heading into Week 7: the Indianapolis Colts will probably put the trick plays on ice for a little bit.
Saints vs. Colts 2015 live stream: Start time, TV schedule and how to watch online
The Colts will try to recover from the saddest play in NFL history, and the Saints will look to build off a big win over the previously undefeated Falcons.
The Colts have spent the last week talking about what went wrong during their embarrassing fake punt attempt last Sunday night, but somehow each explanation makes it worse. Punter Pat McAfee said Tuesday that safety Clayton Geathers, not wide receiver Griff Whalen, was supposed to be involved in the play. But Geathers got hurt in the second quarter, and Whalen took his place despite never having practiced the fake and apparently being unaware whether he was supposed to snap the ball. You have to read it to believe it:
“We added something to try and draw them offsides if they don’t do their substitution,” McAfee said. “Griff never got the heads up this was happening, because it’s not in the playbook. Stanford guy, reads the playbook, knows everything he has to do, but if he’s not there for an audible that’s added, he can’t know.”
Head coach Chuck Pagano took the blame for the play, which gave the New England Patriots great field position to set up a touchdown. Up until that point, the Colts had managed to make it through the first 43 minutes and 46 seconds of their 34-27 loss without getting embarrassed. But then they decided to run the saddest play in NFL history.
I can't stop laughing...is this real life? pic.twitter.com/lgyZl0aDuF
— Toucher and Rich (@Toucherandrich) October 19, 2015 Indy will look to rebound Sunday at home against the New Orleans Saints, who are coming off a win over the previously undefeated Atlanta Falcons. The Colts' loss to the Patriots snapped a three-game winning streak.
Andrew Luck was back in the lineup after missing two contests with a shoulder injury, and he played his best game ever against New England. Luck completed 30 of 50 passes for 312 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions. It was the first time he had ever played the Patriots without throwing a pick.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees is coming off a strong showing, too, completing 30 of 39 passes for 312 yards and a touchdown in New Orleans' victory last Thursday night. It was Brees' second-best performance of the season, and he's showing few lingering effects from a rotator cuff injury that kept him out of the lineup in Week 3.
Outside of the quarterbacks, the player to watch in this game might be Colts running back Frank Gore. The veteran tailback is enjoying a solid season in Indianapolis, averaging 4.5 yards per carry with three rushing touchdowns. New Orleans has the second-worst run defense in the league, and that’s a matchup the Colts could look to exploit.
The last regular season meeting between these two teams was in 2011. The Saints walloped the Colts 62-7, when Indy was tanking to draft Luck No. 1 in that spring’s draft.
The Colts got their wish, and have made the playoffs every season since. A win over New Orleans Sunday would go a long way toward helping them secure their fourth consecutive postseason berth.
How to Watch:
When: 1 p.m. ET
Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Ind.
TV: FOX
Commentators: Sam Rosen, John Lynch, Pam Oliver
Online: NFL Game Pass
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