On paper, the matchup between the Indianapolis Colts’ defense and the Seattle Seahawks' offense in Week 15 looked like a mismatch. The Colts have been pretty good this season, especially considering the injuries that have beset them. Statistically, they entered the Seattle game as a middle-of-the-road NFL defense.
But playing on the road against the Seahawks posed a tremendous challenge. The Seahawks have one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses, with wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba establishing himself as one of the league’s best. Perhaps if the Colts were at full-strength, there would be reason for optimism.
But their two outstanding cornerbacks – Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward – were both out, leaving a mostly young, untested group of corners to handle Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, and Rashid Shaheed.