Patriots-Colts Preview: Taking Away T.Y. Hilton Among Three Keys

The Deflategate revenge game finally is upon us.

It’s unclear which team is bringing vengeance, however. The New England Patriots have the right to be angry the Indianapolis Colts kicked off the deflated football scandal by contacting the NFL in the first place. The Colts also want retribution because they’re the ones who lost 45-7 in the AFC Championship Game.

Both teams are coming into Sunday night’s game mad, so the better team (the Patriots) will emerge victorious.

Let’s look at three keys to the game:

PRESSURE ANDREW LUCK EARLY
It would be very surprising if Andrew Luck doesn’t play Sunday night despite shoulder and reported rib injuries.

Because Luck is nursing multiple injuries, it’s important to pressure and hit the Colts quarterback early and often. The more Luck gets hit, the more uncomfortable he’ll be in the pocket, and the more he might try to rush his throws, forcing errors.

Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower has been ruled out with a rib injury, so they have one fewer pass rusher to get after Luck. Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Jabaal Sheard and Jamie Collins will have to step up in his absence.

DON’T KEY IN ON ROB GRONKOWSKI
The Colts will try to take away Rob Gronkowski, and if they put too much attention on the tight end, other receivers will be open. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will have to wait until the Colts shuffle their coverages and start manning up against Gronkowski before targeting him.

Brady’s lone interception — the one that led to Deflategate — in the AFC Championship Game came when he tried to force a pass to Gronkowski while double covered.

TAKE AWAY T.Y. HILTON
The Patriots’ cornerback depth took a hit Saturday when Tarell Brown was placed on injured reserve. The Patriots used to put Kyle Arrington on Hilton and have free safety Devin McCourty keep an eye on the receiver over the top. Arrington is on the Baltimore Ravens now, and the closest player currently on the Patriots’ roster is No. 2 cornerback Logan Ryan.

If Ryan shadows Hilton, then either McCourty or Duron Harmon will bracket him in coverage from free safety.

That would leave Malcolm Butler on either Andre Johnson or Donte Moncrief and Justin Coleman on the other Colts receiver. The Patriots’ cornerback depth certainly isn’t ideal, but it can work against the Colts.