The second half of the Christmas Day double header in the NFL 2021 season is another huge clash as the Arizona Cardinals welcome the Indianapolis Colts in a match which is sure to have big implications on the playoff picture.
The Cardinals have been caught by the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West but still have the lead in the division courtesy of a better record in the division. The Colts are chasing the lead in their division and will be eager to win this one to help them in that quest.
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals were almost flawless in the early stages of the season but as injuries bit they have kind of lost their way a little in recent weeks. Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins were always going to be big losses as was J.J Watt but the birds go into this match having lost three of their last five outings, including their last two. The latest of those was against the Detroit Lions and that is the kind of defeat which sends shockwaves through a side.
The defence has been costly on both occasions. They have given up 30 points in both matches and that is something they weren’t doing. The defensive line have a few injuries and that has weakened their output and put a lot of pressure on the offense. Earlier in the season when Murray was playing at full tilt that wasn’t a problem but he seems to be a gear below the top level and they need him to get back to his best very quickly.
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Indianapolis Colts
After a slow start to their season, the Indianapolis Colts are coming with a real charge at the AFC South title, one which will end with them picking up a wildcard spot in all likelihood if they can’t get to the Tennessee Titans at the top of the division. The Colts might well need to win out to catch them because the Titans have the tiebreaker on them but they go into this match having won five of their last six games and looking the part.
Jonathan Taylor has been a huge part of their success this term. Even Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots couldn’t slow him down last week. The Colts defence is coming to the party at the minute. In their last four wins they have conceded no more than 17 points and that includes shutting out the Houston Texans a couple of weeks ago. That is taking the pressure off Carson Wentz and he is making the plays when he needs to. The Colts are sizzling right now.
Betting
This should be a great game. That is highlighted by the fact the spread is a single point in the favour of the Arizona Cardinals. I actually fancy the Indianapolis Colts to win this match but I’m not sure I fancy them enough to back them to win on the road, even though they are a perfectly acceptable price to do so. They are the form team of the two but we saw on Thursday night that doesn’t necessarily mean much.
I think the outcome of this match is all in the hands of Jonathan Taylor. I didn’t think he’d get any change from the New England Patriots last week which is why I opposed the Colts in that match but he proved me wrong and so I’m happy to support him here. The Cardinals are not going great guns against the run at the minute. Detroit rushed for over 100 yards against them last week and David Montgomery rushed for 90 when they played the Chicago Bears recently. Neither of those have the quality in the offensive line that the Colts have and they can open up the gaps for Taylor to run riot.
Tips
Back J.Taylor – Over 102.5 rushing yards for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with Bet365
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