Seahawks Poised to Capitalize on Injury-Plagued Colts in Week 15 Matchup
As we head into Week 15, the Seattle Seahawks are hitting their stride at the right time. While the Indianapolis Colts started the season with flashes of offensive brilliance, the gap between these two teams has widened - and not just because of scheme or execution. Health is playing a major role, and right now, Seattle is trending in the right direction while Indianapolis is limping toward the finish line.
Let’s start with the obvious: the Colts are dealing with a brutal wave of injuries that’s reshaping their depth chart across the board. Quarterback Daniel Jones is already done for the season with a torn right Achilles, and that’s just the beginning of their problems. The hits keep coming for Indy, and they’re not the kind you want in December.
Defensively, the Colts took a swing at the trade deadline by acquiring former All-Pro corner Sauce Gardner - a move that signaled they were serious about tightening up the secondary. But Gardner suffered a calf injury two games ago and isn’t expected to suit up this week.
His absence alone is significant, but it’s compounded by the likely loss of fellow cornerback Charvarius Ward, who’s dealing with his third concussion of the season. Ward, a familiar face to Seattle fans from his time in San Francisco, has been a key piece in Indy’s coverage schemes.
At this point, it might be in the Colts’ best interest to shut him down for the year.
Up front, the Colts' issues continue. Veteran right tackle Braden Smith - a mainstay on their offensive line for eight seasons - is battling both concussion symptoms and a neck injury sustained in Week 14. He’s trending toward being unavailable, which puts even more pressure on a unit that’s already scrambling to protect a backup quarterback.
Then there’s DeForest Buckner. The standout defensive tackle has been on injured reserve with a neck injury, and while he’s eligible to return this week, there’s been no indication from the Colts that he’ll be activated. Buckner is the engine of Indy’s interior defense, and without him, their ability to disrupt the pocket and stop the run takes a major hit.
On the flip side, Seattle is getting healthier - and that’s a scary thought for the rest of the NFC. The potential return of center Jalen Sundell could give the offensive line a boost.
Rookie Olu Oluwatimi has filled in admirably over the past four games, but the numbers tell the story: eight pressures allowed in 156 pass-blocking snaps. Sundell, by comparison, has allowed just six pressures on 257 snaps this season.
That kind of efficiency up front could be the difference in keeping the offense humming down the stretch.
There’s no such thing as a guaranteed win in the NFL - especially when backups are hungry to prove they belong - but this is a matchup where the Seahawks should be able to control the game on both sides of the ball. Head coach Mike Macdonald has his team playing disciplined, balanced football, and with the Colts missing key contributors at nearly every level, Seattle has a clear opportunity to take care of business.
A win would push the Seahawks to 11-3, with three regular-season games left on the schedule: a Thursday night showdown with the Rams, a trip to Carolina, and a season finale against the 49ers. Even if they stumble once or twice down the stretch, Seattle is in strong position to lock up a playoff spot.
But if they run the table? That first-round bye is well within reach.
Bottom line: Week 15 is about momentum - and the Seahawks have it. The Colts, meanwhile, are just trying to keep the wheels from falling off.