The Arizona Cardinals are set to travel to Indiana to play the Indianapolis Colts this weekend. The Cards are currently in a three-game losing skid and need a win so that they can keep up with the other
clubs in the division, which are all good teams.
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The Colts themselves are a much-improved franchise this year. They are 4-1-0 and tied for their division lead. However, a quick glance at their schedule reveals something: only one of their wins is against a winning team, the 3-2-0 Denver Broncos. The remainder are all against trash teams such as the Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans, and Miami Dolphins.
Indy was beaten by the Los Angeles Rams 27-20, who are currently 3-2-0. So, the Colts haven’t beaten any good teams and suffocated their weaker opponents. That means that a 4-1 record is deceiving.
There is something about Indianapolis that is not deceiving. They have a high-potent offense and can score willy nilly. They are ranked #2 in points scored with 163, just behind the Detroit Lions (174). This Colts offense is exceptional, whereas their defense struggles.
The Indianapolis offense is ranked #4 in passing yards (1,299), tied for third for fewest interceptions thrown (2), and is middle of the pack in attempts plus completions. That means they are getting a lot of yardage out of their completed throws. This is why the Colts are #2 in average yards per completion with 8.5 yards.
Their rushing attack is ranked #8 with 641 total yards and leads the league in rushing touchdowns (11), plus the third most rushing attempts (146).
Colts QB Daniel Jones is ranked #3 in passing. RB Jonathan Taylor leads the league. WR Michael Pittman, Jr. has a #17 rating in receiving. Their offensive line is one of the best in the league. TE Tyler Warren is ranked #29 in receiving yards and is an excellent blocker.
Taylor has been in the NFL since 2020 and has never had a good quarterback. Refugee Jones has changed the narrative with this subject.
This game will have a minor allusion. Something that hasn’t happened before, and yet, here it is.
Cardinals blue-chip receiver Marvin Harrison, Jr., will be playing against his father’s team.
Marvin Harrison, Sr., played for the Colts before adding the addition of “Senior” to his name. He played for Indianapolis from 1996-2008. Every season for the same ballclub, which in today’s NFL is a very rare feat. Why, even his illustrious QB, Peyton Manning, finished out his career with another team.
Harrison, Sr. had 14,580 career receiving yards and scored 128 touchdowns. He went to eight Pro Bowls and was named First or Second Team All-Pro an additional eight seasons. He was part of the Super Bowl XLI winning team. After his career was over, he was named to the NFL All-2000s Team, the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, and is in the Colts Ring of Honor. In 2016, Harrison, Sr. was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He wore #88, which one day will be retired.
Harrison, Jr. wore #18 at Ohio State and #8 at St. Joseph’s Preparatory High School in Philadelphia, where he won three consecutive state championships. His quarterback was future Ohio State teammate Kyle McCord. As a college senior, Harrison, Jr. won the Biletnikoff Award for the nation’s best receiver.
During Colts home games, you will see a lot of #18 Manning jerseys in the stands, even though he hasn’t played in Indy since 2011. He is just one of those players who is legendary, and fans still adore him. In local retail outlets, they still sell Manning’s jersey.
However, the sight of Harrison jerseys at home games has waned over the years since he retired after the 2008 season. Fans usually move on to the next hero.
But now, with the Cardinals coming to town and Harrison Sr.’s son starting at receiver, Indianapolis fans will dust off their #88 blue or white jerseys and show up in masse for this contest.
At the same time, Arizona fans in attendance won’t have to dust off their Harrison jersey because they are fresh. It could become a sea of red, white, and blue Harrison jerseys in this contest.
The game will certainly become emotional for Harrison, Sr., who will be watching from a skybox, rooting for his son to crack the 200-yard plateau with multiple touchdowns, but ultimately losing the game against the team he found glory playing for.
