16 things to watch in Colts-Chargers Monday night matchup

Jeff Saturday is still making personnel moves, still trying to find a way to get the Colts back in the win column in the final game of the NFL’s Christmas week, taking on the Chargers at 8:15 p.m. on ESPN’s Monday Night Football.

Los Angeles (8-6) has been headed in the opposite direction of Indianapolis. The Chargers have won three of their last four behind young starting quarterback Justin Herbert, vaulting into playoff position in the hotly-contested AFC.

Indianapolis (4-9-1) has to stem the tide without its best offensive weapon, with a new starting quarterback and with a defense that has started to buckle under the strain of trying to carry the Colts’ awful offense this season.

And despite all of the changes, there are still developments to watch.

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1. Nick Foles is the third quarterback to get a shot at the Colts’ starting job this season, and Indianapolis is hoping the veteran’s willingness to throw the ball downfield brings a vertical threat back to the offense. Former starting quarterback Matt Ryan was averaging just 6.4 air yards per intended throw, the second-lowest mark in the NFL, trailing only Arizona backup Colt McCoy. Because of that approach, Indianapolis has faced a string of defenses playing their safeties close to the line of scrimmage, and Saturday stressed that the Colts must start taking advantage.

2. When Foles pulled off one of the best backup stints of all time in Philadelphia, his success happened, in part, because of former Colts coach Frank Reich’s decision as the offensive coordinator to rework the offense to fit what Foles does best. According to Saturday, Indianapolis does not plan to make the same sort of changes to the offense this time around. On top of that, Foles hadn’t taken a snap with the starters until he was elevated into the role this week, and he has spent the entire regular season running the scout-team offense in practices, rather than playing in the Colts offense.

loss of Jonathan Taylor hurts badly this week. Los Angeles ranks 31st in the NFL in yards per carry allowed (5.35) and 28th in rushing (145.6 yards per game), making the Chargers an excellent target for the run-first, run-often offense Saturday and play-caller Parks Frazier have been using. With Taylor out, Indianapolis will rotate young backs Zack Moss and Deon Jackson, and even though Saturday wasn’t willing to name a starter, Frazier hinted at their potential usage earlier this week by saying he’d been impressed with Moss’ downhill ability. Jackson, on the other hand, has proven he can handle a receiving role. that won’t have Kenny Moore II. Veteran Keenan Allen (42 catches, 486 yards), big-play machine Mike Williams (48 catches, 693 yards) and breakout star Josh Palmer (66 catches, 714 yards) are a formidable trio.

12. Tight end Gerald Everett has been productive for Los Angeles, too. Everett’s 52 catches rank third on the team, and he’ll be a challenge for safety Rodney McLeod and linebacker Bobby Okereke on third downs.

13. A Colts defensive line coming off of a seven-sack performance against Minnesota should have chances against a shaky Chargers offensive line that still doesn’t have Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater. Keep an eye on second-year pass rushers Dayo Odeyingbo, who had two sacks in a breakout game against Minnesota, and Kwity Paye, who has six sacks this year.

14. Undrafted Indianapolis kick returner Dallis Flowers has been electric, averaging an NFL-best 34.1 yards per return in the role so far, but the Chargers have excellent coverage units. Los Angeles ranks first in the NFL in covering punts (3.4 yards per return) and fourth against kickoffs (19.4).

15. By the same token, Chargers punt returner DeAndre Carter has been one of the league’s best, averaging 12.0 yards per return, and veteran Matt Haack has been inconsistent for the Colts this season. Indianapolis almost gave up a 51-yard punt return to the Vikings last week.

because Indianapolis has been out-scored 55-0 by the Cowboys and Vikings the past two weeks. Indianapolis has been outscored 83-9 in the fourth quarter since Saturday took over, and Los Angeles should feel comfortable in the second half, no matter the score.

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