5 Bold Predictions for Indianapolis Colts' Week 7 Matchup

The Indianapolis Colts are off and running. And while the Houston Texans now sit just one game back in the AFC South, it already looks as if there will be no catching the team that has utterly dominated the division since the realignment.

Nevertheless, each week the Colts will be required to take the field and prove it. Few more so than this weekend, as they match up against the hot-and-cold Cincinnati Bengals.

After three weeks of being anointed as perhaps the best team in the NFL, the Bengals rolled into their Week 4 bye.

In the two weeks since, they've been a completely different (read: worse) animal.

Their Week 5 Monday Night Football showdown with the New England Patriots was humiliating for them. Their Week 6 tie? Headline-filled.

Between twisting ankles and pointing fingers at a kicker, it wasn't a good look.

Another week offers the chance for more crazy action. Let's see if we can predict something to fit the bill.

Bjoern Werner Records a Sack in 3rd Consecutive Game

Associated Press

Werner has three sacks in the Colts' last two games.

Cincy has given up only two sacks in their past two games. The Colts, on the other hand, have recorded nine sacks in their last two contests.

Something's got to give, and I'm saying it will be the Bengals' line. The Colts have been able to get pressure all season, despite the absence of All-Pro pass-rusher Robert Mathis.

With 17 sacks through six games, the Colts rank sixth in the NFL in total sacks.

Due to his recent discovery of what getting a sack feels like, I predict Werner will push his consecutive games with a sack streak to three. Without A.J. Green, Andy Dalton might find it tougher to get rid of the ball. That extra second will cost him a few hits against this aggressive defense.

Andy Dalton Throws 2 Picks

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Vontae Davis is having a fantastic season.

Andy Dalton has thrown just three interceptions so far this season, but that won't help him when he comes to Indy.

The Colts have recorded six interceptions thus far, tying them for 12th in the land. But again, without Green, Dalton will have his work cut out for him.

Indianapolis has been particularly good at home, where they've allowed just two touchdown passes, compared to making four interceptions.

With the pressure in his face that I've already predicted, Dalton will be hard-pressed to keep the ball out of the Colts' hands.

Andrew Luck Stays Hot, Passes for 350 Yards and 3 Touchdowns

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Andrew Luck is in the MVP discussion right now.

The Bengals allow just a tick over 250 passing yards per game, just 22nd-best in the league. However, they've buckled down in the red zone, allowing just six touchdown passes so far this season.

That figure is tied for second.

Luck has been known to throw the occasional interesting interception, such as the one he threw against the Tennessee Titans earlier this year. However, this weekend, Luck is lethal at home. He takes over and adds 50 percent to the Bengals' defensive passing touchdowns.

He will still be alive and well in the MVP discussion after this one.

Trent Richardson Rushes for 100 Yards for the 1st Time in Nearly 2 Years

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Trent Richardson is going to go wild this weekend.

This one is admittedly a stretch.

Bold, if you will.

The last time Trent Richardson ran the ball for 100 yards in one outing was November 4th, 2012, in a 15-25 loss to the Baltimore Ravens as a member of the Cleveland Browns.

He managed it on 25 carries, which is an astounding average for the back nowadays.

But this is the weekend. This is Trent's weekend. The Bengals give up a putrid 141.4 rushing yards per game. They do so at a 4.8 yards per carry clip.

If not now, when?

The Alabama product will grab the tiger by the toe and run violently through a defense that will have all hands on the "stop Luck" deck.

Get ready to celebrate T-Rich's first (and likely, last) three-digit rushing output as a member of the Colts.

Dwayne Allen Goes for 50 Yards and 2 Touchdowns

AJ Mast/Associated Press

The Bengals have been beaten up by tight ends lately.

Athletic tight ends have been a nuisance for the Bengals lately. A tight end has led the opposition in receiving yards each of their last three contests.

Greg Olsen and Rob Gronkowski both supplied over 60 yards and a touchdown, while Delanie Walker went for 54 yards against Cincy even in a blowout loss.

With Dwayne Allen having scored in three of the Colts' last four games, he seems like the likely candidate to play that threatening role this weekend. However, the consistently underperforming Coby Fleener is always a candidate to do the same, assuming he catches the ball when it comes his way.