5 Matchups the Indianapolis Colts Must Win Against the New Orleans Saints

After going 0-2 to start the season, the Indianapolis Colts have rebounded nicely. 

Still, the team's 34-27 loss to the New England Patriots last week has the Colts at 3-3 on the season, with an extremely difficult slate coming up. A three-week stretch against the Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons looms, three teams that combine for a 17-1 record on the season. 

But before that, the Colts go up against the New Orleans Saints, another team which has disappointed to start the season but is always a threat with Drew Brees at the helm. 

The Saints, in fact, were the team that dealt Atlanta its first loss of the season last week. The Falcons had looked nearly unstoppable in the weeks previous. 

The Colts would seem to have the edge at home, but it's hard to be surprised about anything in the NFL this season.

Here are a few matchups that the Colts must win in order to ensure they get above .500 prior to their most-difficult three-game stretch of the season.

Andrew Luck vs. Rob Ryan

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Finally, we saw the real Andrew Luck last week. 

For the first time all season, Luck: 

• Threw for over 300 yards.
• Threw three touchdowns.
• Didn't turn the ball over.

Yes, Luck had a few struggles, namely during the second half, but the 26-year-old still showed some of the same command we've seen from him in years past. 

Now Luck goes up against a New Orleans defense that has been the worst in the league, per Football Outsider's DVOA metric. In pass defense, the Saints are also last, largely because of a secondary that has been totally devoid of talent. 

Below average in just about every category, the Saints are dead last in DVOA against tight ends, so Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen could have a big week after being quiet during the last two games. 

But really, this should be a game that Luck dominates. It should be the worst defense he faces all year, so this needs to be the game in which he finds his 2014 groove.

T.Y. Hilton vs. Somebody

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T.Y. Hilton hasn't been the dominant producer he was last season, when he averaged nearly 90 yards per game and scored seven touchdowns, but he's still been the Colts' No. 1 receiver through the first six games of the season with 33 catches for 456 yards. 

Still, that's a bit disappointing for Hilton, who signed a $65 million contract this offseason. The 25-year-old hasn't been quite himself, with an early-season hamstring injury slowing him down. 

The problem for New Orleans: Who is going to cover him? 

No. 1 cornerback Keenan Lewis has been fighting a sports hernia, being limited to just eight snaps last week against the Atlanta Falcons. Lewis did participate in a limited practice on Thursday, per Mike Triplett of ESPN.com, but whether his snap count raises or not is yet to be seen. 

The other starting cornerback for New Orleans, Brandon Browner, is Pro Football Focus' worst cornerback so far this season, and doesn't match up well with the quick Hilton at all.

Maybe former undrafted free agent Delvin Breaux will try his hand against Hilton, but Hilton has to be chomping at the bit. 

Phillip Dorsett vs. Safeties

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Colts' rookie receiver Phillip Dorsett has only caught 10 passes this season thus far, but his ability to get separation has already been evident. 

Against New Orleans, the 22-year-old should have a chance to put that speed of his to good use, potentially picking up multiple big plays. In addition to being a terrible pass defense, as referenced earlier, the Saints are particularly vulnerable to big plays. 

Both Jairus Byrd and Kenny Vaccaro have had success in the past and certainly have the pedigree for success on the back end, but they have been relatively unspectacular this season.

The Saints have given up a league-high seven passing plays of 40 yards or more this year, and deep passing could be an area the Colts attack again on Sunday. 

If that's the case, then Dorsett must be a part of the picture. His speed is terrifying for defenses, and it adds another dynamic presence to the Colts' receiving corps. 

While he doesn't yet have a reception of 40 yards or more, Dorsett's first one could very well come Sunday.

Henry Anderson vs. Mark Ingram

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Henry Anderson has been a game-changer for the Indianapolis Colts. 

The third-round pick out of Stanford has his flaws, but his general disruption on the defensive line has led to the Colts' run defense completely changing course this season. The Colts are ranked 13th in run defense by Football Outsiders' DVOA. 

Most impressively? The Colts are second in the league in "stuffs," runs that gain zero yards or less, per Pro-Football-Reference.com. In stuffed percentage, they rank sixth, per Football Outsiders.

Leading the way on such plays, of course, is Henry Anderson, who tops the league with 13 of those tackles, two more than runner-up J.J. Watt. 

But the New Orleans' running game has been exceptional at avoiding such plays, currently ranking first overall in power situations and sixth overall in stuff percentage, per Football Outsiders. 

The Saints, and Mark Ingram, have been very good at getting past the line of scrimmage, especially effective in goalline situations. But, while Ingram has been relatively effective, his success rate is relatively low.

The 25-year-old ranks 10th in Football Outsiders' DYAR (total productivity) metric, but is only 32nd in success rate. He is the only back in the top 15 in DYAR ranked outside the top 30 in success rate. 

The Colts may have a chance to get Ingram and the Saints stopped early on rushing attempts, which could force Drew Brees into long passing attempts on third down, the only way in which they'll be able to keep the future Hall of Famer from dissecting the Colts' paper-thin defense on every possession.

Darius Butler vs. Willie Snead and Brandin Cooks

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The New Orleans Saints have had big changes in their pass-catching corps over the last few years. 

Gone is Jimmy Graham, one of the most unstoppable offensive weapons in the league when paired with Drew Brees in New Orleans. Marques Colston, once one of the league's top pass-catchers in the New Orleans offense, is 32 and has just 18 catches on the season. 

The new guys were a little rough settling in, but Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead have combined for 344 yards over the last two weeks. 

When the Saints are in two-receiver sets, Vontae Davis and Greg Toler will draw the assignments, and the two should be up to the task, for the most part. 

But when Cooks and Snead are in the slot, the two are incredibly productive, both placing in the top 10 in Pro Football Focus' yards-per-route-run metric from the slot. Meanwhile, Indianapolis slot corner Darius Butler has struggled this season, partially because of a nagging hip injury. 

This is where the game could be won or lost for Indianapolis. If they can't stop the slot receivers, the Colts could see the opponent move quickly down the middle of the field, just like the Patriots did last week.