San Francisco 49ers (3-3) at Indianapolis Colts (6-0)
Bad news for the San Francisco 49ers as they hope to pull a big upset Sunday in Indy: Colts stars Reggie Wayne (strained groin) and Dwight Freeney (knee) both took part in Friday’s practice and are expected to play despite being listed as questionable. Wayne has a touchdown catch in four consecutive games.
Defensive tackle Eric Foster (shoulder) also practiced and should be available against the 49ers. However, rookie running back Donald Brown is doubtful.
Indy is a 12.5-point favorite on WagerWeb.com.
Sunday will be 49ers QB Alex Smith’s first start in two seasons – he was given the No. 1 job over Shaun Hill after Smith nearly rallied the Niners from a 21-0 hole last week against Houston. But it still turned out to be San Francisco’s third loss in four games. As a rookie in 2005, Smith struggled against the Colts in his first career start. The No. 1 overall pick finished 9-of-23 for 74 yards and four interceptions.
Should the Colts win Sunday, it will extend their franchise-best regular-season winning streak to 16 games. Indy looks near invincible. The Colts have the NFL’s top passing offense behind Peyton Manning, who leads all NFL quarterbacks in passer rating (114.5), pass yards per game (313.3) and completion percentage (72.6) in 2009. Manning has been sacked just twice this season and his 15 touchdown passes are tied with Tom Brady for second most in the league. In addition, the Colts are converting 53.5 percent of its third downs, second-best in the NFL, and have committed just six turnovers, the second-lowest mark in the league. The Colts have topped 30 points each of the past four weeks, have won all four games by at least 17 points.
The 49ers defense that ranks 21st in the NFL against the pass, and it has been lit up the past two weeks against the Atlanta Falcons’ Matt Ryan (324 yards, two touchdowns) and the Houston Texans’ Matt Schaub (264 yards, two touchdowns).
Indy is allowing 4.3 yards per carry on the ground, which isn’t great, though it has played four of the league’s top nine rushers. Niners star Frank Gore is next in line, and he has something to prove after returning from an ankle injury and producing just 32 yards rushing last week at Houston.
San Francisco is 1-2 on the road this season, with all three games decided by four points or less.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS — 49ERS: DOUBTFUL: CB Reggie Smith (groin). QUESTIONABLE: DE Ray McDonald (ankle), LB Takeo Spikes (shoulder). PROBABLE: CB Marcus Hudson (shoulder), RB Michael Robinson (shoulder), G Adam Snyder (calf). COLTS: OUT: WR Anthony Gonzalez (knee), CB Marlin Jackson (knee), K Adam Vinatieri (right knee). DOUBTFUL: RB Donald Brown (shoulder). QUESTIONABLE: DT Eric Foster (shoulder), DE Dwight Freeney (knee), TE Jacob Tamme (hamstring), WR Reggie Wayne (groin).
Bet on the NFL at WagerWeb.com
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
