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49ers vs. Colts: 5 key storylines to watch for San Francisco

By Peter Panacy

INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 01: Patrick Willis #52 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles Pierre Garcon #85 of the Indianapolis Colts during the NFL game at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 1, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Colts won 18-14. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 01: Patrick Willis #52 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles Pierre Garcon #85 of the Indianapolis Colts during the NFL game at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 1, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Colts won 18-14. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – SEPTEMBER 24: DeShone Kizer #7 of the Cleveland Browns is tackled short of the endzone by Nate Hairston #27 of the Indianapolis Colts during the second half at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 24, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – SEPTEMBER 24: DeShone Kizer #7 of the Cleveland Browns is tackled short of the endzone by Nate Hairston #27 of the Indianapolis Colts during the second half at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 24, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

No. 2: 49ers Face the First “Easy” Defensive Challenge of 2017

The Carolina Panthers defense, good. L.A.’s defense, good. Those Seattle Seahawks? Yeah, they have a good defense. And even Arizona’s defense is pretty solid all around.

Perhaps not so much with the Colts.

Take a look at some of the defensive numbers and rankings Indianapolis has put up over the first quarter of 2017:

Colts Defensive Team Stats and Rankings Table
Tot Tot Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Rush Rush Rush Rush
Player PF Yds Y/P TO 1stD Cmp Att Yds TD Int NY/A Att Yds TD Y/A
Opp. Stats 136 1585 6.1 7 83 84 139 1134 6 6 7.7 112 451 6 4.0
Lg Rank Defense 32 31 4 25 18 29 14 3 31 22 22 31 15

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/4/2017.

Statistically speaking, the Colts aren’t exactly strong against either the run or the pass. Last week against the Seahawks, Indianapolis’ defense allowed a whopping 194 yards. Granted, Seattle was up big late in the second half and could simply hand the ball off.

But with an average of 112.8 yards allowed per game, it’s easy to see why getting 49ers running back Carlos Hyde involved early and often is key.

Establishing the run should also benefit San Francisco’s passing offense, which enters Week 5 as the No. 25-ranked unit in the NFL with just 773 yards.

Quarterback Brian Hoyer is a key figure to watch here, as he has struggled in anything but play-action passes, according to Pro Football Focus’ Jeff Deeney:

Also worthy of note, the Colts give up a good deal of yards through the air — an average of 283.5 per game, 29th in the league.

As long as the running game is working and Hoyer remains adequately protected, the Niners offense should enjoy a bounce-back game.