Lions or Packers in NFC North battle? Will Ravens bounce back against Broncos?

Why Ali picked the Colts: Joe Flacco faced Brian Flores’ defense twice before, in 2020 and ’21 with the Jets, and neither start ended in wins in New York. But that was a (slightly) younger Joe Flacco, a castaway trapped in QB purgatory — no longer the face of a franchise and not yet a Comeback Player of the Year. However, the 2024 version has been given new impetus in football life as a grizzled 39-year-old – still boasting a live arm and composure under pressure – is once again tasked with managing a play-off contender. Flacco has seen and experienced it all in his 17th season, and is now surrounded by perhaps the best offensive supporting cast of his career. If the Colts’ O-line — one of the league’s top units, but one that could exist without starting LT Bernhard Raimann (concussion) — can handle its business against a Vikings pass rush that had a took a step back, we should see a more balanced Indy offense with Flacco at the controls. Like the Lions and Rams before them, the Colts need to flip the script on Minnesota’s aggressive defense and keep that group off balance — at least enough to compensate for Flacco’s lack of mobility and the occasional YOLO ball. This should be a physical match, with both teams striking from distance. Ultimately, I think the QB change bump is what gets the Colts going in their first outing Sunday night football since December 2022.