14 things to know as Colts try to recover from blowout in opener, avoid 0-2 start vs Chiefs

1. The Indianapolis Colts are set to face the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night in a critical NFL matchup, following a season-opening loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

2. Avoiding an 0-2 start is crucial for the Colts, as historically, teams starting 0-2 have a low chance of making the playoffs following the NFL's shift to a 17-game schedule in 2021.

3. The Colts' defense faced problems against Lamar Jackson during the season opener, with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo attempting to blitz him excessively, a strategy that might need to be employed again against Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes.

4. The Colts will need to improve their defensive communication, as Arrowhead Stadium is known for its loud environment and Kansas City head coach Andy Reid is known for using creative formations to confuse defenses.

5. Kansas City's defense will likely target Rashee Rice, who can be a strong threat in crossing routes, similar to how Lamar Jackson exploited the Colts' defense.

6. Kansas City starter Khalil Benson replaced injured left tackle Josh Simmons for the opener, and Mahomes averaged just 2.27 seconds to throw before he faced blitzes, faster than any quarterback in the NFL in Week 1.

7. The Colts face a challenge in stopping Mahomes, who completed 15 of 27 passes for 184 yards and struggled to get the ball to wide receivers in the opener.

8. The Chiefs' defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is expected to increase blitzing frequency in the second game, similar to their approach against the Denver Broncos, where it led to four sacks in the opener.

9. Daniel Jones, the Colts' quarterback, faced pressure on 52.9% of his passes in the opener, the highest percentage among NFL quarterbacks in Week 1.