NFL Week 16 Betting Preview - Indianapolis Colts vs. Arizona Cardinals

One of the best games in the NFL's Week 16 will happen on Christmas night, as the Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals are set to face off in Glendale. 

The Colts are peaking late in the season, riding their running game to success down the stretch, while the Cardinals have hit a rough patch as of late. 

But the Cardinals come into this game as a one-point home favorite, as they look to get back on track in a game between two potential playoff teams.

Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts won their second straight game last week and their fifth win of their last six games when they beat the New England Patriots last Saturday. 

In their 27-17 win over the New England, the Colts locked down the Patriots' offense for the vast majority of the game, holding on at the end thanks to a long touchdown run by Jonathan Taylor. This week, the Colts will look to use their physical brand of football to their advantage once again.

Taylor has been the driving force behind the Colts' success all season long, as he has eclipsed 1,500 rushing yards before Week 16. But Carson Wentz deserves a lot of credit for the turnaround in Indianapolis as well. 

Wentz has thrown just six interceptions this season and has avoided many of the turnovers that plagued him in Philadelphia, which has really boosted the Colts' playoff chances.

Arizona Cardinals

Arizona suffered one of the worst losses in the NFL this season when they fell to the Detroit Lions on the road last week. The Cardinals were a 12-point favorite coming into that game against the Lions, but they could not make any inroads against the Lions until the game was already out of hand. 

Now, the Cardinals are tasked with picking themselves up after such an embarrassment as they face the Colts on a short week of rest.

The Cardinals have allowed 30 points in each of their last two games, which is a significant concern when taking on a team that can move the ball the way the Colts can. 

But when the offense of the Cardinals was only able to score 12 points against one of the worst teams in the league in the Detroit Lions, Kyler Murray and the offense aren't blameless in the team's recent slide either.

Keys To The Game

The number one key to this game for the Colts is their ability to run the football. Against a team with an explosive offense like the Cardinals, being able to run the football and control the clock is a massive advantage, which the Colts have thanks to the rushing ability of Taylor. 

If the Colts can win the time-of-possession battle handily and avoid turnovers from Wentz the way they have been, they could take home a huge win here.

Arizona's top key to this game is going to be their defense. Defending the run will be the top priority, but the Cardinals haven't been particularly strong defending in any capacity as of late. That will need to change if the Cardinals are to avoid a third straight loss on Christmas night.