Steelers-Colts Preview: Tossing Horseshoes

This Sunday the Pittsburgh Steelers take to the road and head for Indianapolis. They will try to win their fourth straight game to open the season and defeat the Colts who have lost two of their first three. The Colts are coming off a narrow victory over the Chicago Bears while the Steelers defeated an exceptionally good Chargers squad.

What Pittsburgh is up against is a noisy home crowd although as it always is, you can rest assured there will be some Terrible Towels flying. Indianapolis lost their first two games to open the season at the hands of the Houston Texans and then the Green Bay Packers. Those two games were home and then away. However, Indy will be seeing a defense much different than what they saw in their first three games. 

The Steelers defense beat a savvy veteran quarterback named Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons in week one then educated a rookie quarterback in Denver who was Bo Nix. Last Sunday, a banged-up Justin Herbert could not figure out Pittsburgh’s scheme and now the Steelers get yet another young quarterback in Anthony Richardson. The QB out of the University of Florida missed most of last season due to injury and he is hardly lighting up through three games.

In the week three game with the Bears, Richardson was horrific. 20 pass attempts and only 10 completions. Richardson threw two interceptions and was sacked once. His quarterback rating was a pathetic 39.0. However, Jonathan Taylor did rush for 110 yards on 23 carries. This weekend though, the Colts are up against a top five defense that has been shutting down offenses through three games. 

As for the Indianapolis defense, they allowed rookie Caleb Williams to have his best day as a pro to date when the kid threw the ball 52 times and completed 33 for a whopping 363 yards. That included two touchdowns, but he also threw two picks. Williams was also sacked four times. This week the Colts face a much more seasoned QB in Justin Fields.

There is still a buzz about the Pittsburgh offense and the failure to score touchdowns but at this point in the season often the fourth week is supposed to be the time when a team starts to find their identity. I believe Pittsburgh has already surpassed that schedule. Through three games the Steelers already seem to be playoff ready. That should make other teams nervous. If the Steelers are this good already, their arrow can only go up. I don’t see a slide taking place with this team.

Offense vs. Offense

When identity was mentioned above, by now we all know that Steelers’ offensive philosophy is and will be. A steady safe passing game mixed with a grind it out, punch you in the mouth running game. Mike Tomlin had preached in the preseason that he wanted his team to be aggressive and, on the attack, and they are doing just that. Justin Fields continues to get more comfortable in his offense and while Najee Harris was a bit banged up word comes; he will be ready to go on Sunday.

I expect more production from Fields and the offense in what might be the weakest defense they have faced yet and the surprise performance by Calvin Austin will show again. Richardson has his work cut out for him trying to figure out this nasty Steelers defense. Jonathan Taylor presents another challenge but when lining up last weekend to stop J.K. Dobbins, the Steelers shut him down.

Advantage: Steelers.

Defense vs. defense

Come on now. Do we need to compare? Pittsburgh’s defense is far above the Colts. Indianapolis will get some stops for sure, but the Steelers offense will eventually wear them down. On our side, Richardson is in for a long day. I can see at least one, maybe two picks and another one or two fumbles. 

Intangibles

If you look at the history of these two teams, it’s Pittsburgh all day. 28 regular season games and the Steelers have won 21 of those. Playoffs? Five meetings were all won by Pittsburgh. That includes that crazy divisional playoff when Jerome Bettis fumbled the ball near the goal line trying to ice that game, but Ben Roethlisberger saved the day with a shoestring tackle. 

Indianapolis won last year at home 30-13 but prior to that game the Steelers had won the previous eight games dating back to September 25, 2011. The last time the Colts beat the Steelers other than last year came on November 9, 2008. What that means is the Steelers have beaten the Colts eight of the last 10 or if you want to travel back further, since 1985, Pittsburgh has won 18 of the last 21 games. Domination.

Prediction

It’s not easy starting a season 4-0 but it’s in the works for this 2024 Steelers team. It’s ridiculous but there are those out there still doubting this Steelers team. We are used to it. Football fans that are not a member of Steelers Nation love to hate Black and Gold. They are just waiting for us to falter. There are others who believe Russell Wilson is still the answer but sorry folks, Justin Fields has earned and won this starting job. He is playing smooth, error free, and commanding football. Don’t take the ball out of the hot hand as they say. Pittsburgh will get it done here and do it convincingly. Steelers 30 Colts 13.