Testing the Stampede Blue’s staff, and readers, knowledge and faith in the Colts
In Week 4, the 1-2 Indianapolis Colts (+ 104) host the Pittsburgh Steelers (- 122) for their second consecutive game at Lucas Oil Stadium. The home team opens up as 1.5-point underdogs, with the O/U for points at 39.5, one of the lowests for the week as the two offenses are struggling a bit to move the ball consistently.
Mateo Caliz
This will be another close matchup, but I expect Richardson to play much better than this past two weeks. With a red-hot Jonathan Taylor and a more consistent passing game behind him the Colts should be able to outscore a Steelers’ offense struggling to find any sort of consistency. Playing at home also works in favour of the Colts who I expect to climb back to 2-2.
Colts 28, Steelers 17
Andrew Aziz
The only guarantee this week is that it will be a low scoring game. The Steelers can’t seem to put up points against anyone (20 is their highest of the season) and while the Colts put up points, the Steelers don’t seem to allow any. This is an incredibly bad matchup for the Colts, and one that will put a lot of pressure on Richardson as the Steelers’ edge rushers are very quick and tough to block. On top of that, Joey Porter Jr is playing like one of the best cornerbacks in football so he will shut down whoever goes against him. Finally, if you want to rely on Jonathan Taylor, they’ll need to use him 25 times and hope he pops off for a couple of big ones because the Steelers run defense is 2nd in the NFL for opponent yards per rush attempt average. While I don’t think the Colts D will have a tough time against the Steelers, I fear they won’t be able to score, unless they get a couple of chunk plays.
Steelers 16, Colts 10
Jay Robins
The Steelers Defense presents a significant challenge for the Colts. Currently they rank very highly in:
- 1st in Points Per Game (8.7)
- 1st in Yards Per Game (229.7)
- 4th in Yards Per Play (4.6)
- 1st in Expected Points Added Per Play (-0.33)
The Steelers Defense has given fits to the Falcons, Raiders, and Chargers Offenses so far this season. No team scored over 10 points on the Steelers Defense. They slowed down Bijan Robinson to 3.8 Yards Per Carry on 18 carries and just last week held JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards to 2.9 YPC combined on 18 carries. However they have yet to face a Rushing threat of Jonathan Taylor’s caliber paired with a +1 Rushing threat at QB in Anthony Richardson, as prior QBs Kirk Cousins, Bo Nix, and Justin Herbert don’t have that same level of athleticism and aren’t used in the run game the same way as Richardson. Richardson will need to be wary when passing against the Steelers though, who have the 6th most turnovers in the NFL and have 4 INTs by 4 different defenders (not including Joey Porter Jr and Minkah Fitzpatrick), but if the Colts shift to a more run heavy approach that should be a suitable challenge for the Steelers to defend against.
The Steelers Offense presents far less of a challenge, with Justin Fields leading a 24th ranked scoring offense that has yet to score more than 20 points in a game. Their Offense is shorthanded, with Russell Wilson (ankle), rookie OL Troy Fataunu (IR), star G Isaac Seumalo (working way back from Pectoral injury), and RBs Jaylen Warren (knee) and Najee Harris (arm in sling) still needing diagnosis for their injuries. Fields, Spencer Anderson and Mason McCormick (rookie), and Cordarrelle Patterson are the next men up in their places.
Both teams are dealing with a lot of injuries, with the Colts having Ebukam, Buckner, Paye, Moore II, Brents, Flowers all dealing with injuries on the defense. Steelers also have issues with their Defense’ health, with starting Corner Cory Trice and stud pass rusher Alex Highsmith Out for Week 4. Darius Rush could be stepping into the starting Corner role, while promising young pass rusher Nick Herbig is coming off a career game as a rotational pass rusher and is due for more snaps with Highsmith out.
Expect a defensive slugfest with both offenses struggling to get much going consistently.
Steelers 14, Colts 10
