NFL
By: Melo Williams
The Pittsburgh Steelers (3-7) are traveling to play the Indianapolis Colts (4-6-1) in Week 12 at Lucas Oil Stadium after falling short in a 37-30 loss to division rival the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday in Week 11.
The Indianapolis Colts had lost seven straight to the Pittsburgh Steelers last winning 14 years ago before beating the Steelers in the 2020 covid-interrupted season Week 16 with a 28-24 victory.
KEYS FOR A STEELERS VICTORY:
TURN T.J. WATT LOOSE
It’s simple when it comes to T.J. Watt, let Watt be Watt so he can do Watt things. T.J. in simple terms is a disruptor. Right tackles, running backs, and quarterbacks strongly dislike lining up against T.J. Watt. He brings non-stop pressure as long as he’s on the field and it creates opportunities for Cam Heyward and the Steelers’ other pass rusher Alex Highsmith who is having a Pro Bowl year.
Watt will be faced with the huge challenge of trying to slow down and bottle up Colts running back Johnathan Taylor.
KEEP RUNNING NAJEE
After weeks of no-shows, Pittsburgh’s ground game has taken massive steps forward. The Steelers have averaged 154 yards rushing over the past three weeks, up from 87.8 yards in their first seven games. Running back Najee Harris tallied 116 total yards and 2 touchdowns on 24 touches on Sunday against the Bengals. Najee Harris has rushed for 189 yards in the past two games. The Indianapolis Colts have lost seven straight to the Pittsburgh Steelers since the last winning 14 years ago
ATTACK COLTS DEFENSE
The Colts are tough against the run and pass. Only San Francisco allows fewer yards per carry than the Colts’ 3.8. So the Steelers run game will be tested to see how improved the rush game is.
The Colts rank seventh in yards allowed through the air per game at just 194.2. The Colts have pass rushers that know how to get after the quarterback. Indianapolis ranks 13th in sacks with 28. Yannick Ngakoue leads the way with 6.5 sacks to go with four tackles for a loss. DeForest Buckner ranks second with 5.5 sacks and five tackles for a loss. Kwity Paye and Grover Stewart are behind with four and three sacks, respectively, to go with an impressive 14 combined tackles for a loss.
CONTAIN JONATHAN TAYLOR
“We want to be a physical football team that sets the tone and the tempo from running the football,” Saturday said earlier this week. “I’ll take ‘28’ against just about anybody.”
”We haven’t been in a stadium with him before, but we respect his talents and his resume, what he’s been able to do and put together” Tomlin said. ”We believe quality play, for them, centers around his exploits and what he’s able to do. We’ve got to minimize his impact on the game.”
Tomlin said everything right referring to the player Taylor except one thing, the Steelers have been in a stadium with Johnathan Taylor. In 2020, Taylor rushed for 74 yards on 18 carries and scored two touchdowns that day with a Colts victory.
In the Steelers’ last two games they only gave up 99 yards rushing. The New Orleans Saints rushed for 29 yards, while only giving up 62 yards on the ground to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Johnathan Taylor wasn’t getting many touches this season in Frank Reich’s offense. He also missed three of Colt’s 11 games this season. Since Jeff Saturday has been named the Colts’ interim head coach, Taylor carried 22 times for 147 yards and a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders. He then had 22 carries for 84 yards and a score in a last-minute 17-16 loss to the NFL’s best team the Philadelphia Eagles.
In eight games, Taylor has rushed for 693 yards while averaging 4.6 yards per carry. He ranks No. 13 in the NFL in rushing.
CONCLUSION:
The Steelers are 1-4 on the road this season. These two teams have a rich competitive history though the Steelers dominate the series. I believe this matchup will be a great interesting Monday Night game in primetime.
Steelers win 24-17
MATCHUP HISTORY
Pittsburgh Steelers lead the series 26-6-0
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