When the Steelers play the Colts on Saturday, they undoubtedly hope that history repeats itself. Pittsburgh has won seven consecutive games in the series and is 27-6 all-time versus Indianapolis. The Steelers’ most recent victory against the Colts came on “Monday Night Football” in November of last year, when Pittsburgh defeated Indianapolis 24-17.
The game on Saturday is crucial in terms of its playoff ramifications. The Colts, who have stayed in postseason contention even after losing starting rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson back in Week 4, are among the six teams with a 7-6 record that the Steelers lead. The former league rushing champion Jonathan Taylor, who will miss Saturday’s game due to a thumb injury, has also missed significant portions of the Colts season.
The Steelers have also been hampered by injuries, particularly in the last month. Due to injuries, Pittsburgh has lost both of its starting inside linebackers and has been without starting quarterback Kenny Pickett for the last two games due to an ankle ailment. Even with Pickett healthy, Pittsburgh’s offense was not clicking, and with Mitch Trubisky starting at quarterback during the team’s most recent defeats against Arizona and New England, it has reached even deeper lows.
Viewing Steelers vs. Colts
- When: Saturday, Dec 16 | 4:30 p.m. ET
- Where: Lucas Oil Stadium — Indianapolis, Indiana
- TV: NFL Network | Live stream: fubo
- Follow: CBS Sports App
- Odds: IND -1.5; O/U 42 (via Caesars Sportsbook)
Forecast
The Steelers essentially received a blueprint from the Bengals on how to defeat the Colts, who had won four consecutive games before their defeat to Cincinnati last Sunday. Cincinnati won by stopping the run, limiting the Colts to only one of three red zone possessions, and limiting them to three of eleven third-down conversions. The Bengals relied mostly on running backs Joe Mixon and Chase Brown, who combined for 29 runs and converted screen passes into gains of 54 and 45 yards, while defensively shielding Jake Browning.
Pittsburgh will basically attempt to implement that strategy, but Trubisky will need to perform better than he has in previous weeks to do that. Trubisky won’t have to be as good as Browning to set the stage for Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris, the team’s running backs. However, he will need to succeed somewhat via the air. With that, and by making Gardner Minshew make several errors, the Steelers should defeat the Colts for the ninth time in a row before they depart Indianapolis.
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