Colts Are 3 Point Favorites

[WindyCitySteel]

Took the time to look at the Colts schedule. While reeling off a 5 game win streak is impressive under any circumstances, I was still left to wonder who they've beat (other than the Ravens) who is having an equally impressive season. They lost their first two games to playoff caliber teams in Denver and Philadelphia. Then came their win streak:

Jacksonville: 44-17 (I know, I know)
Tennessee: 41-17
Baltimore: 20-13
Houston: 33-28
Cincinnati: 27-0 (Looks impressive, but how good are the Bengals really?)
Three of these five games were home wins: TN, Balt and Cinci.

I'm not saying that we will win this game, but I'm also not in the camp that thinks the Colts are some unbeatable juggernaut that's been rolling up wins against top flight opponents. they've played exactly three teams that look playoff worthy this year and are 1-2 in those games. I may be fooling myself, but I believe that with a good gameplan and if the players are "up" for this game, the Steelers can make a game of this and possibly pull out a win.

I mostly agree, but the Steelers have lost to or almost lost to the same quality of teams. Good teams stack wins, if you will, against teams they should beat.

I think the Steelers think they're better than they are and can just show up against some of these bottom feeders.

[WindyCitySteel]

Yah, Potsy ended Kerry Collins career!! then PAINTER came in the game.. haaa

2011 was the beginning of the end. Several near misses against terrible teams, and then getting Tebowed out of the playoffs. In hindsight, that ensuing offseason is when the defensive housecleaning and rebuilding should have begun. Might be back by now instead of clinging to the past and hoping for 8-8.

[SteelBuckeye]

That's a fair criticism. With that said, Luck is a top flight QB. It will be a long day if this d cant get to him.

Totally agree. Also think that the Steelers running game will be key. They need to keep the ball out of the hands of the Colt's offense (doesn't that sound like 2005).

I mostly agree, but the Steelers have lost to or almost lost to the same quality of teams. Good teams stack wins, if you will, against teams they should beat.

I think the Steelers think they're better than they are and can just show up against some of these bottom feeders.

If this team thinks this way, they are seriously delusional as a group, and I hope Tomlin has told them so. It's time for them to consistently live up to the potential that they have teased us with in fits and spurts.

[Slapstick]

2011 was the beginning of the end. Several near misses against terrible teams, and then getting Tebowed out of the playoffs. In hindsight, that ensuing offseason is when the defensive housecleaning and rebuilding should have begun. Might be back by now instead of clinging to the past and hoping for 8-8.

Because the successful teams clean house after making the playoffs.

[NorthCoast]

Colts D has done an amazing job against teams on 3rd downs. Thought I heard opponents are something like 4-41 on 3rd downs.
If BR/TH can crack that code, Steelers could greatly improve their chances in this game.

Personally, just hope the Steelers can make a game of it and give some young guys opportunities to shine.

[RuthlessBurgher]

If we are effective on 1st and 2nd down...giving us 3rd and short opportunities...we should be okay.

If penalties, sacks or other general mishaps force us into 3rd and long situations...we could be in some trouble.

[sick beats]

If we are effective on 1st and 2nd down...giving us 3rd and short opportunities...we should be okay.

If, by Rudyard Kipling

Colts have the #1 offense and #3 defense. We ain't playing the Jags this week. The Colts are a good team.

[NorthCoast]

If we are effective on 1st and 2nd down...giving us 3rd and short opportunities...we should be okay.

If penalties, sacks or other general mishaps force us into 3rd and long situations...we could be in some trouble.

Appreciate the positivity... Lord knows we need it around here... but these comments were eerily what came from the Bengals last week.

[Shoe]

What is going to give us a fighting chan e is our offense coining out firing, a la '04 vs. the old Colts. That was an "unwind able" game too, but we came out firing! Conventional wisdom dictates one thing: we need to do something else. e.g. They expect our dink/dunk O. We should have Ben back in the time machine THIS WEEK ONLY, start dropping him back more, and making stuff happen with his legs.

THEN we can dictate (the run). On D, we gotta also flip the script on them, do stuff that we don't NORMALLY do.

If if we come out and go run, run, pass,mtheyll jump on us quick and it'll be all she wrote.

[hawaiiansteel]

Brown: 'We need to get up early'

Teresa Varley
Steelers.com

Getting off to a quick start, and possessing the ball, will be keys against the Colts.

Fast start: On Monday night the Steelers were able to fight back from a 13-0 deficit with a frenzied few minutes at the end of the second quarter that included scoring 21 points in 73 seconds.

It worked fine then, giving the Steelers a 24-13 lead they would hold on to for a 30-23 win. But the players know they are going to have to get out to a fast start this week against the Indianapolis Colts, who come in to Heinz Field riding high on a five-game win streak.

“We have to come out and play smart and not get behind,” said receiver Antonio Brown. “We need to get up early and be prepared to do our jobs. We did a great job responding to adversity, maximizing on opportunities and turning it on when we had to. But the key is to get off to a fast start.”

The Colts offense is ranked number one overall and in yards per game in the NFL, and second in scoring, while the defense ranks third in fewest yards allowed and second in fewest points allowed per game.

“Every game we need to start fast and put points on the board early,” said tackle Kelvin Beachum. “We had opportunities; we just have to do a better job of executing early on, making plays and doing our job and getting it done early. It’s a good team we have coming in front of us so we just have to do it early.”

The Colts lead the NFL in time of possession, averaging 36:56, almost seven minutes over the league average of 30:00 per game.

“We have to cut into that,” said guard David DeCastro. “We have to be great. We have to give our defense some help and score points and be better at that earlier.”

A look at the Colts

The Colts success begins with quarterback Andrew Luck, who comes into this week’s game as the AFC’s third-ranked passer boasting a 100.5 passer rating and 19 touchdown passes.

“He’s a competitor,” said DeCastro. “He loves playing the game. He hates losing.”

What the Steelers are saying:

About three straight games at Heinz Field:

Maurkice Pouncey: “It’s huge. Heinz Field is awesome. Our fans do a great job of pushing us throughout the game. Playing at home, there is nothing like it. Whatever stadium you are at you have to win that game. That is what we plan on doing.”

Markus Wheaton: “It’s huge. We can use the snap count to our advantage. Once we get going, like we did on Monday night, we will have the fans on our side and that momentum will pick up really fast.”

The Colts perspective:

Colts Coach Chuck Pagano on preparing to play Ben Roethlisberger:
“It’s difficult. I’ve gone against him numerous times, some good and a lot of bad. The guy is just a tremendous quarterback. He is a future first-ballot Hall of Famer. He is big. He is strong. He is accurate. He has great vision and strength. You can’t get him down in the pocket. The way he is able to throw on time, throw in rhythm and throw the deep ball, and the way he can extend plays, escape and brush off would be blitzers and find guys, it’s amazing. You turn on the tape and he doesn’t look any different. He looks better than in my years at Baltimore and having to go against “Big Ben.” He is doing a great job and it seems like he is getting better with age.”

Colts Quarterback Andrew Luck thoughts on the Steelers’ defense:
“Tough. Obviously Troy Polamalu is still playing at a very, very high level and is going to go down as one of the best safeties, if not the best, to ever play the position. Formidable front seven. I know injuries have got them a bit. I guess that’s football at this time and they’ve done more than an adequate job of sticking guys in there and making plays. It’s a tough scheme to get a beat on. You’re never quite sure what’s going to happen so it’s going to be a stiff, stiff test on the road. We know that and are also looking forward to the great challenge.”

[URL]http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Brown-We-need-to-get-up-early/e0589a55-9194-4021-85e3-93675fefa6ce[/URL]

[WindyCitySteel]

If, by Rudyard Kipling

Colts have the #1 offense and #3 defense. We ain't playing the Jags this week. The Colts are a good team.

That #3 defense is in large part because they're only on the field 23 minutes a game, thanks to their offense.

[WindyCitySteel]

What is going to give us a fighting chan e is our offense coining out firing, a la '04 vs. the old Colts..

That was 2005...

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Colts Quarterback Andrew Luck thoughts on the Steelers’ defense:
“Tough. Obviously Troy Polamalu is still playing at a very, very high level and is going to go down as one of the best safeties, if not the best, to ever play the position. Formidable front seven. I know injuries have got them a bit. I guess that’s football at this time and they’ve done more than an adequate job of sticking guys in there and making plays. It’s a tough scheme to get a beat on. You’re never quite sure what’s going to happen so it’s going to be a stiff, stiff test on the road. We know that and are also looking forward to the great challenge.”

Well, we now know that Luck hasn't done any film study on the Steelers...Obviously....

[hawaiiansteel]

Well, we now know that Luck hasn't done any film study on the Steelers...Obviously....

nah, Luck is licking his chops. he's just smart enough to let a sleeping dog lie...

[LasVegasGuy2]

Took the time to look at the Colts schedule. While reeling off a 5 game win streak is impressive under any circumstances, I was still left to wonder who they've beat (other than the Ravens) who is having an equally impressive season. They lost their first two games to playoff caliber teams in Denver and Philadelphia. Then came their win streak:

Jacksonville: 44-17 (I know, I know)
Tennessee: 41-17
Baltimore: 20-13
Houston: 33-28
Cincinnati: 27-0 (Looks impressive, but how good are the Bengals really?)
Three of these five games were home wins: TN, Balt and Cinci.

I'm not saying that we will win this game, but I'm also not in the camp that thinks the Colts are some unbeatable juggernaut that's been rolling up wins against top flight opponents. they've played exactly three teams that look playoff worthy this year and are 1-2 in those games. I may be fooling myself, but I believe that with a good gameplan and if the players are "up" for this game, the Steelers can make a game of this and possibly pull out a win.

So the Colts beating teams they should is frowned upon but us losing to teams we should beat is acceptable? Colts beat us silly on Sunday and we are back to the standard under Tomlin which is .500. Hang on boys this could get ugly Sunday. The line would be worse but Fitzpatrick gave us 21 points on Monday.