The Pittsburgh Steelers will play the Indianapolis Colts on the road. This game will be their third road game in four weeks to open the season. They have passed the test, roaring out to a 3-0 start that has them at the top of the AFC through three weeks. However, the NFL season is early; and even though the Colts stand at 1-2, this team looks much better on paper than it has performed so far on film.
With another challenge coming for the Steelers, here are the keys to a win over the Colts on Sunday.
Slow Down Jonathan Taylor
The Steelers’ toughest test so far this season will be the Colts’ rushing attack. They are led by the best offensive line and running back, Jonathan Taylor, that they have faced to this point. It might be the one matchup where losing Alex Highsmith hurts.
Taylor can hit the gas. He has breakaway speed and looks like the elite version of himself that the Colts thought they were getting when he signed his extension during of the 2023 season. On top of that, Taylor has a plus one in the run game with Anthony Richardson, who can pull it back and pop runs out himself.
The Colts are fifth in rushing success rate, fourth in EPA per rush, and second in the NFL in yards before contact. Taylor’s patience maximizes the space he gets, but the Colts’ offensive line is a battering ram. The Steelers get the season’s biggest test on the defensive line this year.
Force Anthony Richardson to Make Mistakes
Richardson is the ultimate feast-or-famine player in the NFL. He has the second-most turnover-worthy plays at quarterback this year, only behind Will Levis. However, he creates explosive plays more than he gives the ball away.
Richardson is a classic case of a player who has yet to learn that he does not have to be the hero, and can just take what is given to him. In many ways, the dynamic he brings to the table resembles what Justin Fields did in Chicago. However, Richardson continues to throw questionable interceptions when the brunt of the weight is put on him.
The Steelers must stop Taylor and the run game even more to put the pressure on Richardson. He has talented pass catchers that can give the Steelers trouble, but Pittsburgh has ballhawks that can change the game, too.
The Steelers have not been tested deep too often this year; that’s mainly because Minkah Fitzpatrick roams on the back end. The Steelers have played well against it. Richardson is a scatter-shot quarterback, but he can minimize the Steelers’ ball-control style in one play, which is dangerous.
Run the Football Well
The Colts are banged up on their defensive front. It looks like DeForest Buckner, Kwity Paye, and TyQuan Lewis could all miss this contest. With that in mind, the Colts have a run defense that is below average; though they have some players that can wreck the game even with that in mind,
Rookie Laiatu Latu and linebacker Zaire Franklin take pride in making plays against the run. Safety Nick Cross has taken a big step forward in his play, too.
The Colts snuffed out much of Chicago’s performance in Week 3 (which running back Najee Harris attributed it to specific game scripts), but the Green Bay Packers and Houston Texans gashed them. Defensive tackle Grover Stewart, who will draw Zach Frazier this week, is one of the best run-defending defensive tackles in football, but that should not discourage the Steelers.
This is the bread and butter of the Pittsburgh Steelers. If they can run the ball and control the clock, they can win this game as long as the team does not commit turnovers.
