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The considered the Indianapolis Colts visiting Pittsburgh’s Heinz Discipline doesn’t evoke constructive ideas for the guests.
Truth is, the Steelers have owned the Colts all through the collection 24-6, together with six straight and three of these at Heinz Discipline. The Colts misplaced 26-24 at Pittsburgh final yr, when Adam Vinatieri missed a last-minute discipline objective try.
However there’s cause to consider this sport might deviate from the pattern. The Colts (10-4) have received 5 of six to enhance to the sixth AFC playoff spot. The Steelers (11-3) have misplaced three in a row with a shaky offense in addition to a protection lacking key regulars.
That stated, the Steelers may have operating again James Conner and inside linebacker Vince Williams again within the fold after they missed a number of video games. And the Colts will likely be with no key offensive lineman in proper sort out Braden Smith, who was positioned on the reserve/COVID-19 record on Friday. Three different reserves are additionally on the record.
The Steelers can clinch the AFC North Division title with a win. The Colts want the Tennessee Titans (10-4) to lose at Inexperienced Bay to drag forward within the AFC South Division. The Titans have the division win proportion tiebreaker.
Suffice to say, there’s quite a bit driving on this sport.
Steelers extensive receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster tries to keep away from Colts linebacker Darius Leonard.
Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports activities
Right here’s all it is advisable learn about Colts-Steelers.
Broadcast Info
— Sunday, Dec. 27, at 1 p.m. (EDT).
— Heinz Discipline, Pittsburgh.
— TV: CBS-4, Jim Nantz (play-by-play), Tony Romo (coloration), Tracy Wolfson (sideline).
— Radio: WFNI 1070-AM ESPN “The Fan,” WLHK 97.1 HANK-FM, Matt Taylor (play-by-play), Rick Venturi (coloration), Larra Overton (sideline), Invoice Brooks (pregame/postgame analyst); Sports activities USA, John Ahlers (play-by-play), Brandon Noble (coloration).
All-Time Sequence
— Steelers lead, 24-6 (5-0 in playoffs). Steelers have received six in a row.
— Final assembly, Week 9, 2019. Steelers received, 26-24.
Coaches
Colts: head coach Frank Reich; offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni; defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, particular groups Bubba Ventrone.
Steelers: head coach Mike Tomlin; offensive coordinator Mike Fichtner; defensive coordinator Keith Butler; particular groups Danny Smith.
Final Week
Colts received vs. Houston Texans, 27-20.
Steelers misplaced at Cincinnati Bengals, 27-17.
Damage Studies
Colts
— OUT: WR Marcus Johnson (quad); RT Braden Smith (reserve/COVID-19).
— QUESTIONABLE: LT Anthony Castonzo (ankle/knee); DE Al-Quadin Muhammad (ankle).
Steelers
— OUT: LB Ulysees Gilbert III (ankle).
— QUESTIONABLE: LB Olasunkanmi Adeniyi (shoulder); S Marcus Allen (stinger); Ok Chris Boswell (groin); RB Anthony McFarland (groin).
Storylines/Issues to Watch
— Turnovers Magnified: The Colts are tied for the NFL lead in turnover ratio at +12 and the Steelers are tied for fourth at +8. In chilly climate, ball safety is usually a difficulty for even the very best groups. Colts operating backs have misplaced just one fumble this season. Each quarterbacks are protected properly, which make strip sacks in addition to interceptions onerous to return by. The crew that may create turnovers will acquire a substantial benefit.
— Cross Safety/Cross Rush: The Steelers are the NFL’s greatest in getting sacks and never permitting them. The Colts are second in fewest sacks allowed, however middle-of-the-pack in sacks with an inconsistent go rush. Quarterback Philip Rivers removes the ball shortly and has been fairly efficient along with his reads and fast selections within the second half of the season, wherein the Colts have received 5 of six video games. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is a giant man to carry down and may take hits, so he buys his pass-catchers time to get open. The Colts have struggled mightily to get sufficient strain on him lately.
— Trip Colts Workhorse: If there’s any weak point within the Steelers’ second-ranked protection, it’s in run protection, however the Black & Gold are nonetheless stable with a No. 8 rating. The Colts have thrived on the bottom prior to now 4 video games as rookie operating again Jonathan Taylor has rushed for 414 yards on 68 carries (6.1 ypc) with three TDs. Shifting the chains with Taylor monopolizes time of possession and may put on down that Steelers protection. It additionally retains the Roethlisberger-led Steelers offense off the sphere.
Steelers outdoors linebacker T.J. Watt leads the NFL with 13 sacks.
Wealthy Barnes/USA TODAY Sports activities
Intriguing Matchups
— Colts RT Chaz Inexperienced vs. Steelers LOLB T.J. Watt: The youthful brother of J.J. Watt leads the NFL with 13 sacks and is a candidate for NFL Defensive Participant of the Yr. This was purported to be an fascinating matchup towards proper sort out Braden Smith, however he was positioned on the reserve/COVID-19 record on Friday. Which means the journeyman Inexperienced has to line up towards Watt, and there’s little question the Colts will present blocking assist, ideally with a good finish. If Inexperienced struggles, latest roster-addition Will Holden might be pressed into use.
— Colts DT DeForest Buckner vs. Steelers C Maurkice Pouncey: Anticipate Buckner to be fired up after getting snubbed for the Professional Bowl regardless of having higher numbers than the three gamers chosen for the AFC squad. Whereas he sometimes takes on offensive guards, the Steelers received’t hesitate to have Pouncey help in double-team blocks. Buckner leads the Colts with 24 quarterback hits and his 7.5 sacks tie for the crew lead. There’s no one higher for him to make an announcement towards than Pouncey, who was simply named to his ninth Professional Bowl.
— Colts CB Xavier Rhodes vs. Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster: The Steelers have a number of succesful pass-catchers however Smith-Schuster is often the primary possibility and probably the most reliable. Diontae Johnson has had points with drops and rookie Chase Claypool hasn’t been focused with any consistency in latest video games. Smith-Schuster has seven TD receptions for the third time in his four-year profession. Whether or not it’s a rating or a primary down, Ben Roethlisberger needs to show to his go-to man. Smith-Schuster had three catches for 15 yards towards the Bengals final week, his second-lowest output of the yr. Rhodes has had a stable bounce-back season, however Smith-Schuster has the type of pace and talent to get open that will likely be a problem for the duvet man.
Projected Climate
— Partly cloudy skies, high 42F, winds S at 5-10 mph.
Referee Project
— Head referee: Alex Kemp (third yr as referee, began as aspect decide in 2014). Click here to see all referee assignments for Week 16.
Betting Traces
— Favourite: Colts (-1.5).
— Over/Below: 44.5.
2020 Season Leaders
Colts
— Passing: QB Philip Rivers (3,735 yards).
— Speeding: RB Jonathan Taylor (842 yards).
— Receiving: WR T.Y. Hilton (675 yards).
— Touchdowns: Taylor (8).
— Tackles: LB Darius Leonard (103).
— Sacks: DE Denico Autry, DT DeForest Buckner, DE Justin Houston (7.5).
— Interceptions: CB Kenny Moore II (4).
Steelers
— Passing: QB Ben Roethlisberger (3,462 yards).
— Speeding: RB James Conner (663 yards).
— Receiving: WR Diontae Johnson (753 yards).
— Touchdowns: WR Chase Claypool (10).
— Tackles: S Minkah Fitzpatrick (63).
— Sacks: OLB T.J. Watt (13).
— Interceptions: Fitzpatrick (4).
Evaluating 2020 Stats
Colts
— Complete offense: twelfth (374.8 YPG).
— Scoring: eighth (28.5 PPG).
— Passing offense: ninth (260.8 YPG).
— Sacks allowed: 2nd (16).
— Speeding offense: fifteenth (114 YPG).
— Third-down offense: twenty third (40.23%).
— Pink-zone offense: twentieth (58.49%).
— Complete protection: seventh (334.1 YPG).
— Scoring protection: T11th (22.9 PPG).
— Passing protection: seventeenth (236 YPG).
— Sacks: T15th (33).
— Speeding protection: fifth (98.1 YPG).
— Third-down protection: twenty first (43.5%).
— Pink-zone protection: thirteenth (59.57%).
— Time of possession: 14th (30:43).
— Turnover differential: T1st (+12).
Steelers
— Complete offense: twenty fifth (329 YPG).
— Scoring: thirteenth (26.1 PPG).
— Passing offense: seventeenth (240.1 YPG).
— Sacks allowed: 1st (12).
— Speeding offense: thirty first (88.9 YPG).
— Third-down offense: sixteenth (42.08%).
— Pink-zone offense: thirteenth (63.83%).
— Complete protection: 2nd (297.9 YPG).
— Scoring protection: 2nd (18.9 PPG).
— Passing protection: 2nd (193.3 YPG).
— Sacks: 1st (47).
— Speeding protection: eighth (104.6 YPG).
— Third-down protection: sixth (53.85%).
— Pink-zone protection: third (36.55%).
— Time of possession: T8th (31:15).
— Turnover differential: T4th (+8).
Colts Notes
— Quarterback Philip Rivers wants one TD to tie Dan Marino (420) for the fifth-most TD passes in NFL historical past. Rivers’ subsequent begin strikes him previous Tony Gonzalez and ties London Fletcher (239) for the seventh-most video games began in league historical past. Rivers wants one sport with a 100+ passer ranking to tie Peyton Manning (112) for the third-most video games in league historical past.
— Linebacker Darius Leonard wants six tackles go Duane Bickett (398) for probably the most tackles in a participant’s first three seasons in Colts historical past.
— Kicker Rodrigo Blankenship wants 11 factors to go Cary Blanchard (135 in 1996) for the fifth-most, single-season factors in franchise historical past.
— Defensive sort out DeForest Buckner wants two tackles to succeed in 200 in his five-year profession.
— Jack Doyle wants two receptions to tie Ken Dilger (261) for the fourth-most receptions by a good finish in crew historical past.
— Huge receiver T.Y. Hilton wants one landing to tie Marshall Faulk (51) for the eighth-most complete touchdowns in crew historical past. With one TD reception, Hilton will tie Jimmy Orr (50) for the fourth-most receiving TDs in crew historical past.
— RB Nyheim Hines wants 4 receptions to tie Marshall Faulk (164) for probably the most receptions by a Colts operating again and the fifth-most receptions for a Colts participant in his first three seasons.
— Defensive finish Justin Houston wants three sacks to succeed in 100 in his 10-year profession.
— Working again Jonathan Taylor wants 120 yards speeding to go Alan Ameche (961) for the fifth-most speeding yards by a rookie in franchise historical past.
Click on Earlier than The Sport
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On the lookout for a podcast? Check out the Bleav in Colts Podcast on the Bleav Podcast Network.
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