The Pittsburgh Steelers will look to carry their unbeaten streak into Week 4 as they prepare to take on the Indianapolis Colts on the road. The Steelers are coming off of an impressive victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, and they currently sit atop the entire AFC. Pittsburgh got beaten pretty badly by the Colts during the 2023 season, and the team will be looking for some sort of revenge on Sunday. Head Coach Mike Tomlin's team is prepping for their third road test of the young 2024 campaign, and the Colts are determined to win at home.
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Quarterback Anthony Richardson in the tunnel before an Indianapolis Colts game.
Pittsburgh's defense has been one of the best in the league so far in the 2024 season. They are only giving up 8.7 points per game through three contests, but they will be taking on some serious competition in Indianapolis. Quarterback Anthony Richardson is in his second-season and has struggled some, but the potential is there with his limitless athleticism. He spoke to the media on Thursday, where he was asked about Pittsburgh's defense and whether or not he is concerned going up against it.
"You know, we do have to acknowledge that they are a great team. They have a great scheme over there, have great players, we all know that. But we don't necessarily have any concerns. We feel like we can matchup with anybody, so we're just trying to play our offense and just execute, you know play by play. Not really thinking about who's on the other side."
Richardson wasn't the quarterback for the Colts when they took down the Steelers in 2023. He suffered a season-ending injury early on in the year, and Gardner Minshew started the rest of the season. Richardson will be starting his eighth game on Sunday, and he has never squared off against a defense like the Steelers. The pass rush will be coming after him, and the secondary will be looking to force mistakes as he has been one of the worst passers in the league in 2024.
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Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward looks at the screen during a Pittsburgh Steelers game against the Colts.
Richardson has yet to eclipse a completion percentage of 50 percent in a game during the 2024 season, and he has already thrown six interceptions through three contests. He has looked really good at times, and then really bad. This is the type of player Pittsburgh's defense should be able to take advantage of, and force into committing a lot of turnovers.
One thing the Steelers' defense will need to worry about is the running game. The Colts' offensive line has been playing lights out and they have one of the better running backs in the league in Jonathan Taylor. Richardson could also be a threat with his legs. When the two teams clashed in 2023, the Colts dominated Pittsburgh on the ground without Taylor and Richardson. Instead it was Trey Sermon, Tyler Goodson, and Zack Moss combining for 170 yards. Both Sermon and Goodson had spent time on the practice squad before destroying Pittsburgh 30-13.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig stand on the sideline during the national anthem.
Steelers' Defense Is Set Up To Dominate In Indianapolis
When the Steelers and Colts clashed back in 2023, Pittsburgh's defense was already severely beat up. Players like Trenton Thompson and Mykal Walker were playing meaningful snaps for Pittsburgh. This time around, the defense is in much better shape. New additions like Patrick Queen and DeShon Elliott will help put a stop to the run game, and Donte Jackson can stop the pass game as he has been playing like one of the best corners in the league in 2024.
TJ Watt will also be making his presence known. He had two sacks in Indianapolis during the 2023 season, and he is looking to repeat that success. His partner in crime, Alex Highsmith, will be missing the game, but Nick Herbig has proven he can be relied on to fill in for the veteran.
What do you think of Richardson saying he isn't concerned about the Steelers' defense? Let us know in the comments below!
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