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Steeler Nation is a world-wide army that lives and dies with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The six-time Super Bowl champions are a franchise that considers excellence the only standard, and their fans expect nothing less than hard hitting, top notch football. This is the ultimate Steelers GameDay Preview that all followers of the black and gold come to find everything they need to know about the Steelers and their upcoming opponent! Mike Drakulich (@PghSportsNation), who covers both Pitt football and the Steelers for NGSC Sports, brings you inside the huddle for both teams with the Plan of Attack, The Scoop and score prediction, Game Day information, a detailed breakdown of each team, and an up to date team injury report. Heck, you’ll even know the weather at kickoff. The only thing you’re missing is a game uniform.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts
NFL Week 12
Game-time: Monday, November 28th, 8:15 PM
- Vegas line: Indianapolis -2.5
Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN.
- Field: Field Turf
Plan of Attack
Overall
- Fire Matt Canada: The worst offensive coordinator in all of football. Till he is replaced with an actual NFL caliber offensive minded guy, the offense will stay stuck being dubbed the ‘Quicksand Offense”. No matter who has been at QB, that being Ben Roethlisberger, Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, or Mitch Trubisky, the passing game has been a joke. Rarely are the receivers ever open or catching passes in open space. Good God, fire this guy.
Offense
- Establish run game: Najee Harris is looking better the last few weeks, and the Colts aren’t very stout vs the run.
- Kenny Pickett: The first rounder had a good first half vs the Bengals but disappeared in the 2nd half. It’s tough, but despite the offense he is forced to run, he’s going to have to suck it up for the last seven games and find a way to flourish, that being going through his progressions, stepping up in the pocket, and finding his open receivers.
Defense
- Bottle up Jonathan Taylor: The best way to stop the Colts is to take away their best weapon in Taylor and force Matt Ryan to beat you through the air.
- Get off the damn field: The 108 million dollar defense has been pathetic this year, and that trend has to cease pronto. Yes, some new blood is needed at key areas, but the stars of the D have to step up their play and stop allowing points to opposing offenses the very next drive after a scoring drive of their own. Stop the run, pressure Ryan, and get off the field on 3rd downs.
The Scoop
The door was slightly open last week before the Steelers took the field vs the Bengals, but Cincinnati promptly slammed the door shut.
It has been a disaster of a season for Pittsburgh, from Mike Tomlin, to Matt Canada, to the sluggish play by the team week after week.
This team needs upgrades everywhere, which may include the head coach if he won’t make the necessary changes this team massively needs, starting with acquiring an offensive coordinator that doesn’t set football back 50 years.
Now to this week, as the Steelers (3-7) head to Indianapolis to face the Colts (4-6-1) on Monday Night Football at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The game-plan on defense is to stop the Colts top weapon in Jonathan Taylor, who isn’t having the year he expected to have.
“We’ve got to minimize his impact on the game,” Tomlin said. “We can’t allow them to be on schedule and minimize possession-down football via an effective running game.”
Colts interim head coach Jeff Saturday knows what he’ll need to do to get Indy their 5th win of the year, and his 2nd win of his coaching career in three games.
“We want to be a physical football team that sets the tone and the tempo from running the football,” Saturday. “I’ll take ‘28’ against just about anybody.”
“28” of course is Taylor, and Steelers defensive end Cam Heyward and his teammates know they have their work cut out for them.
“He’s a home-run hitter and hits the hole hard,” Heyward said. “Any crease he gets, he can take off.”
On offense, Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett knows he can find more success if he can get the ball to his fellow rookie in wide receiver in George Pickens.
“He’s the best athlete probably that I’ve played with,” Pickett said. “Just the freak things that he does, the catches he makes that are so nonchalant to him. I kind of look around like, ‘I’ve never seen that before in my life.’
“He’s a unique guy that can do a lot of great things. We’ve just got to continue to get him the football.”
Pickens, drafted out of Georgia, sees progress after each game played, and expects that to continue.
“As far as learning and getting into a groove, at first we all were new so every day was going to be new,” Pickens said. “I am brand new to the system, same thing with him. It’s just growing as we go through the season. Stuff is going to start to click. The opportunities are going to start to rise.”
It would also help Picken’s cause if the team could find a way to get the ball to it’s leading receiver in Diontae Johnson, who still has yet to catch a touchdown pass this year.
“You see it, but what can I do?” Johnson said. “What can I do differently out there? What can coaches do differently as far as getting me in different spots? Those are a few things we’ve been talking about this week.”
Prediction: Steelers 24 Colts 20
Game Day Information
TV: ESPN
- Announcers: Joe Buck (play-by-play) Troy Aikman (analyst) | Lisa Salters (sideline)
Local Radio: Pittsburgh- 102.5 WDVE-FM & 970 WBGG-AM
- Announcers: Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play) Craig Wolfley (analyst) | Max Starks (sideline) Missi Matthews (sideline)
National Radio: N/A
- Announcers:
Internet broadcast: Steelers Nation Radio (SNR) on Steelers.com
Weather at kickoff: Dome
NFL Links
Scouting the Pittsburgh Steelers
Overall record: 3-7 (4th in AFC North)
Last game: Bengals 37 Steelers 30
Head Coach: Mike Tomlin
- 15th Season with Steelers
- Overall regular-season record: 157-92-2
- Playoff record: 8-9 (Qualified for playoffs 10 times)
Team Links
- Pittsburgh Steelers Team Roster
- Steelers Team/Individual Statistics
- Pittsburgh Steelers 2022 Schedule
Steelers Offense
Offensive Stats
- Points per game: 17
- Total yards per game: 330.6
- Passing yards per game: 222.8
- Rushing yards per game: 107.8
Quarterback
Kenny Pickett | #8
Has had his ups and downs as a rookie starter, but it’s hard to gauge his progress in an offense designed for junior high school. Statistically, had his best game of the year vs the Bengals last week.
- Passing Yards: 1,426 | TD Passes: 3 | INT’s: 8 | Sacked: 20 | Rushing Yards: 163 | Rushing TD’s: 3
Back-up: Mitch Trubisky | #10
- Passing Yards: 797 | TD Passes: 3 | INT’s: 2 | Sacked: 9 | Rushing Yards: 29 | Rushing TD’s: 1
Running Backs
Najee Harris | #22
Harris is finally playing up to the standards so many expected of him in his 2nd season.
- Rushing Yards: 550 | Rushing TD’s: 3 | Receptions: 28 | Receiving Yards: 138 | Receiving TD’s: 2
Jaylon Warren* | #30
Good change of pace back when he comes in for relief of Harris. Runs hard and hits the hole going downhill. Unfortunately is out this week.
- Rushing Yards: 190 | Rushing TD’s: 0 | Receptions: 16 | Receiving Yards: 137 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Benny Snell | #44
- Rushing Yards: 0 | Rushing TD’s: 0 | Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Derek Watt | #44
- Rushing Yards: 7 | Rushing TD’s: 0 | Receptions: 3 | Receiving Yards: 7 | Receiving TD’s: 1
Wide Receivers
Diontae Johnson | #18
Isn’t having the type of production you’d expect from an 18 million dollar a year receiver, but Matt Canada’s offense fails to put him in position to succeed.
- Receptions: 51 | Receiving Yards: 456 | Receiving TD’s: 0
George Pickens | #14
A soon to be force in the NFL. Pickens has already made one of the greatest catches of 2022 and when the team has a true OC, will become the best receiver on the team.
- Receptions: 33 | Receiving Yards: 453 | Receiving TD’s: 2
Myles Boykin* | #82
- Receptions: 1 | Receiving Yards: 11 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Steven Sims | #13
- Receptions: 3 | Receiving Yards: 14 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Gunner Olszewski | #89
- Receptions: 3 | Receiving Yards: 43 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Tight Ends
Pat Friermuth | #88
One of the better tight ends in the game, is 2nd on the team with 44 receptions.
- Receptions: 44 | Receiving Yards: 482 | Receiving TD’s: 1
Zach Gentry | #81
- Receptions: 14 | Receiving Yards: 100 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Conner Heyward | #83
- Receptions: 7 | Receiving Yards: 76 | Receiving TD’s: 0
*Injured/Out
Steelers Defense (Base 3-4)
Defensive Stats
- Points per game allowed: 24.4
- Total offense yards per game allowed: 375.5
- Passing yards allowed: 272.1
- Rushing yards allowed: 103.4
- Sacks: 19
- Interceptions: 12
Defensive Starters
DE: Cam Heyward #97 | DT: Tyson Alualu #94 | DE: Larry Ogunjobi #99
- Heyward has 41 tackles and four sacks.
OLB: T.J. Watt #90 | ILB: Devin Bush #55 | ILB: Myles Jack #51| OLB: Alex Highsmith #56
- Highsmith leads the team with nine sacks. Jack leads the team with 81 tackles. Bush is 2nd on team with 54 tackles. Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt has 16 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two INT’s.
CB: Levi Wallace #29 | SS: Terrell Edmunds #34 | FS: Minkah Fitzpatrick #39/Damontae Kazee #23 | CB: Cameron Sutton #20
- Fitzpatrick is 3rd on the team with 48 tackles, and a team leading three interceptions. Sutton has two INT’s, while Wallace has three. Damontae Kazee will see plenty of snaps and has five tackles and one interception.
Steelers Special Teams
Placekicker
Matthew Wright | #4
- Extra Points: 5-5
- Field Goals: 5-7
- 1-19 yards: 0-0
- 20-29 yards: 0-0
- 30-39 yards: 4-5
- 40-49 yards: 1-2
- 50+ yards: 0-0
Chris Boswell* | #9
One of the best clutch kickers in the game, but is out.
- Extra Points: 9-9
- Field Goals: 12-16
- 1-19 yards: 0-0
- 20-29 yards: 3-3
- 30-39 yards: 2-3
- 40-49 yards: 2-4
- 50+ yards: 5-6
Kickoff Returners
Steven Sims | #13
- Average: 25.6 | TD Returns: 0
Punt Returner
Steven Sims | #13
- Average: 7.4 | TD Returns: 0
Scouting the Indianapolis Colts
Overall record: 4-6-1 (2nd in AFC South)
Last game: Eagles 17 Colts 16
Head Coach: Jeff Saturday
- 1st Season with Indianapolis (Interim)
- Overall regular-season record: 1-1
- Playoff record: 0-0
Team Links
Colts Offense
Offensive Stats
- Points per game: 15.7
- Total Offense per game: 348.5
- Passing yards per game: 249.7
- Rushing yards per game: 98.7
Quarterback
Matt Ryan | #2
Age has caught up to Ryan, who can’t find consistency to remain successful.
- Passing Yards: 2,443 | TD Passes: 10 | INT’s: 9 | Sacked: 29 | Rushing Yards: 50 | Rushing TD’s: 1
Back-up: Sam Ehlinger | #4
- Passing Yards: 304 | TD Passes: 0 | INT’s: 1 | Sacked: 11 | Rushing Yards: 54 | Rushing TD’s: 0
Running Backs
Jonathan Taylor | #28
Injuries have slowed one of the top backs in the league to having a ho-hum year.
- Rushing Yards: 693 | Rushing TD’s: 3 | Receptions: 21 | Receiving Yards: 97 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Deon Jackson | #35
- Rushing Yards: 130 | Rushing TD’s: 1 | Receptions: 20 | Receiving Yards: 124 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Receivers
Michael Pittman | #11
The top target in the Colts passing game.
- Receptions: 67 | Receiving Yards: 678 | Receiving TD’s: 1
Parris Campbell | #1
The former Ohio State star is tied for the team lead with three touchdown receptions.
- Receptions: 44 | Receiving Yards: 440 | Receiving TD’s: 3
Alex Pierce | #14
- Receptions: 28 | Receiving Yards: 424 | Receiving TD’s: 1
Tight Ends
Kylen Granson | #83
- Receptions: 25 | Receiving Yards: 249 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Mo Alie-Cox | #81
- Receptions: 14 | Receiving Yards: 163 | Receiving TD’s: 2
Jelani Woods | #80
- Receptions: 7 | Receiving Yards: 79 | Receiving TD’s: 3
*Injured/out
Colts Defense (Base 4-3)
Defensive Stats
- Points per game allowed: 20.0
- Total offense yards per game allowed: 307.6
- Passing yards allowed: 194.2
- Rushing yards allowed: 113.5
- Sacks: 28
- Interceptions: 4
Defensive Starters
DE: Kwity Paye #51 | DT: DeForest Buckner #99 | | DT: Grover Stewart #90 | DE: Yannick Ngakoue #91
- Stewart has three sacks on the year, while Buckneris 2nd on the squad with 5.5 sacks. Ngakoue leads with 6.5 sacks.
OLB: Bobby Okereke #58 | MLB: E.J. Speed #45 | OLB: Zaire Franklin #44
- Franklin leads the team with 108 tackles. Okereke is 2nd with 94.
CB: Kenny Moore II #23 | SS: Rodney McCleod #26 | FS: Julian Blackmon #32 | CB: Stephon Gilmore #5
- Moore II has 55 tackles and one sack.
Colts Special Teams
Placekicker
Chase McLaughlin | #7
- Extra Points: 10-10
- Field Goals: 19-23
- 1-19 yards: 0-0
- 20-29 yards: 3-3
- 30-39 yards: 4-5
- 40-49 yards: 7-8
- 50+ yards: 5-7
Kickoff Returners
Isaiah Rodgers | #34
- Average: 21.8 | TD Returns: 0
Punt Returner
Keke Coutee | #15
- Average: 9.3 | TD Returns: 0
Steelers vs Colts History
Series History: Began in 1950
Overall Record: 26-6
- Home: 13-2
- Away: 13-4
- Postseason: 5-0
Streak: Steelers have won the last seven games.
Last regular-season meeting: Steelers Win, 28-24 OT Dec. 27, 2020)
Last postseason meeting: Steelers Win, 21-18 (Jan. 15, 2006)
Injury Report (11/27/22)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Out: CB Ahkello Witherspoon (Hamstring), RB Jaylen Warren (Hamstring)
- Doubtful: None
- Questionable: WR Miles Boykin (Oblique), LB Robert Spillane (Back)
Indianapolis Colts
- Out: None
- Doubtful: None
- Questionable: TE Kylen Granson (Illness), DE Yannick Ngakoue (Back), DE Kwity Paye (Ankle), DT DeForest Buckner (Ribs/Illness)
Author Profile
- Your source for Pittsburgh sports!
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From Midland, "The Basketball Capital of Pennsylvania", located 35 miles NW of Pittsburgh along the Ohio River. This former steel town was home to storied athletes such as Dave Alston, Norm Van Lier, Simmie Hill, and the legendary 1965 Midland High School Basketball Team.
There's nowhere on earth that is more dedicated to its sports teams like Western Pennsylvania and the city of Pittsburgh. The passion and pride of Pittsburgh's fan base is second to no one. From the NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA football and basketball, to W.P.I.A.L. high school sports, "The City of Champions" has it all!
As Editor of Pittsburgh SportsNation, Mike Drakulich provides top notch opinions and coverage of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pitt Panthers football & basketball, Robert Morris Colonials basketball, and Duquesne Dukes basketball, as well as all sports teams that represent Western Pennsylvania, including WPIAL High School Football.
For a refreshing view of sports, mixed with humor and uncensored opinions, check out Pittsburgh SportsNation today on Facebook, Twitter @PghSportsNation and videos with over 1,000,000 views on YouTube!
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