PITTSBURGH -- The Indianapolis Colts are returning to the scene where they were embarrassed, humiliated and throttled more than 13 months ago.
Heinz Field.
Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had a field day against the Colts, throwing for a franchise-record 522 yards and six touchdowns with only nine incomplete passes.
Now the Colts will try to slow Roethlisberger down again on national television on Sunday night.
Here are five key areas for the Colts:
Get to Ben. Just look at the stats I mentioned above to see how deadly Roethlisberger can be if you don’t put any pressure on him. The Colts, well, they continue to have a problem getting to the quarterback. They have only 19 sacks, which is good enough for 27th in the NFL this season. The Steelers have given up 25 sacks this season, so there will be a challenge for the Colts to sack Roethlisberger. “You have to try to have a big bag and try to get the horns and all that, but he’s such an escape artist that you really can’t simulate it,” Colts linebacker Robert Mathis said. “You just got to go until the echo of the whistle.”
Limit the big plays. Let’s talk some more defense. The Steelers are a big-play team. The Colts are a team that gives up big plays. Indianapolis is 27th in the NFL when it comes to defending the pass this season. Roethlisberger’s favorite target is speedy receiver Antonio Brown, who has 1,192 yards receiving this season. The immediate thought would be for the Colts put Pro Bowl cornerback Vontae Davis on Brown. Here is another thought: How about defensive coordinator Greg Manusky take a page out of Bill Belichick’s defensive book and put Davis on Steelers receiver Martavis Bryant and double team Brown with Greg Toler and another defensive back. “They’re lightning fast,” Manusky said about Pittsburgh’s receivers. “They could split a defense. They get up the field pretty good. Good hands. They can catch it in traffic. I think Ben trusts all of them so we got to be on our P’s and Q’s across the board.”
Run the ball. The Colts were a disaster running the ball against Tampa Bay in Week 12. They rushed for only 27 yards, which was the third lowest in team history. The lack of production on the ground has running back Frank Gore frustrated because he’s used to having success running ball. He had only 24 yards on 19 carries against the Buccaneers. The Colts constantly talk about being able to run the ball outdoors on the road. Here’s their opportunity. It also keeps Roethlisberger and Pittsburgh’s offense on the sideline. “We’re going to continue to run the ball,” offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski said. “We need to run the ball. This is the time of year that you have to have a good run game and an effective run game.”
Get your big plays. The Colts have shied away from deep throws down the field with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. They’re going to need some big plays to match the Steelers if they expect to have a chance to win the game. Pittsburgh’s pass defense is brutal. Its unit is 30th in the league defending the pass.
Shuffling of the line. In the not-breaking-news category, the Colts will start a different offensive line. Lance Louis will likely start at guard in place of the injured Hugh Thornton (elbow). That means the Colts will start their fifth different starting offensive line of the season. The starting offensive line is expected to be: Joe Reitz and Denzelle Good at tackle, Louis and Jack Mewhort at tackle and Jonotthan Harrison at center. The Steelers have 30 sacks and are giving up only 93.6 yards rushing a game.
