Steelers Scouting Report: Week 12 versus the Indianapolis Colts

by Christina "Tina" Rivers (3Rivers_Writer) on November 26, 2022

Steel City Underground’s “Steelers Scouting Report” is a preview of each opponent Pittsburgh will face throughout the 2022-23 NFL regular season on a weekly basis, with analysis, injury news, and potential key matchups.

Following a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11, the Pittsburgh Steelers are on the road for a primetime Monday Night Football meeting with the Indianapolis Colts for Week 12 of the 2022 NFL regular season. Pittsburgh had a couple of extra days to make adjustments and heal up and will be looking to get on track.

The Colts, who’ve changed head coaches mid-season and have dealt with their own issues, would enjoy grabbing a win of their own.

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Colts offense

Jeff Saturday played in the NFL and took over coaching duties from Frank Reich, but he’s in a tough situation with the way his offense has been performing. The fact that it has been the defense holding this squad’s heads above became all to clear, especially after last week’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

While the Colts defense held the Eagles offense to its lowest points scored this season, the Indianapolis offense was painful to watch. With veteran quarterback Matt Ryan back under center, the Colts’ offense was alarming in the number of sacks allowed and penalties accrued. That led to one touchdown in three trips into the red zone.

“We didn’t execute… too many mistakes, too many penalties, too many negative plays, missing kicks. You just can’t play a team that good and give them that many opportunities.” – interim HC Jeff Saturday

Related Content: The 5: Steelers to watch against the Colts

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Running back Jonathan Taylor headlined a Colts offense that started hot in Week 11. A talented back, Taylor puts most NFL run defenses on notice. He’s quick and versatile. The Colts will utilize him to test the Steelers’ defensive line and interior on Monday night.

Unfortunately, as the game continued against Philly, the offense got sloppy and inconsistent. Rookie left tackle Bernhard Raimann has taken a lot of heat for an offensive line that has shifted players to be effective yet has still allowed a league-high 40 sacks through eleven weeks of play.

“A lot of should’ve, would’ve, could’ve.” – Center Ryan Kelly on the offense

The Colts offense has been so ineffectual that it has left it’s high-calibre defense in the lurch time and time again. “It’s boring,” quarterback Matt Ryan said, “but we have to execute better than we have. The devil’s in the details. It’s over and over and over and over.”

Whether Indianapolis can do that – run consistent plays series after series – against a Steelers defense that has T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith applying a lot pressure from the edges and a squad that has been finding ways to get turnovers in the past three weeks remains to be seen.

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Colts defense

Indianapolis has fielded a defense this season that have been giving some All Pro, elite-level showings from guys like Stephon Gilmore and DeForest Buckner. Linebackers Bobby Okereke and Zaire Franklin are no shirks, either. Unfortunately, their efforts are for naught when the offense can’t produce points.

The Steelers have experienced similar issues – recently and in the near past – which makes this week’s game between these two teams an interesting pairing; two teams who’ve been hot and cold in front of loyal fans who are frustrated.

Linebacker Shaquille Leonard will be missed. He’s expected to require the remainder of the season off after a second back surgery is needed.

Defensive end Yannick Ngakoue is entering Week 12 with 6.5 sacks this season, and he’s recorded at least a half-sack in each of his last five games.

Indianapolis hasn’t allowed opponents to score more than 20 points against them in all but three games in eleven weeks. That presents a real challenge for Kenny Pickett and a Steelers offense that has yet to put a complete game together in both the run and pass.

The Colts are a team that struggles because their defense is being asked to save every game. As a result, they’re often the underdog in matches this season. That they aren’t against Pittsburgh, at least as of Friday, seems to be an indication that analysts have little faith in either teams’ offense and believe this game will be a defensive battle.

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