After winning their second consecutive home game last Sunday against the Denver Broncos, the Indianapolis Colts are back on the road this weekend facing the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 9.
Both teams are similar to each other because they not only dealt with the sudden losses of their previously starting quarterbacks, but they still found ways to win.
The Colts will enter this matchup without wide receiver T.Y. Hilton as he’s out with a calf injury. We will get to see whether the likes of Zach Pascal, Parris Campbell, and Deon Cain can take advantage of this huge opportunity.
Here are three key matchups in the Colts’ Week 9 bout against the Steelers:
QB Mason Rudolph vs. Colts’ secondary
With Steelers running back James Connor possibly being out on Sunday, the Colts could see an uptick in chances of defending Rudolph. The second-year quarterback has been starting since Week 2, because of Ben Roethlisberger’s season-ending injury, and he has done a solid job at holding the fort down (Nine passing touchdown’s, three interceptions, and a QB rating of 97.5).
If the Steelers do rely more on their passing game, then the Colts must apply consistent pressure on a player who has only started five games. Even with Rudolph’s overall numbers looking better than expected, he has still struggled in dealing with pressure from his opposition and is capable of playing poorly.
Fortunately for the Colts, their pass pressure has been coming alive in recent weeks with pass rusher Justin Houston leading the way (four sacks in the last three weeks).
QB Jacoby Brissett vs. Steelers’ top-10 defense
Another week means another interesting challenge for the Colts’ QB1. Whether it’s facing other talented quarterbacks or playing in tough road games, this season hasn’t and likely won’t be easier for Jacoby Brissett. However, with him and the Colts standing at 5-2, what’s another challenge to them? Well, it depends on who you’re asking.
On Sunday, Brissett will be tasked with facing another top-10 defense—this time on the road and without his top target T.Y. Hilton. Regardless of what the Colts’ offensive game-plan is, Brissett has to be careful yet effective with his overall decision-making. The Steelers’ defense is ranked seventh and second in categories such as sacks (24) and interceptions (10).
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. CB Rock Ya-Sin
The rookie defensive back from Temple is seeing so much action in his young career and with that comes the opportunity to either “sink or swim” while defending the league’s best at wide receiver.
After having arguably his worst performance of the season last Sunday against the Broncos’ Courtland Sutton (five penalties and three catches for 72 receiving yards), Ya-Sin will likely go toe to toe with Pro-Bowl wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. I say this because the Colts are looking at the looming possibilities of not having Pierre Desir available (hamstring) along with Quincy Wilson (coaches’ decision).
If this does happen, Ya-Sin must do a better job in improving technique and ball skills, while also knowing how dangerous Smith-Schuster is after the catch. Out of his last three games, the USC product has produced 12 total catches for 178 yards and two touchdowns.
