The Indianapolis Colts (5-2) are set to hit the road in Week 9 to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-4) at Heinz Field on Sunday.
This AFC bout is crucial for both teams. The Colts currently lead their division and have a chance to gain some separation from their opponents while the Steelers are looking to stay relevant in the playoff race in the second half.
Here are the four biggest storylines ahead of the Week 9 matchup:
Injured stars on both sides
There will be some major star power missing from this matchup. It was revealed Friday that Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton is expected to miss multiple weeks due to a calf injury he suffered during practice. He has already been ruled out.
On the Steelers’ side of the ball, running back James Conner is listed as doubtful due to a shoulder injury he suffered during their Week 8 primetime win against the Miami Dolphins.
Both teams will be without their main cogs on the offensive side of the ball, which only makes this trending more into a defensive battle.
Backup QBs take the reign
Though no one would consider Jacoby Brissett a backup quarterback now, he was when the preseason was here. Following Andrew Luck’s surprise retirement, Brissett has taken the reigns under center for the Colts—helping them achieve a 5-2 record to begin the first half of the season.
On the flip side, the Steelers have had Mason Rudolph under center following the season-ending elbow injury to franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who played in just two games.
Both teams will be looking to make a playoff run during the second half and will be doing so on the backs of two quarterbacks who were backups entering the season.
Turnover game will be crucial
When the Colts and Steelers kick off on Sunday, there will be a narrative to keep an eye on throughout the game. Just as the Steelers are second in the NFL with 19 takeaways, the Colts have been great about keeping the ball safe.
Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett has recorded only three interceptions in seven games this season. The Steelers have seven players that have recorded at least one interception. Newly acquired safety Minkah Fitzpatrick leads the team with three.
It will be a big part of the game to see who wins the turnover battle, and it will be particularly interesting when the Colts are on offense.
Both teams fighting for a playoff spot
Though there is still the entire second half of the season to play, both of these teams enter the home stretch as potential playoff contenders in the AFC.
The Colts currently lead their division by just a half-game and are just one game ahead of the other two teams in the AFC South. It will be a tight race during the second half of the season, which makes games like this even more crucial.
The Steelers have been up and down this season, but they still find themselves in second place in the AFC North. They have a tough hill to climb in doing so, but both of these teams have a chance to make a run in the second half.
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