Learn About The Opponent: Intel on Steelers vs. Colts

Two teams that aren't playing as well as they'd hoped, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Indianapolis Colts will meet in Week 5 on Sunday afternoon.

Speaking to Colts Roundtable publisher Jake Arthur, he had plenty to say about what could happen in this one. Find his answers to my question below about the game.

With only three passing TDs as a team and Pittsburgh giving up only five, do you see this as an issue? 

Not necessarily in a game such as this, where rain will likely be a factor. The Colts have the ingredients to want to run the ball, but they've been highly efficient in the red zone. While the good news is that, throughout the course of the season, there's room for the Colts to improve their down-to-down pass game, they haven't figured out how to adequately replace Alec Pierce yet. That's still a work in progress.

What do you think one thing the Colts will do much better than the Steelers?

With Pittsburgh not having much of a downfield passing game and mostly playing half-court offense, I think that falls into the Colts' hands. Sauce Gardner, Charvarius Ward Sr., and Justin Walley being able to play with the ball in front of them is definitely a good thing. Exploiting them this year has happened when they're forced to run and chase with their backs to the ball.

Does this feel like a small must-win game? The Colts play Minnesota, Jacksonville, and Dallas in three of their next four. While Dallas lost on Thursday, it’s still a decent team.

It's definitely a crucial one for the Colts. They started the season 0-2 against AFC opponents, so they did themselves no favors when it comes to late-season playoff standings. Winning games such as this one against other AFC teams that'll likely be fighting for wild-card placement will be huge. It's also a game that many of us have had the Colts likely losing when we saw the schedule, so if they can get a "bonus win," that'll be helpful.

How confident are you in the Colts? They have a good win against Washington and competed against KC, but are they good? 

We don't really know what they are right now, unfortunately. They're still searching for an identity. I will say that, with their defense getting the fundamentals under control in recent weeks, if Daniel Jones takes care of the ball (seven turnovers this year), they're capable of beating anyone in the league. I'm fairly confident they can win this one, but they also haven't won in Pittsburgh since 2008

Who will be the biggest problem for the Steelers’ defense on Sunday?

If the Colts want to run heavily in the rain, then Pittsburgh can't ease their intensity when Seth McGowan comes in for Jonathan Taylor. McGowan is also a violent, decisive runner who fights for every inch. If the Colts' O-line gets rolling, it could be a breakout opportunity for McGowan.