Indianapolis Colts vs Pittsburgh Steelers Picks and Predictions September 29th 2024

The Colts are the underdog at +107 on the money line as they host the Steelers at 1:00 ET on Sunday, September 29th at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Steelers are favored on the road with a point spread of -2. Looking at the over/under line, the Steelers are -129 on the money line. This week four AFC matchup can be seen on CBS.

Pittsburgh vs. Indianapolis Key Information

The Steelers are now 3-0 after their 20-10 win over the Chargers. Pittsburgh fell behind early, as the Chargers scored a touchdown with 2:51 remaining in the 1st quarter. However, the Steelers responded with a touchdown from Justin Fields in the 2nd quarter to tie the game at 7-7. Fields then found George Pickens for a touchdown with 27 seconds left in the 2nd quarter to give the Steelers the lead for good.Pittsburgh really took control of the game in the 4th quarter, outscoring the Chargers 10-0. The Steelers’ defense was excellent in the 2nd half, and Fields added two more touchdowns in the 3rd quarter, one to Scotty Miller and another to Calvin Austin III. The over/under line heading into the game was 36 points, and the teams combined for just 30.“`

Justin Fields threw for 245 yards, completing 78% of his passes in the Steelers’ 20-10 win over the Chargers. He threw one touchdown and was also intercepted. The Pittsburgh offense finished with 20 first downs and 114 rushing yards on 31 attempts.

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Fields’ top target was Calvin Austin III, who had 95 yards receiving and a touchdown. Najee Harris rushed for 70 yards, with a long run of 21 yards, and added 16 receiving yards. The Steelers’ offense was 50% on third down and Fields was sacked twice.

In their most recent game, the Steelers’ defense gave up just 107 yards passing to the Chargers, not allowing a single completion until late in the 4th quarter. They also held the Chargers to just 61 yards rushing on 20 attempts. Pittsburgh’s defense was tough on 3rd down, allowing the Chargers to convert just 27.3% of their 3rd down attempts.The Steelers’ defense also came away with 5 sacks in their 20-10 win, and although they did allow one touchdown, they didn’t give up any big plays. The only touchdown the Chargers scored was a 12-yard touchdown pass in the 4th quarter.

The Colts are now 1-2 after their 21-16 win over the Bears. Indianapolis was favored by -2 and their 5-point win was enough to cover the spread. The combined 37 points was lower than the over/under line of 43.5 points. This one was close throughout, and the Colts didn’t secure the win until the very end. The Colts led 21-13 heading into the 4th quarter, and the Bears scored with 2:05 left in the 4th, making the score 28-27, but they couldn’t complete the comeback.Indianapolis took a 14-7 lead in the 2nd quarter after Anthony Richardson found Kylen Granson for a touchdown. The Bears added a field goal before halftime, and the Colts extended their lead to 21-13 with a Trey Sermon touchdown in the 3rd quarter. Jonathan Taylor added what ended up being the game-winning score with 5:25 left in the 4th.

The Colts’ offense struggled in the passing game, as quarterback Anthony Richardson threw for just 167 yards on 10 completions in their 21-16 win over the Bears. Richardson ended the game with a passer rating of 38, threw two interceptions, and was sacked once. Indianapolis managed only 15 first downs and 156 yards passing as a team.

On the ground, Indianapolis found more success, rushing for 150 yards on 33 attempts. Jonathan Taylor led the way with 110 yards rushing, averaging 4.8 yards per attempt, and scored two rushing touchdowns. Alec Pierce was the top receiver with 44 yards on one catch.

In their 21-16 win over the Bears, the Colts’ defense allowed just 63 rushing yards on 28 attempts, holding Chicago to 2.2 yards per attempt on the ground. Despite giving up 332 yards through the air, Indianapolis made things difficult for Chicago’s passing game, not allowing a single completion. The Colts also picked off two passes and recorded four sacks.Indianapolis forced the Bears into a 0% completion percentage on their passing attempts and held Chicago to a 42.9% third-down conversion rate. The Colts’ defense played well up front, winning the battles in QB hits and tackles for loss.

For this week four matchup between the Colts and Steelers, we have the Colts coming out on top by a score of 19-17. With this projection, we are going to recommend taking the Colts to cover the spread as home underdogs. Right now, the point spread lines have the Colts at +2, making them our pick vs. the spread.

As for the over/under, with the line sitting at just 40 points, we are leaning towards taking the under, projecting a combined score of 36 points. This is a great way to get some action on this week four matchup.

Steelers Throw No. 1 Defense at Colts, Young Playmakers

When the Pittsburgh Steelers face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, it will be a battle of strengths as the Colts’ young offense, led by explosive rusher Jonathan Taylor and quarterback Anthony Richardson, clashes with the Steelers’ top-ranked defense.

Colts Rely on Dynamic Duo of Richardson and Taylor

The Colts (2-1) are looking to build on their 21-16 win over the Chicago Bears last week, thanks in large part to Jonathan Taylor’s impressive 110-yard, two-touchdown performance. Taylor, the 2021 NFL rushing champion, ranks seventh in the league this season with 261 rushing yards. Alongside him is quarterback Anthony Richardson, who has rushed for 117 yards this season while managing the Colts’ offense.

“Our offensive line sets the tone for those guys up front,” said Colts head coach Shane Steichen. “JT’s running really good, and he’s seeing it well, he’s being patient, he’s hitting the holes.”

Richardson, despite throwing for 167 yards and two interceptions against the Bears, brings a dual-threat capability that makes the Colts’ offense more dynamic.

Steelers Defense Poised to Meet the Challenge

Pittsburgh (3-0), off to its best start since 2020, is well-equipped to handle the Colts’ offense. The Steelers boast the NFL’s top defense, allowing just 229.0 yards per game and 71.3 rushing yards per contest. They have held opponents to 10 points or fewer in three straight games, despite playing without edge rusher Alex Highsmith, who has been limited by a groin injury.

In Highsmith’s absence, linebacker Nick Herbig stepped up with a career-best performance against the Los Angeles Chargers last week, notching two sacks, three tackles, and a forced fumble.

Leading the charge for the Steelers defense is six-time Pro Bowler T.J. Watt, who has recorded three sacks and 10 tackles this season.

“We’ve got a big challenge in Jonathan Taylor, and I think that challenge is intensified because of Richardson’s mobility,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said. “It is a big run game emphasis for us.”

Colts Dealing with Key Injuries

The Colts are dealing with injury concerns on both sides of the ball. Cornerback Kenny Moore II (hip) and defensive end Kwity Paye (quadriceps) were injured in the fourth quarter of last week’s game and missed practice on Wednesday. Offensive tackle Braden Smith (knee) and cornerback Chris Lammons (knee/ankle) also sat out Wednesday’s practice. Despite these setbacks, Steichen has not ruled out any of the injured players for Sunday’s matchup.

Justin Fields Continues to Start for Steelers

For the Steelers, quarterback Justin Fields will continue to start in place of Russell Wilson, who remains sidelined with a calf injury. Fields, who has taken over under center, has posted steady numbers, averaging 172.7 passing yards and 30 rushing yards per game. While these stats are below his career highs, Fields has excelled at protecting the football, with just one interception through three games and none in the last two wins.

“I like his steady demeanor,” said Tomlin. “He doesn’t ride the emotional roller coaster when things are going bad. Guys can rally around that—he’s steady, he’s a competitor.”

Najee Harris Expected to Play, Warren Likely Out

Steelers running back Najee Harris was given a rest day on Wednesday due to an arm injury suffered against the Chargers, but Tomlin expressed confidence that Harris will be available to play on Sunday. Meanwhile, backup running back Jaylen Warren, who missed practice with a knee injury, is expected to be unavailable for the game.