Week 8 Preview: Colts Vs. Steelers
PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Indianapolis Colts are looking like one of the most complete teams in the NFL with a defense that has played almost as well as their high-powered offense.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are trying to put an end to their inconsistency and build some momentum after an impressive performance.
Indianapolis looks to extend its longest winning streak in nearly five years when it visits Pittsburgh on Sunday.
The Colts (5-2) are the first team this season to record two games of 500-plus yards, racking up 506 in Sunday's 27-0 victory over Cincinnati. Their five-game win streak is their longest since winning an NFL-record 23 straight in the regular season Nov. 2, 2008-Dec. 17, 2009.
Andrew Luck was 27 of 42 for 344 yards and two touchdowns to lead the league's top offense against the Bengals. Luck's 2,331 passing yards are the most in the NFL and his 19 TDs have him tied with Peyton Manning for the most.
Luck has also thrown for 300-plus yards in five consecutive games, tying Manning for the longest streak in club history.
Indianapolis' ground game provided some balance with a season-best 171 yards last week. The Colts have rushed for 134.8 yards per game since Week 2 - fifth best in the league.
The defense was perhaps even more impressive in the club's first shutout since 2008, however.
"You don't feel like you have to do too much when you're playing with a defense like that," Luck said. "They do and have done a heck of a job all year."
The Colts have surrendered 17 or fewer points four times in five games, allowing a league-low 271.8 yards per contest in that span. Indianapolis, which gave up 357.1 yards last season to rank 20th, limited Cincinnati to 135 yards - the lowest total in the NFL in 2014.
The Colts have 20 sacks during their winning streak and are limiting opponents to a league-best 26.0 percent on third-down conversions for the season. They're the only team to rank among the top five in total offense and defense.
"The whole defense is feeding off of each other right now," coach Chuck Pagano said. "The energy that they're playing with, the effort that they're playing with right now. Anytime you have success like they're having, the confidence level is at an all-time high."
The Steelers (4-3) are also feeling good about themselves following a 30-23 win over Houston last week that was spurred by an explosive second quarter. Pittsburgh trailed 13-0 midway through the period before three touchdowns and a field goal in a 2:54 span put it ahead 24-13 at halftime.
Ben Roethlisberger went 23 of 33 for 265 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions while Le'Veon Bell had 145 yards of offense for Pittsburgh, which bounced back from a 31-10 rout at Cleveland the previous week.
The Steelers have alternated wins and losses all season and are seeking some stability as they continues a three-game homestand.
"We don't want to be satisfied with the way we played," said Bell, who ranks second in the league with 134.0 yards per game from scrimmage. "It was good but there are definitely things we can do better."
The Steelers forced turnovers on back-to-back plays in the second quarter Sunday and recovered another fumble in the fourth. It was an uncharacteristic showing for a team that came in near the bottom of the league with six takeaways.
Pittsburgh's 64 takeaways since the start of 2011 are the fewest in the NFL in that span.
"It's not anything mystical," coach Mike Tomlin said. "I think when we are doing what it is that we are supposed to do and playing with energy, it happens."
Pittsburgh could be poised to expose one of the Colts' few vulnerabilities, as Indianapolis' 13 turnovers are tied for fourth most in the league.
These clubs boast the No. 1 and No. 3 receivers in the NFL, with the Steelers' Antonio Brown piling up 719 receiving yards and the Colts' T.Y. Hilton at 711.
Hilton is fifth in the NFL with 68 targets, and Luck may have to look his way even more often with Reggie Wayne ruled out after suffering a left elbow injury against Cincinnati.
Pittsburgh won the last meeting 23-20 at Indianapolis on Sept. 25, 2011. Roethlisberger was 25 of 37 for 364 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
© 2014 by STATS LLC and Associated Press.
