The Colts are headed into one of the league’s toughest road environments, and the opening line reflects that. FanDuel Sportsbook has Indianapolis as a 1.5-point underdog for next week’s trip to Pittsburgh, with the money line opening at +112 and the over/under set at 41.5.
That’s a familiar spot for the Colts when the Steelers are waiting on the other side. A game in Pittsburgh has rarely gone well for Indianapolis, and this one gives the Colts a chance to change that script after a rocky start to the year.
The good news for Indianapolis is that the season has steadied after an 0-2 opening. Back-to-back wins over the Texans and Commanders have pushed the Colts back to .500, even if the offensive issues haven’t disappeared.
Daniel Jones has continued to be a talking point because of turnovers and a lack of consistent ball movement, especially in the first half. Still, Jonathan Taylor has helped carry the load, and the defense did enough to keep things within reach until the Colts pulled away comfortably.
Pittsburgh, meanwhile, is coming off a loss to the Browns, one of the more surprising results of the week. Cleveland jumped out to a 7-0 lead, but the Steelers answered with the next 21 points before the Browns closed it out with a late field goal. It left Pittsburgh wanting to erase that result quickly.
For the Colts, this is the kind of game that can reshape the early part of the season. Sitting at 3-2 would look a whole lot better than 2-3, especially with the schedule they’ve faced. More than that, it would give Indianapolis a chance to keep building momentum with a win over a team that has historically given them trouble.
In Other News...
Colts Sideline Debate Just Got Bigger At A Delicate Time
Carlie Irsay-Gordons habit of planting herself on the Colts sideline has become one of the more unusual talking points around the team, especially as she continues to work in plain view with a playbook in hand and notes at the ready. The principal owner and CEO has framed her approach as part of being an attentive leader, saying in an interview that listening and understanding matter, which fits the image she has presented during games.
But the conversation around her presence has widened, and not everyone views it as harmless curiosity. Bill Simmons questioned the sideline involvement on his podcast, adding another layer to a discussion that is already unfolding at a delicate point in the season, with Indianapolis sitting at 2-2 and trying to keep its focus on football rather than the attention orbiting above it. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Suddenly Have A Khalil Mack Decision Fans Can't Ignore
The Colts pass rush remains a talking point as the season approaches, and the latest name to surface is a familiar one: Khalil Mack. Indianapolis has been searching for more help off the edge after injuries thinned that group, and Macks track record would instantly change the tone of that conversation if the Colts decide to get aggressive. He is on a one-year contract, which makes him the kind of short-term fix teams often explore when a roster hole becomes too obvious to ignore.
Still, any potential move is not entirely in the Colts hands. Mack also carries a no-trade clause, so he would have to sign off on any deal, and the Chargers would likely want draft compensation in return if they are willing to listen at all. That leaves Indianapolis weighing a familiar NFL dilemma: whether to pay for immediate help now or hold its picks and trust the current rotation to survive the next stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Add A Familiar Pass Rusher With Anarumo Ties
The Colts added a familiar edge presence to the practice squad on Wednesday, bringing in veteran defensive end Carl Lawson as they continue sorting through their pass-rush depth. Lawson arrives with a clear connection to defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo from their time together in Cincinnati, which gives Indianapolis a built-in level of familiarity as the team looks to fortify the front seven.
Lawson has been around plenty of NFL locker rooms over his eight-year career, with stops in Baltimore, New York, and Dallas in addition to his years with the Bengals. He has 32 sacks to his name, and the question now is whether that experience and Anarumo familiarity can quickly translate into a larger opportunity in Indianapolis. [Read more 🡒]