DK Metcalf didn’t spend much time building up Sauce Gardner.
Ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Indianapolis Colts, the Pittsburgh Steelers receiver was asked what he needs to keep in mind when going against Gardner. His first answer said plenty.
"Who?" was the original response given by Metcalf. He was then asked the same question again and responded with, "I don't worry about what a DB does well... they've got to guard me."
That sets up a familiar kind of showdown: a high-end wideout meeting a high-end corner, with Metcalf making it clear he’s focused on his own game rather than Gardner’s strengths.
The two have already crossed paths once before, and the result went Gardner’s way. In Week 1 last season, Gardner held Metcalf to one catch for 11 yards. He lined up across from Metcalf on 90% of his routes, and the numbers were stark: 3 targets, 1 reception, 11 yards.
Gardner’s former head coach Aaron Glenn called that outing "outstanding" while praising the way Gardner shadowed Metcalf. Gardner was even more direct afterward, saying, "I felt like I strapped him"
This time around, Gardner is trying to shake off a rough stretch. According to PFF, he has a 56.5 overall grade this season, which ranks 63rd out of 102 cornerbacks. He’s also allowed a 125.6 passer rating when targeted, one of the worst marks in the league.
Metcalf’s comments may have handed Gardner a little extra fuel. If there was ever a spot for bulletin board material, this looks like it. And with the way these two matched up the last time, Sunday could get tense in a hurry.
In Other News...
Colts Fans Can Finally Cross One Trade Rumor Off The List
Marvin Harrison Jr. trade chatter had been floating around the Colts orbit for a while, but the latest update is enough to take Indianapolis out of the center of the conversation. Adam Schefter reported that the Cardinals are finalizing a deal for the wide receiver, with the move expected after this weeks games, and the buzz has only grown louder as teams around the league wait to see where he lands.
For Colts fans, the important part is the name that no longer needs to be attached to the rumor. ESPNs Stephen Holder said Indianapolis is not the team getting Harrison, even after the speculation and interest that had made the idea feel plausible. With Houston also being mentioned as a possible destination, the story now turns from whether the Colts might be involved to where Harrison ends up once Arizona actually completes the trade. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Get A Huge Chance To Change The Pittsburgh Narrative
Both the Colts and Steelers come into this matchup at 2-2, which gives Sundays meeting more weight than a typical early-season game. It is the kind of October test that can start shaping the playoff conversation, especially for Indianapolis, which has spent too much of recent history watching Pittsburgh control the tone of the matchup. The Steelers won the previous meeting, and the backdrop includes the same kind of physical, defense-heavy football that has defined so many games between these teams.
Indianapolis has reasons to believe this is a better chance than most to flip the script. The Colts have been efficient when drives get near the goal line and have held up well on key defensive downs, while their overall defensive rankings suggest they can make this a tougher game than Pittsburgh might expect. The Steelers still lean on their rushing game and have shown enough defensive bite to keep opponents uncomfortable, so this does not look like a clean path for the Colts. Even so, with the standings tight and the history in the building working against them, this feels like the sort of game Indianapolis needs to seize if it wants the conversation around this rivalry to change. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Taylor Could Be At Center Of A Huge Colts Test
Rain is in the forecast for the Colts trip to Pittsburgh, and that alone changes the feel of a game that already figures to lean physical at Acrisure Stadium. Shane Steichen has been adjusting practice for wet conditions, and with center Tanor Bortolini expected to play through a recent ankle issue, Indianapolis is trying to make sure its offensive front is ready for a sloppy afternoon.
Jonathan Taylor sits at the center of that equation. The weather could push the Colts toward a heavier dose of the run game, which puts even more pressure on Taylor to carry the offense and steady things if the passing game gets harder to trust. He has already found the end zone plenty this season, but the bigger question now is whether this is the kind of game where Indianapolis can finally keep feeding him enough to tilt the matchup. [Read more 🡒]