Considering the Colts: Trap Game awaits Indy this week

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Last time I checked, a win is a win and I’ll take it. 

The Denver defense is not ranked 4th in the league for no good reason, and they gave the Colts offense fits all afternoon long. I expected the offensive line to be tested, but not to break down so often. It seemed as if Jacoby Brissett was uncomfortable all day long, which broke the flow and timing in the passing game. 

The biggest play of the game came late in the fourth quarter on the game-winning drive. The Colts were deep in their own territory, and the drive was looking grim from the start. Brissett dropped back and surveyed the field. Former Super Bowl MVP Von Miller broke through the line and had Brissett dead to rights. The sack could have been a potential game-ending safety, but somehow Jacoby spun out of Miller’s clutches and threw to T.Y. Hilton, who made a tiptoe catch on the sideline for a huge gain.

Brissett silenced the scores of critics that labeled him as a game manager and a quarterback who is incapable of making the “big” play. Brissett’s big play gave hope to the team and led the Colts down the field so Adam Vinatieri had another chance to redeem himself once more.

Vinatieri could be the one to blame for putting the Colts in the situation they were in. Down just one point, Vinatieri missed a 45-yard field goal and extra point earlier in the game. The extra point would have tied the game at 13, so it was fitting that Vinatieri had the opportunity to nail a 51-yard field goal to win the game and move Indy’s record to 5-2.

Indianapolis goes on the road this week to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers. This has “trap game” written all over it. The Colts’ season can be summed up this way: they beat the good teams, and struggle with the teams they should win handily.

The Steelers are 3-4 this season, but they have been in just about every game they have played this year with the exception of a Week 1 loss to the Patriots by 30. Pittsburgh got quarterback Mason Rudolph back last week, who played well but against the abysmal Miami Dolphins. A big part of their offense is their run game, led by James Conner. Conner is nursing a shoulder injury and Pittsburgh is preparing to play without him this week. 

Pittsburgh’s defense has been getting better since acquiring safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. They are now ranked in the top 10 in total defense, and they mostly play well at home. The Colts will have another big task walking into Heinz Field to try and get another win and extend their winning streak to three. 

The Colts are getting healthier on defense and may only miss Kenny Moore II again this week, and the offense is fairly whole as well. I would expect this game to be another grind-it-out type of game for the Colts. The Steelers will struggle on offense; not having Conner in the backfield will cause the Colts to really focus on wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. I think the Colts will leave Pittsburgh with a nice, close win but will prove their toughness again.

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