The Steelers are getting set to square off against the Colts on Monday Night Football. Will Pittsburgh’s outstanding record continue?
Many fans are entering uncharted territory. Some have never seen a Pittsburgh Steelers team perform as poorly as the one we’ve witnessed so far in 2022. As a result, the fanbase is split on how to root moving forward. Some hope this team can scratch and claw their way back to a near .500 record by the end of the season, while others want them to lose out for the sake of increasing the value of their draft capital.
In practically any other year, playing an underwhelming 4-6-1 team like the Indianapolis Colts should be a walk in the park. However, the Steelers might be an even worse team this season than the opponent they are facing in Week 12, and statistics would suggest that is the case.
While Pittsburgh is slightly ahead of Indianapolis in points per game (17.0 to 15.7), the Steelers are allowing 24.4 points per contest while the Colts rank 11th at just 20.0 PPG surrendered, according to Team Rankings. Perhaps the biggest difference between these two teams is that Indy ranks 4th in yards allowed per game (307.6), while Pittsburgh is 27th at 375.5.
Despite these statistical differences and the fact that the Colts are 2.5-point favorites ahead of tonight’s game, via Fanduel Sportsbook, history would suggest that the Steelers stand a better chance than oddsmakers are giving them.
Steelers vs Colts all-time record history
According to The Football Database, the Pittsburgh Steelers are 26-6-0 all-time against the Indianapolis Colts in a storied history that dates all the way back to 1950 (when they were the Baltimore Colts).
This record includes a current seven-game win streak by the Steelers and the fact that they have won a whopping 17 of their last 19 contests against each other. Pittsburgh’s win percentage against Indianapolis is 89.4 percent since 1978, and Mike Tomlin is 7-1 all-time against the Colts with his most recent loss coming all the way back in 2008.
History could change after tonight
Simply basing this contest on history, there’s no reason not to expect a Steelers victory against the Colts; but as I mentioned, this is uncharted territory that we really aren’t familiar with. Up until just a few weeks ago, Pittsburgh ranked 31st or 32nd in nearly every major offensive category. They also still have the worst point differential in the league (which speaks volumes about how this team has been performing).
The most recent sample, however, is the most important. Following their Week 9 bye, the Steelers pretty easily handled the Saints at home before losing to the Bengals — a game where Pittsburgh’s offense was able to manage 30 points.
Even with a lack of talent at certain positions, I can’t see their defense giving up another 37-point game anytime soon. If Kenny Pickett can take another small step forward, that might be all it takes to upset the Colts on Monday Night Football. But Indy’s defense is tough and this task won’t be easy. It will be interesting to see if history repeats itself tonight or if Pittsburgh’s 2022 struggles continue.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.