Indianapolis at Pittsburgh, Week 16: Predicting the winner of Steelers vs. Colts

The Steelers are coming off of their third straight loss in 2020 and, though it’s odd for an 11-3 team to be looking to get right, Pittsburgh finds themselves in that very position. The staff at BTSC put in their two cents on how they think the contest will shake out when the Steelers host the Indianapolis Colts in Week 16 at Heinz Field. Who will it be with bragging rights this week?

Michael Beck, Deputy Editor, The Live Mike, Know Your Enemy, The Mike Tomlin Post-Game Press Conference Recap

The Steelers are playing some flat out terrible football right now. They are staring down the worst collapse in the history of the NFL. They desperately need to win this game but a dominant Colts defense will not let them. I’m just worried that the storyline following this game will be who the Steelers shouldn’t move on from on offense.

Steelers 3, Colts 21

Geoffrey Benedict, Know Your Enemy

The Steelers are doing this right, treating these games as glorified preseason to try and fix the offense. We was the learning curve last week against a terrible Bengals defense. It’s not done being bad, and if they abandon that strategy everything they already had has been solved.

I think this week is rock bottom week.

Steelers 10, Colts 27

Bryan Anthony Davis, Podcast Producer, The Hangover, Steelers Preview, Steelers Post-Game Show, The Steelers Retro Show, Fact or Fiction, The Rooting Guide, BTSC Radio Wire, Here We Go Steelers Pre-Game Show

The Steelers have shown me nothing on offense to suggest that they are going to score on this defense. But there’s something about the black-and-gold in “gut check” time. I checked with me own gut and he’s inexplicably going for the Steelers.

Steelers 17, Colts 16

Mark Davison, Steelers Touchdown Under

Last week was the worst half in Steelers history by far. Well at least my short fandom of 17 years. This week I am hoping for our whole team to show up and play football as the AFC North title is on the line. If the Steelers beat the Colts at home in Week 16 then in Week 17 the Steelers can begin to rest players for a playoff run. However before the players rest I would like to see a first down or multiple first downs on offense. I am choosing the Colts to win this game close as the Steelers need to stop dancing and start hitting.

Steelers 24, Colts 26

Anthony Defeo, Steelers Brunch With Tony, The Hangover and The Steelers Retro Show

It doesn’t seem as if the Steelers have a clue or direction, right now. They seem bruised, battered and lifeless. They’re on a three-game slide after what I think could be their worst loss in years. Therefore, what better time to rebound than against a Colts team that’s looking to secure a playoff berth?

Steelers 17, Colts 14

Jeff Hartman, BTSC Co-Editor, Let’s Ride, Steelers Preview, Steelers Post-Game Show, Steelers Injury Report Podcast, Mike Tomlin Press Conference Recap

The Steelers offense is on life support. What will it take to hook up the AED and get this thing brought back to life? No one really knows the answer to this question, but at some point the offense has to resemble more of the 30 point per game offense, and not the under 20 point per game unit, right? Right?! This game won’t be pretty with these two defenses, but the Steelers’ defense proves to be the difference maker. A big takeaway will result in the deciding score for the black and gold in a HUGE win.

Steelers 24, Colts 23

Matty Peverell, Steelers Touchdown Under

The Steelers need to correct so many areas of their game that fans are rightly questioning whether their 11 wins are a false positive. This week’s matchup against the Colts will show us all, including the players, just how resilient or not this team is as a collective. Resilience was required to get to 11 wins, resilience was/is needed to battle on with key injuries and resilience is what will win you a Super Bowl. So just how resilient are the Steelers? We’ll know after this week’s game. Head says Colts, heart says Steelers, head (in spite of my best judgement) loses this one.

Steelers 23, Colts 19

Big Bro Scho, The Scho Bro Show

The Steelers offense as been on a bad slide, but the defense will do everything they can to keep this game close. The offense starts to show the ability to run the ball, but still struggles to score points. As much as I'd like to take the Steelers to win this game, their play of late will just not let me do it.

Steelers 17, Colts 21

Dave Schofield, BTSC Co-Editor, The Scho Bro Show, Steelers Preview, Steelers Post-Game podcast, Steelers Stat Geek

I’ve been waiting for this offense to turn things around for weeks. Each game I expect them to do just that and make my pick accordingly. With the tough defensive front of the Colts, the Steelers offensive line will have their hands full. Although the Steelers defense is more than adequate to keep them in the game, the things they do better than almost everybody in the league (sacks and takeaways) the Colts are one of the best at not allowing these things. Unfortunately, the losing streak continues until this offense figures out what’s wrong which may not happen in 2020.

Steelers 13, Colts 20

K.T. Smith, Here We Go Steelers Pre-Game Show

There is no sound reason to pick the Steelers to win this week. They’ve lost three in a row, have looked terrible doing so, their opponent has won five of six, there don’t appear to be any easy fixes to what ails them etc etc. Sometimes, however, you just have to channel your inner Joel from the movie “Risky Business” and say what the, um, heck. It’s 2020, strange things are happening, and somehow I can see the Steelers pulling this out.

Pittsburgh 26, Indianapolis 21

Shannon White, Editorial Contributor

Long lauded for my positivity, I am undoubtedly the eternal optimist around these parts, but even I have my limitations. There has been talk for weeks from Mike Tomlin, Ben Roethlisberger, and other team leaders about getting the offense turned around and back on track. Then the games start and it's immediately more of the same, and it unbelievably got even worse against the lowly Bengals. There are a myriad of plausible excuses and plenty of guilty suspects to blame, but that route accomplishes nothing. Hopefully Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers can somehow rediscover their winning ways against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday afternoon within the friendly confines of Heinz Field, but I will believe it when I see it. My heart will forever be a true believer.

Steelers 20, Colts 17

What is your prediction? Which BTSC contributor is most on the money? Let us know in the poll and the comment section below!!