Steelers will need a complete performance to defeat the Colts

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the most inconsistent teams in the NFL through seven weeks of football, and that's a trend that must change if the team expects to upset the Indianapolis Colts Sunday at Heinz Field.

At 4-3, the Steelers have had their moments of brilliance and have given fans plenty of reason for optimism against any opponent, but consistency has been lacking since Week 1.

Whether it was the 27-point, first-half output in the season opener against the Cleveland Browns, or blowing a lead against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Steelers leave a lot to be desired in terms of consistency on the field.

When analyzing the matchup against the 5-2 Colts, the Steelers will need to put together their first 4-quarter performance of the season if they expect to upset the favored Colts and advance their record to 5-3.

Consistency is an issue on both sides of the football for the Steelers. The same defense that had three turnovers against the Houston Texans struggled to generate one through the first two weeks of the NFL season.

An offense capable of putting up 31 points against a stout defense like the Carolina Panthers, then to only produce 10 points against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Some of this inconsistency can be credited to a young team and growing pains, but nearing the halfway point of the season, those wrinkles should begin to iron themselves out. The level of consistency should be increasing each week if this team truly feels it's capable of making a playoff push.

The Steelers could greatly benefit, not only from their first back-to-back wins of the season, but also by a win over a quality opponent like the Colts. The uneven Steelers look to improve their consistency both on offense and defense, putting together a winning performance on Sunday at Heinz Field.