5 Bold Predictions for Indianapolis' Week 8 Matchup
With a league-leading offense and a ridiculously violent defense, it might be tough to hit on some truly bold predictions.
Won't stop us from trying.
The Indianapolis Colts take their golden standard of play to the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 8. Something tells me the Steelers are less than excited to see them.
Especially coming off of a short week.
Andrew Luck and Co. will be seeking their sixth win in as many games, while Ben Roethlisberger and Steelers Nation, who haven't won consecutive games this season, look to grow their win streak to two.
Every game brings excitement and surprise. How will we get that out of this game?
Antonio Brown Has Less Than 60 Receiving Yards
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Antonio Brown is averaging seven catches for 103 yards per game. He's caught five touchdowns and threw one against the Houston Texans. To this point, he's caught 50 of his 74 targets, a rate of 67.5 percent.
These numbers contrast starkly with those of the top target on each team that has faced the Colts this season.
| Name | Catches | Targets | Yards | TDs |
| Demaryius Thomas | 4 | 11 | 48 | 0 |
| Jeremy Maclin | 4 | 11 | 45 | 1 |
| Cecil Shorts III | 5 | 10 | 35 | 1 |
| Kendall Wright | 5 | 8 | 55 | 0 |
| Torrey/Steve Smith | 8 | 15 | 72 | 0 |
| Andre Johnson | 7 | 12 | 99 | 1 |
| Mohamed Sanu | 3 | 9 | 54 | 0 |
As the table above indicates, only Andre Johnson has had any real level of success against the Colts as far as top wideouts go. Those numbers average out to 4.5 catches on 9.5 targets, 51 yards and less than half a touchdown.
Something's gotta give.
Because Brown is closer to the Steve Smith/Kendall Wright type rather than the Andre Johnson type, we give the edge to the Colts' corners here. Brown has his first dud of the year.
Ben Roethlisberger Will Be Sacked Five Times
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Every year that he's been in the league, Big Ben has been at or near the top of the charts in sacks taken. This year is no different, as the Steelers currently come in at fourth-worst in giving up sacks.
Ben has gone down 20 times in seven games.
On the flip side, the Colts have been maniacal in getting after the passer, tallying 21 sacks thus far, tied for third-best overall.
This is a recipe for disaster. Ben has always had a penchant for holding onto the ball too long, and Indy is making teams pay for exactly that right now. If Antonio Brown can't prove me very, very wrong on my first prediction, this one seems like a reasonable conclusion.
Steelers Score 11 or Fewer Points
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After last week's stunning shutout performance against the Cincinnati Bengals, anything is possible with this Colts defense.
Holding the Steelers to half of their season average seems fair.
Pitt is currently averaging exactly 22 points per game. Indy is giving up just over 19 a game. However, given some of the on-field matchups in this one, I think it will be very hard for the Steelers to move the ball, particularly after they fall behind and are forced to pass.
This will be the third team the Colts have faced from the AFC North this season, with the Bengals and Baltimore Ravens already behind them. Those two teams scored 13 total points against Indianapolis.
The Steelers are going to execute the tire-fire offense this weekend.
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Dwayne Allen Goes for 100 Yards and a TD
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Despite having played some very mediocre tight ends so far this season overall, the Steelers have shown they are ready and willing to let them into the end zone. To date, Pittsburgh has allowed four tight end touchdowns.
Considering the levels of competition, that is very bad. They've played the Cleveland Browns twice, the Jaguars, the Texans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Yeah, it's been bad.
Dwayne Allen is going to be a problem for the Steelers, just as he's been for nearly every team he's faced this year. He's scored five touchdowns in the Colts' seven games this year. He has scored in five different games.
Now, call the 100-yard output a hunch. Reggie Wayne is hurting, and the Colts will need somebody other than T.Y. Hilton to catch the ball.
If he should reach the century mark, it'll be a marked improvement over his current average of 51 yards per game. Nevertheless, he has a track record of making big plays, and that will continue in Week 8.
Donte Moncrief Goes for 70 Yards
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May not seem like much, but a rookie season is all about one thing: getting off the ground.
With Wayne riding the pine for the next couple of weeks, Moncrief is getting a brilliant opportunity that most receivers around the league would be salivating over: a chance to play with the best young passer in the game.
He's already shown some flashes of potential to get open and catch the ball when it comes his way, having secured nine of his first 11 NFL targets. His 103 receiving yards are pretty minimal, but that's about to change.
If Moncrief can cash in on the potential the Colts clearly saw in him before April's draft, it will minimize the fears of Wayne's imminent retirement. Whether this year or next, he's not getting any younger and it looks as though the end is nigh.
In any case, the rookie goes for six catches and 70 yards this weekend. Just a taste of the successes to come.
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