When Colts have the ball:
Key performers: QB Matt Hasselbeck, RB Frank Gore, WR T.Y. Hilton, WR Donte Moncrief, TE Coby Fleener, TE Dwayne Allen, T Anthony Castonzo
Who’s hot or not: The Colts haven’t had a 100-yard rusher in a league-high 45 consecutive games (51 counting postseason) and haven’t had a running back with a 1,000-yard season since Joseph Addai in 2007, also the longest drought in the league. They had just 27 yards on 26 carries last week against Tampa Bay, third-fewest yards in a victory and 11th-fewest overall in franchise history.
What’s been working: Hasselbeck, 40, is 4-0 as Andrew Luck’s replacement and is only the third quarterback in the Super Bowl era to win four consecutive starts at 40 or older. Hasselbeck passed for 315 yards and two touchdowns last week against Tampa Bay. For the season, he has completed 97 of 150 passes for 1,023 yards and seven touchdowns with just two interceptions. His favorite target has been Moncrief, who leads the team with 52 catches and is tied for the lead with five touchdowns.
Game plan: The Colts would like to be able to run the ball effectively to keep Hasselbeck from trying to do too much and win the game with the pass. But that hasn’t happened. Gore, acquired in free agency, gets the bulk of the work (181 carries, 584 yards) and will see even more now that veteran backup Ahmad Bradshaw is injured. But Gore is 32 and running behind an offensive line that won’t have its best player in Castonzo (knee) for the second game in a row.
Keep an eye on: Because the Colts have tried to run the ball more with Hasselbeck, tight ends Fleener (39 catches) and Allen (12) have seen their numbers decline. They have been used more to block. Fleener had 103 catches for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns the previous two seasons combined. Allen had 29 catches for 395 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
When Steelers have the ball:
Key performers: OLB Robert Mathis, OLB Trent Cole, OLB Erik Walden, ILB D’Qwell Jackson, CB Vontae Davis, S Mike Adams
Who’s hot or not: At age 34, Mathis leads the Colts with four sacks, but that only highlights the problem. They have just 19, tied for fewest in the AFC, and have received almost no production from Trent Cole, who was acquired in free agency and picked up his first sack last week. And OLB Bjoern Werner, a No. 1 pick in 2013, has dropped so far he’s been a healthy inactive the past two games.
What’s been working: The Colts defense, despite lacking playmakers, has kept the team in games with timely plays. They already have three interception returns for touchdowns and last week sacked Jameis Winston five times. But they’ve also given up 47 pass plays of 20-plus yards, tied for most in the league.
Game plan: The Colts don’t want a repeat of what happened last year at Heinz Field where Roethlisberger completed 40 of 49 passes for a franchise-record 522 yards and six touchdowns. They’ve done a good job creating takeaways in the secondary with 14 INTs, tied for most in the AFC. The safety tandem of Adams (5) and Dwight Lowery (4) have combined for nine. Adams (ankle), though, might not play.
Keep an eye on: Davis is one of the best cover corners in the league. He will likely shadow Antonio Brown, the AFC leader in catches (85) and receiving yards (1,192). Davis was injured in the first quarter of last year’s game at Heinz Field and did not return. Brown had 10 catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns in that game.
SPECIAL TEAMS
At 42, K Adam Vinatieri is as good as ever. After missing his first two attempts this season, he has made 16 in a row, including six from 47 yards and beyond. Vinatieri needs two more field goals to pass Jason Hanson (495) for third most all time. P Pat McAfee, a Plum native, has one of the strongest legs in the league and was named to the Pro Bowl and a first-team All-Pro selection in 2014. He leads the league with a 49.1-yard average and his net average of 44.2 ranks second. Rookie Quan Bray (27.6-yard average) and Griff Whalen (27.1) are the kick and punt returners.
To win, the Colts must …
1 Get TDs from T.Y. Hilton has been having a quiet year (51 receptions, five touchdowns) after going to the Pro Bowl in 2014, but he is their big-play guy.
2 Gore ’em. Their inability to run the ball effectively (92 yards a game, 26th in the NFL) will eventually catch up to Hasselbeck.
3 Have Andre be a giant. Johnson, a seven-time Pro Bowler, has been a non-factor since signing a three-year, $21 million contract in free agency.
To win, the Steelers must …
1 Hassle Matt. Unlike Luck, who threw 12 interceptions in seven games, Hasselbeck has been intercepted twice in 150 attempts.
2 Clip the strip. Mathis is the team’s all-time sack leader (115) and is the league’s all-time leader with 42 forced fumbles on sacks.
3 Give grief to Moncrief. He had eight catches and 112 yards last week as the Colts have gone to a West Coast offense with quick drops and slants.
Gerry Dulac: gdulac@post-gazette.com.
First Published: December 6, 2015, 6:20 a.m.
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