Oct 25, 2014 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – As the Steelers headed into a three-game homestand last week against the Houston Texans, many pointed to the stretch at Heinz Field as the make-or-break point to the season.

After all, in the Texans, Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens, the Steelers were going to face a team looking to make a move in the AFC standings and two of the conference’s heavyweights.

Pittsburgh (4-3) took care of the preliminary work last Monday night, beating the Texans, 30-23.

The heavy lifting begins today when the Steelers face the Colts (5-2), winners of their last five games.

“They are an extremely hot football team,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “They are scoring points in bunches. They are a rock solid group from top to bottom.”

The Colts are averaging just under 31 points per game led by third-year quarterback Andrew Luck, who entered this week’s action tied with Denver’s Peyton Manning, whom he replaced with the Colts, for the league lead with 19 touchdown passes

“He was the No. 1 draft choice in the league his year coming out,” said Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. “That usually means you’re pretty good. I think he’s proven that he is pretty good.”

Luck has a solid group of receivers to work with. He’s got seven different players with at least 17 receptions, led by speedy T.Y. Hilton.

Hilton, who is a third-year player like Luck, compares favorably to the Steelers’ Antonio Brown. At 5-9, 178 pounds, he’s a little smaller than Brown. But with 47 receptions for 711 yards, he’s been nearly as productive as the Steelers’ star, who leads the NFL with 719 yards and is second with 50 catches.

“They’re similar, but A.B. is just so quick,” said Steelers cornerback Brice McCain. “Hilton, they’ll use him to take the top off (the defense).”

Interestingly enough, Brown and Hilton were youth football teammates in Florida on teams coached by Hilton’s father.

“We did a lot of winning,” said Brown.

So, too, has Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger enters the game with a 99-50 record as the Steelers starting quarterback. A win in this game would make him just the fourth quarterback in NFL history to reach 100 wins in 150 starts. Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana and Tom Brady are the others.

Roethlisberger owns an 18-1 record at Heinz Field in the month of October in his career, and Indianapolis head coach Chuck Pagano knows just how dangerous the Steelers’ quarterback can be. Pagano faced Roethlisberger eight times as a defensive assistant for the Baltimore Ravens. Roethlisberger and the Steelers won six of those matchups.

“I’ve gone against him numerous times, some good and a lot of bad,” Pagano said. “The guy is just a tremendous quarterback. He is a future first-ballot Hall of Famer. He is big. He is strong. He is accurate. He has great vision and strength. You can’t get him down in the pocket. The way he is able to throw on time, throw in rhythm and throw the deep ball, and the way he can extend plays, escape and brush off would be blitzers and find guys, it’s amazing. You turn on the tape and he doesn’t look any different. He looks better than in my years at Baltimore and having to go against Big Ben. He is doing a great job and it seems like he is getting better with age.”

Roethlisberger will have to be good in this game. Indianapolis enters the game ranked third in the NFL in total defense and first in third-down defense, allowing opponents to covert just 26 percent of the time.

Both teams will reach the midway point of their season in this game, and as they head into their second half, what has Roethlisberger lerned about the Steelers?

“I think we’re still a young team. We make some mistakes at times,” he said. “We show flashes of being a good team.”

Nose tackle Steve McClendon (shoulder) and safety Shamarko Thomas (hamstring) are out for the Steelers, while right tackle Marcus Gilbert (concussion) is doubtful. Cam Thomas will start at nose tackle for McLendon, while Mike Adams would play in place of Gilbert if he does not clear concussion protocol. … Rookie linebacker Ryan Shazier, who missed the past four games with a sprained knee, is expected to return for the Steelers. … Wide receiver Reggie Wayne (elbow) is out for Indianapolis, while starting running back Trent Richardson (hamstring) is questionable and did not practice all week. … The Steelers lead the all-time regular season series against the Colts, 14-6. … Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell needs 62 yards from scrimmage to be the fastest player to 1,000 yards from scrimmage in Steelers’ history.