IT’S GAME DAY!!

That means while we all wait for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts to kickoff at 1:00pm EST in Week 4 on Sunday, it’s time to take a look at who the SCN staff likes in this game. The current line for the game is PIT (-1.5) with a Total of 40.

But these picks are vs. the spread, or based on an over/under. These are straight up picks. So, let’s get to the prognostications…

Jeff Hartman

The Pittsburgh Steelers are on the road again for the third time in their first four games, but the one thing I get a feeling about with this team is how it is built for games like this. What do the Colts want to do offensively? Run the ball. What do the Steelers do as well as anyone in the NFL? Stop the run. What do the Steelers want to do offensively? Impose their will. And the Colts have one of the worst rushing defenses in the league. 3 games is a small sample size, but I see the Steelers being able to move the ball on offense, and forcing the game into Anthony Richardson’s hands. That’s where my not-so-bold take comes in with Minkah Fitzpatrick getting his first interception since 2022. Could it be a pick-six? Maybe, but I like the Steelers to win their fourth straight and advance to 4-0 on the season.

Prediction: Steelers 23, Colts 13

Dave Schofield

The “Steelers Stat Geek” in me can’t get over the fact the Steelers are awful in Week 4 under Mike Tomlin (5-10). It’s their prototypical let-down game. The Steelers haven’t won in Week 3 and gone on to win in Week 4 since 2004. All the numbers say this is setting up for a loss. But that show got canceled, so screw it.

Prediction: Steelers 27, Colts 10

Jeremy Betz

This is a good matchup on paper for the Steelers. Its strength on strength when the Colts want to run the ball at this Steelers front 7, and it won’t get any easier for Anthony Richardson when he drops back to pass. When Pittsburgh has the ball, pounding the rock and utilizing play action would seem to be the way to attack this Colts D sans DeForest Buckner and Kenny Moore. Could PIT be looking ahead to SNF vs Dallas next week? I doubt it. But Tomlin teams do often underperform against teams the “should” beat. I think it’s closer than it should be, but I see a Steelers win.

Prediction: Steelers 23, Colts 16

Anthony Defeo

Since I’ve been described as an emotional writer (whatever the hell that means), my feelings tell me the Steelers will win this game rather easily. People are saying this is a trap game, but there is no such thing when the trappee is favored by less than a field goal. All I know is Anthony Richardson is a young and mistake-prone quarterback who has completed just 49 percent of his passes. I also know the Steelers are about as risk-adverse as one can get on offense. Pittsburgh will do all that it can to stop Jonathan Taylor and put the game in Richardson’s hands. My emotions tell me he will drop that ball a few times. The Steelers will play it close to the vest on offense (again) and walk away with a business-like road win.

Prediction: Steelers 24, Colts 3

Big Bro Scho

Any chance I can hit the nail on the head 2 weeks in a row? Come on I even impress myself with that one last week. Everything about this game says the Steelers should be able to do enough to win. In my opinion the defense just has to hold up against the run and wait for Anthony Richardson to make a mistake or two, because he will. Offensively they just need to get into the type of groove they were in last week especially in the second half, move the ball, control the line of scrimmage and everything should work out in the Steelers favor. I’m going to go against what Dave and I talked about on the Scho Bro Show with Coach Tomlin only winning back to back in weeks three and four twice in his coaching career. This week he picks up a third and the Steelers start 4-0.

Prediction: Steelers 24, Colts 14

K.T. Smith

Hmm. This is a tough pick. I’ve taken the Steelers three weeks in a row but haven’t felt certain about any of them. This one I feel fairly certain about. Is that a bad thing? I mean, they should win this game. They’re improving on offense and their defense is clearly superior to Indy when the Colts have the ball. I’m pretty sure they will confuse Anthony Richardson with their coverage disguises and force him into mistakes. And I believe they’ll be good enough on offense to outscore Indy. The thing is, I’m uncomfortable with this type of certainty when it comes to the Steelers, and it makes me nervous about this game. Nevertheless…

Prediction: Steelers 20, Colts 13

Corey Eckenroth

Everyone in the NFL knows what the Steelers are going to do on offense Sunday. I know it. You know it. The Colts know it. And yet none of that will matter. This is the game the Steelers start to physically impose their will on teams early in games.

Najee goes bonkers and runs for 150 Rush Yds, scores 2TD’s, Fields throws for another TD and continues to make strides in the passing game as it finally opens up. The Steelers defense continues to shut down everything. It’s time to start believing in what this team’s ceiling can be.

Prediction: Steelers 27, Colts 13

Jason Murphy

I watched the Green Bay/Indy game because I was curious as to how the Packers won with Malik Willis at QB. The short answer is they ran the ball almost every play and the Colts could not stop it. Granted, it was some of the best designed run concepts I have ever seen drawn up, but the Colts still knew it was coming and could not stop it. Building off of the 4th quarter run game against the Chargers, Pittsburgh should dominate time of possession and have a well rested defense ready to attack once they get back on the field. Average teams become top tier teams by winning games like this with comfort despite setbacks such as the injuries. A clean, dominant performance would be a big step on the path that shows the growth of the Steelers overall chemistry, and I think they step up and get that done this week.

Prediction: Steelers 24, Colts 6

Sadie Hubler

Jonathan Taylor is a monster of a back, but I’m still not sold on Anthony Richardson. He may be incredibly talented with a high ceiling, but he is still quite young, and overall the Colts offense does not scare me. Pittsburgh’s defense will hold Taylor to under 100 yards and force Indianapolis to become one-dimensional on 2nd and 3rd downs, leading to a turnover and overall a lack of offensive production.

On the offensive side, Justin Fields continues to gain confidence and comfort in this offense. Even with injuries, most notably the loss of Troy Fautanu for the season, the offensive line plays well enough to allow for a successful rushing attack. Pittsburgh starts the season off with a 4-0 start and shows the rest of the league that they are a better team than predicted.

Prediction: Steelers 24, Colts 13

Bryan Anthony Davis

In recent years, this would have been a game the Steelers would have taken lightly. But this version of the Men of Steel felt disrespected from the get-go. They are a team that if they went 16-0, they would still play the underdog card in Week 17. The key to this game is Najee Harris in the running game. If 22 and Company can move the chains, control the clock and wear out the home team, the horseshoe on the helmets will merely be a reminder that Indy is out of luck.

Prediction: Steelers 23, Colts 13

What is your prediction? Let us know in the comment section below, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the upcoming Week 4 game between the Steelers and Colts.