Every week, we reach out to get the inside scoop on the Pittsburgh Steelers latest opponent. This week we reached out to our friends at Colts Wire to find out what the Steelers should expect from the Indianapolis Colts this week. Be sure to use Colts Wire as your source for everything you need to know for this week’s game.

1-What has been the biggest positive change in the Colts in recent weeks?

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

It seems everything is coming together with the run game, which is exactly how the Colts want to run their offense. They like a balanced approach but their philosophy will always be surrounded in running the football to control the line of scrimmage. Their defense has been playing well thanks to the presence of DeForest Buckner and their strong turnover ratio. All this goes hand in hand with Philip Rivers playing some of the most efficient football of his career.

2-What is the Colts playoff situation as of now?

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Entering Week 16, the Colts are the No. 6 seed. There’s a chance they can split these next two games and still make the playoffs, but there’s a lot of risk in that. If the Colts win and get a loss from the Ravens or Dolphins this week, then they are in. If they lose and both the Dolphins and Ravens win this week, they would be outside the playoff picture in Week 17 and needing a loss from either team in the final week. The ideal situation for the Colts is that they win this week and somehow the Ravens or Dolphins get upset, but that’s not likely. If they win this week, it’s most likely a win-and-in situation against the Jaguars in Week 17. If they lose this week, the whole picture gets messy.

3-Who is a player on the Indianapolis roster who doesn’t get the attention they deserve?

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He’s getting more attention but my answer is always DT Grover Stewart. He’s a mauling one-technique and elite run-stopper on the interior. He’s the biggest reason the Colts defense has been strong against the run this season. The Colts realized this and signed him to a three-year extension during the middle of the season. Even if he’s not directly making run stops, his ability to crash the backfield and redirect runners into the teeth of the defense has held a major impact. His size, burst and surprising athleticism makes him a menace on the interior.

4-How has Philip Rivers been this season?

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He’s been great for the majority of the season. He had a rough game against the Browns that led to a loss, and the Ravens defense was too much for the entire offense. But outside of those two games, he has been everything the Colts wanted and more. He’s been extremely accurate to all levels of the field, and his willingness to keep his eyes downfield has allowed the Colts offense to be an explosive unit. He’s been extremely smart with the football in recent weeks, posting a 12:2 TD:INT ratio and a 108.4 passer rating over the last six games. He hasn’t been tested defensively in a while so this will give us a good idea of how he might fare in the playoffs. But he’s certainly earned another contract.

5-What’s your prediction for the game?

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Three weeks ago I would have chosen the Steelers without hesitation. But this recent slide gives me more confidence that the Colts can catch them at the right time before they figure things out. Keeping the pressure off Rivers will be tough, but the Colts have been immaculate in pass protection this season. If they can do that and let their defensive line control their side of the ball, the Colts can win a tight one. I have it Colts, 23-21.