Following Pittsburgh's 27-24 loss to the Browns, here are three things I think and three things I know ahead of the Steelers' battle against the Colts.
I THINK there is a fire in the locker room that Mike McCarthy has to put out.
What exactly is that fire? Who does it involve? Where is it? Who knows, but where there is smoke … there is often fire. McCarthy said it himself on Monday — the team needs to clean its house. In Week 5, that’s not what you want to hear.
I THINK Rico Dowdle should be eased back into action as he returns from injury.
If he does in fact play against the Colts, Dowdle simply deserves to be RB2. Your RB1 is Jaylen Warren. Dowdle’s 2.5 yards per carry compared to Warren’s 5.6 is night and day.
I THINK Michael Pittman Jr. is really struggling.
This does not seem to just be a fluke. A combined seven receptions for 89 yards on the season tells you all you need to know. He is failing the eye test. Sure, his plantar fasciitis doesn’t help matters, but that is no excuse.
I KNOW the Steelers have a massive rest advantage against the Colts.
Fresh off a Thursday nighter, Pittsburgh not only has a few more days to recover from its last game, but Indianapolis is making the trip back from Europe. That can really mess with your body.
I KNOW DK Metcalf’s game against Cleveland was absolutely huge.
While we touched on perhaps the bad with Pittman, Metcalf looked like a legitimate playmaker. His 115 yards through the air against the Browns were great, and that number could have been even higher had Aaron Rodgers located his open receiver. Is Metcalf back to his former self?
I KNOW the tackling has to be better against the Colts.
Per PFF, the Steelers had 14 missed tackles against the Browns. No wonder you surrendered 27 points.