Colts Preparing for Another Tough Test Against Big Ben

Indianapolis is expected to rework its starting offensive line for the fifth time this season, according to ESPN, as guard Hugh Thornton (elbow) and tackle Anthony Castonzo (knee) are both listed as out on the team’s official injury report.

Raiders: RB Taiwan Jones, CB Keith McGill, LB Neiron Ball, C Rodney Hudson, OL Khalif Barnes, WR Rod Streater, TE Gabe Holmes.

Chargers: WR Tyrell Williams, S Adrian Phillips, CB Greg Ducre, LB Kavell Conner, D.J. Fluker, LT King Dunlap, NT Sean Lissemore. QUESTIONABLE: TE Heath Miller (rib). Roethlisberger cleared concussion protocol and had his second consecutive practice Friday with no limitations. Ben Roethlisberger looks nearly certain to play.

Roethlisberger leaves the field with concussion-like symptoms.

With that said, enjoy the first half and be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for all the latest news surrounding the team throughout the game and after! So Sunday’s game could prove pivotal in the AFC playoff picture. It’s not that Pittsburgh has the “steel curtain” defense of yesteryear, as much as it will be that he’ll likely be required to put up a high number of points in order for the Colts to actually win.

The one wildcard for this offense is head coach Mike Tomlin, who needs to find some consistency in his playcalling.

“The Steelers are 2-3 in their past five games with 14 giveaways and a minus-5 turnover differential”. But I doubt things will be so straight-forward. They play extremely well in that stadium, so we knew what we were getting into. Those days are long gone.

Gore, in his 11th season, is hardly having a banner year. “He just had a laser of an arm and he was stiff arming guys”. Hasselbeck will have a good game, but won’t be able to do enough to cone out with a win.

Tonight’s monumental game will be broadcasted live on your local NBC Sports channel. Not so much anymore. They will be hugely disappointed to have missed out on the chance to sweep the series for the first time since 1991. A healthy Roethlisberger could do it again. Derek Carr started off hot but isn’t playing the same as he was when the season started. The Brandon Boykin-less pass defense wasn’t the lone problem, however.

LINEBACKER SHUFFLE: The Steelers began the year stressing the need for rotating linebackers in and out of the game to keep them fresh. He’s going to play for eight more years.

ROAD WOES: Pittsburgh has dominated this series, going 20-6 all-time (playoffs included). While another six touchdown eruption from Big Ben is unlikely, an encore performance could be needed if the secondary continues to sleepwalk. But the Redskins running game is too confused and too inconsistent to trouble Dallas’s stout run-defense. Hasselbeck has yet to beat Roethlisberger in his 17-year career.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.