Guess who’s back? Back again?

It’s just me, Joe, but I have some more predictions for the short week that is this Thanksgiving holiday, complete with Steelers football.

Pittsburgh is traveling to Indianapolis, to play a wounded Colts team that could be without QB Andrew Luck.

Their poor defense could also be without several starters, especially in the secondary. That doesn’t bode well for a team that Ben Roethlisberger feasted on in their last 3 encounters… and when they were a “better” defense as well!

With that said, here are some of the predictions I’m making for Thursday’s game. Let’s see if I get any right like last week!

Ben clears 350

I want to say Ben throws for over 400, but I have this gut feeling Le’Veon Bell is going to get his, and the game plan will be time of possession like it was against the Browns. We also know that Roethlisberger is better at home than on the road, but in this case, I just don’t see how he doesn’t annihilate the Colts D yet again.

Ladarius Green scores

I’ve been high on Green the last few weeks, but Steelers Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley apparently had him on a “pitch count”. Haley claims that restriction is being lifted, which means Green will be unleashed against this reeling Colts defense.

The big tight end has already been oft-targeted in the endzone, on the few snaps he’s played. He was the intended receiver on two plays in the endzone against Cleveland, and also had opportunities against the Cowboys.

I think this is the week he bursts free.

Cobi Hamilton scores

This game screams fade route, and we’ve seen Cobi high-point the ball in the preseason, as well as his touchdown catch against Miami. I don’t think Cobi does a lot, but being one of the bigger bodies against inexperienced corners should create a similar mismatch that I’m predicting for Green. Hamilton gets 3-4 catches and a TD in this one.

Antonio Brown goes off

I think AB could break free for a score as well, which if you’re keeping track, puts Ben at 3 touchdown passes. Not unlikely.

I really think Brown is going to be in the 8-10 catch neighborhood and well over 100 yards receiving in this game. I don’t know how Indianapolis can cover him, let alone double-cover him… the latter is what will open the game up for Hamilton and Green, but without Vontae Davis, the Colts are in deep trouble. Joe Haden had his hands full last week, and there’s no weather to get in the way of the Steelers passing game this time.

Chris Boswell isn’t used… until the second half

This is similar to my Jordan Berry doesn’t punt prediction last week, except I could see Pittsburgh getting pass happy and having to punt a couple of times in this one, maybe even more than the Browns game (Berry punted 3 times in that game).

Logic would dictate that Tomlin has been on the hot seat for being too aggressive, but I don’t see that stopping even in a dome stadium. Boswell might get some chances at field goals or extra points, but I don’t see it happening early, or often, in this one.

That said, he’s going to get a 45+ yarder in this game, because he needs reps too, and I could see Tomlin keeping the pedal to the floor as well.

Defense matches sack total from last week

Oh this is a tough one to call, with Pittsburgh’s 8 sacks in Cleveland being their highest since 2005. They came into Sunday’s game dead last in the league with 13 sacks, against a Browns team that gave up 30 sacks headed into that game.

Indy also went into their game last weekend having given up 30 sacks: they gave up another 5, and have now had their quarterbacks dropped 35 times on the season. With a less athletic Scott Tolzien stepping in for the injured Andrew Luck, I just don’t see how how Tolzien isn’t dropped at least 5 times, and possibly more.

The Steelers should’ve had even more sacks, at least 2 more against the Browns: I’m thinking they’ve finally found their identity and will wreck havoc on the Colts Thursday night.

Pick Six

Last prediction, and I’m not sure who gets it, but someone will end up with an interception just based off of the pressure Pittsburgh should put on Tolzien. It could be Artie Burns or William Gay breaking records, or perhaps Mike Mitchell or Sean Davis finally get their hands on a pass.

Regardless, we haven’t seen an interception brought back for a score like the last few years, and I think it’s high time it happens. If Brice McCain and Antwon Blake could do it (and we know Gay has too) I don’t see how it doesn’t happen.