PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mike McCarthy spent the weekend after Pittsburgh’s uneven performance in a Thursday night loss to Cleveland poring over tape to find areas where the Steelers could improve.
uncertain
Steelers → spend → areas
The first-year coach knows he’s hardly alone.
asserted
he → know → ?
“You’re hard-pressed to find a team or two that feels really good about where they are right now,” he said.
asserted
he → ’re → team
“That’s the norm.”
asserted
That → ’ → ?
“I mean, you are what you put on film and you are what your record says you are,” McCarthy said with a shrug.
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McCarthy → mean → shrug
“So, we’re 2-2 as a coaching staff and as a football team.
asserted
we → ’re → team
Translation: there’s plenty of work to do for a group that remains very much a work in progress as Indianapolis (2-2) visits.
asserted
Indianapolis → ’ → progress
While the Steelers aren’t exactly off the pace in the competitive and seemingly wide open AFC North, they have yet to show any real polish.
asserted
they → have → polish
While some bumps are to be expected as McCarthy tries to put his own stamp on a franchise that spent the previous 19 years defined by former coach Mike Tomlin’s swagger, McCarthy knows it’s time for a team that believes it can be a factor into January and beyond to start looking the part.
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it → expect → January
“I’m a huge believer in preparation,” McCarthy said.
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McCarthy → ’m → preparation
“When it doesn’t look right, I prepare more.
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I → look → ?
That’s the way I’m wired.
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I → ’ → ?
That’s the way I’ve always done it.
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I → ’ → it
That’s what I’ll continue to do, and we’re going to be a better football team because of it.”
asserted
we → ’ → it
Better might be required against the Colts, who have been steadily improving since getting routed at home by Baltimore in the opener.
uncertain
who → require → opener
Indianapolis followed with a narrow overtime loss at Kansas City, a thrilling comeback over AFC South rival Houston and a decisive win against injury-depleted Washington in London last week.
asserted
Indianapolis → follow → London
Finding a way to win in Pittsburgh — something the franchise hasn’t done since 2008 — would provide the Colts with tangible evidence that last season’s late fade is firmly in the rearview mirror.
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fade → find → mirror
“We know it’s a big one,” coach Shane Steichen said.
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Steichen → know → ?
“I told the guys ... it’s a big one because it’s the next one.
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it → tell → guys
We’re going into a hostile environment.”
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We → go → environment
The Steelers sideline grew heated at times as things slipped away in Cleveland, from quarterback Aaron Rodgers jawing at McCarthy to longtime defensive stars Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt visibly expressing their frustration.
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Rodgers → grow → frustration
Yet what the cameras showed was one thing.
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showed → show → what
What the players felt was another.
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felt → feel → What
“I think it is a positive,” Rodgers said.
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Rodgers → think → ?
“Player-led teams are the best teams, and I think anytime you’re seeing the fire and the passion from all those guys, it’s a good thing.”
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it → lead → guys
Last week: Colts beat the Commanders 30-13; Steelers lost to Browns 27-24.
asserted
Steelers → beat → Browns
Last meeting: Steelers beat Colts 27-20 on Nov. 2, 2025, in Pittsburgh.
asserted
Steelers → beat → Pittsburgh
Series record: Steelers lead 34-11.
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Steelers → lead → ?
Pittsburgh held the Indianapolis star to just 45 yards on 14 carries in last season’s win.
asserted
Pittsburgh → hold → win
The challenge could be more difficult this time around without second-year defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, who was placed on injured reserve this week.
uncertain
who → place → reserve
The Steelers struggled with tackling last week in Cleveland, though they’re hoping the short week was to blame.
asserted
week → struggle → Cleveland
If the Colts control the line of scrimmage, it means they won’t have to put the ball in the hands of mistake-prone QB Daniel Jones, who turned it over five times in Pittsburgh last November.
asserted
who → control → Pittsburgh
Stats and stuff
— The Steelers are 21-3 at home against Indianapolis and haven’t lost to the Colts at Acrisure Stadium since 2008.
—
asserted
Steelers → lose → 2008
Indy’s defense has allowed only three touchdowns and 30 points in its past two games after allowing 74 points in its first two games.
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defense → allow → games
— Colts WR Keenan Allen needs three receptions to pass former Indianapolis great Reggie Wayne for 11th on the league’s career list.
asserted
Allen → need → list
Allen did not play last week because of a groin injury.
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Allen → play → injury
Wayne finished with 1,070 catches before joining the Colts coaching staff.
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Wayne → finish → staff
— Taylor needs one touchdown to move into third place on the team’s career list.
asserted
Taylor → need → list
He is currently tied with Wayne for 82 scores in his career.
asserted
He → tie → career
— Steelers edge rusher TJ Watt has 4 1/2 sacks in four games this season and 6 1/2 sacks in seven games against the Colts, the most Watt’s had against any non-AFC North opponent.
asserted
Watt → have → opponent
…and 3 more, not listed.
The Aporia
