One quarterback is deep into the back nine of his NFL career. The other just stepped on the course to start what he hopes is a career with the kind of longevity that his counterpart this week has enjoyed.
That's just one of the intriguing plots to Monday night's matchup between the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers and the Indianapolis Colts.
Neither team is enjoying the type of season it wanted. Pittsburgh (3-7) is likely to miss the playoffs and might endure its worst season under veteran coach Mike Tomlin, while the Colts (4-6-1) fired coach Frank Reich two games ago and hired Jeff Saturday in a move that set NFL Twitter ablaze.
Under Saturday, Indianapolis is 1-1 with a narrow win over the Raiders in Las Vegas and a near-upset last week of the 9-1 Philadelphia Eagles. The Colts led 16-3 before the Eagles rallied behind Jalen Hurts for a 17-16 verdict.
The hiring of Saturday led to the return of veteran Matt Ryan under center for Indianapolis. Reich benched the 15-year starter after he tossed nine interceptions and lost three of 11 fumbles in the team's 3-3-1 start.
Sam Ehlinger was ineffective in his two starts, so Ryan reclaimed the job. And he's quit coughing the ball up. Ryan hasn't committed a turnover under Saturday and new offensive coordinator Parks Frazier.
"He acknowledges that that's something he can't do, is turning the ball over," Frazier said. "He knew that all along, but I think he's really taken that next step of saying, ‘I'm going to protect the ball.'"
Ryan is 44 of 60 for 435 yards in the last two games, although critics have noted how infrequently the Colts take shots down the field. In fairness to Ryan, he's been sacked 29 times in nine starts, including four last week, and hasn't had the kind of protection required to pop the defense's top.
He could get that this week with the 29th-ranked Steelers' defense in town. They were torched last week by Joe Burrow (four touchdowns, 355 yards) and Cincinnati in a 37-30 defeat at home.
Pittsburgh yields 24.4 ppg, which is 26th in the league, and ranks near the bottom in sacks with just 19. There was a time when 19 sacks were about five games worth for the once-salty Steelers' defense, but they simply haven't been able to get to the quarterback.
That has made things harder for rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett, making his seventh career start under center, or 225 fewer than Ryan. Pickett showed flashes of potential last week, completing 25 of 42 attempts for 265 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions.
Pickett is completing 65.4 percent of his passes, but is averaging just over 6 yards per completion and has tossed nearly three times as many interceptions (8) as TDs (3). But he's avoided picks the last two games.
"My job is to read the defense and get it to the guy that's open," Pickett said. "That's what I'm going to continue to do."
That's just one of the intriguing plots to Monday night's matchup between the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers and the Indianapolis Colts.
Neither team is enjoying the type of season it wanted. Pittsburgh (3-7) is likely to miss the playoffs and might endure its worst season under veteran coach Mike Tomlin, while the Colts (4-6-1) fired coach Frank Reich two games ago and hired Jeff Saturday in a move that set NFL Twitter ablaze.
Under Saturday, Indianapolis is 1-1 with a narrow win over the Raiders in Las Vegas and a near-upset last week of the 9-1 Philadelphia Eagles. The Colts led 16-3 before the Eagles rallied behind Jalen Hurts for a 17-16 verdict.
The hiring of Saturday led to the return of veteran Matt Ryan under center for Indianapolis. Reich benched the 15-year starter after he tossed nine interceptions and lost three of 11 fumbles in the team's 3-3-1 start.
Sam Ehlinger was ineffective in his two starts, so Ryan reclaimed the job. And he's quit coughing the ball up. Ryan hasn't committed a turnover under Saturday and new offensive coordinator Parks Frazier.
"He acknowledges that that's something he can't do, is turning the ball over," Frazier said. "He knew that all along, but I think he's really taken that next step of saying, ‘I'm going to protect the ball.'"
Ryan is 44 of 60 for 435 yards in the last two games, although critics have noted how infrequently the Colts take shots down the field. In fairness to Ryan, he's been sacked 29 times in nine starts, including four last week, and hasn't had the kind of protection required to pop the defense's top.
He could get that this week with the 29th-ranked Steelers' defense in town. They were torched last week by Joe Burrow (four touchdowns, 355 yards) and Cincinnati in a 37-30 defeat at home.
Pittsburgh yields 24.4 ppg, which is 26th in the league, and ranks near the bottom in sacks with just 19. There was a time when 19 sacks were about five games worth for the once-salty Steelers' defense, but they simply haven't been able to get to the quarterback.
That has made things harder for rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett, making his seventh career start under center, or 225 fewer than Ryan. Pickett showed flashes of potential last week, completing 25 of 42 attempts for 265 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions.
Pickett is completing 65.4 percent of his passes, but is averaging just over 6 yards per completion and has tossed nearly three times as many interceptions (8) as TDs (3). But he's avoided picks the last two games.
"My job is to read the defense and get it to the guy that's open," Pickett said. "That's what I'm going to continue to do."
Steelers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS loss.
Steelers are 33-16-2 ATS in their last 51 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.
Steelers are 14-29-2 ATS in their last 45 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Steelers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games.
Steelers are 2-7-1 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
Steelers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
Steelers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games in Week 12.
Steelers are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. AFC.
Colts are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up loss.
Colts are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Colts are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games in Week 12
Under is 6-0 in Steelers last 6 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.
Under is 6-1 in Steelers last 7 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 4-1 in Steelers last 5 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
Under is 19-7 in Steelers last 26 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Under is 38-15 in Steelers last 53 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in Steelers last 7 Monday games.
Under is 41-17-1 in Steelers last 59 vs. a team with a losing record.
Under is 46-20-1 in Steelers last 67 road games.
Under is 45-21-2 in Steelers last 68 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
Under is 9-1 in Colts last 10 games on fieldturf.
Under is 14-2 in Colts last 16 games overall.
Under is 7-1 in Colts last 8 games following a ATS win.
Under is 6-1 in Colts last 7 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 6-1 in Colts last 7 home games.
Under is 11-2 in Colts last 13 vs. AFC.
Over is 4-1 in Colts last 5 Monday games.
Under is 6-2 in Colts last 8 games in Week 12.
Under is 6-2 in Colts last 8 vs. a team with a losing record.
Over is 7-3 in Colts last 10 games in November.
Head to Head Trends
Over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings.
Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Indianapolis.
Steelers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
Home team is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
Steelers are 33-16-2 ATS in their last 51 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.
Steelers are 14-29-2 ATS in their last 45 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Steelers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games.
Steelers are 2-7-1 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
Steelers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
Steelers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games in Week 12.
Steelers are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. AFC.
Colts are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up loss.
Colts are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Colts are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games in Week 12
Under is 6-0 in Steelers last 6 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.
Under is 6-1 in Steelers last 7 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 4-1 in Steelers last 5 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
Under is 19-7 in Steelers last 26 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Under is 38-15 in Steelers last 53 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in Steelers last 7 Monday games.
Under is 41-17-1 in Steelers last 59 vs. a team with a losing record.
Under is 46-20-1 in Steelers last 67 road games.
Under is 45-21-2 in Steelers last 68 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
Under is 9-1 in Colts last 10 games on fieldturf.
Under is 14-2 in Colts last 16 games overall.
Under is 7-1 in Colts last 8 games following a ATS win.
Under is 6-1 in Colts last 7 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 6-1 in Colts last 7 home games.
Under is 11-2 in Colts last 13 vs. AFC.
Over is 4-1 in Colts last 5 Monday games.
Under is 6-2 in Colts last 8 games in Week 12.
Under is 6-2 in Colts last 8 vs. a team with a losing record.
Over is 7-3 in Colts last 10 games in November.
Head to Head Trends
Over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings.
Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Indianapolis.
Steelers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
Home team is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
They should have stuck with Wentz
That stuck it over the total nice stick
