Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - CROSSOVER: Can Indianapolis Colts Exorcise Their Pittsburgh DEMONS?

Starting point is 00:00:00 It's crossover Thursday here on the Locked on Podcast Network. Locked on Steelers meets Locked on Colts as both teams out of crossroads. Let's get into it. You are Locked on NFL crossover, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello and welcome to crossover Thursday here on the Locked on Podcast Network. I'm Christopher Carter of Locked on Steelers. He's Jake Arthur of Locked on Colts.

Starting point is 00:00:35 And we're breaking down this big matchups. Sunday two two and two teams trying to find their identity at Accresor Stadium, Pittsburgh for a 1 p.m. kickoff. We're going to get into a lot of different things here. But first, what I remind you today's episode is brought to you by Kalshi for a limited time, download Kalshi and use code locked on to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalsi trade. What's next? We're going to break down a lot of this game's key matchups. We got to talk about the run game battle because both teams have explosive running backs that can take over this game, who will be better suited there? Both defenses have also been kind of a tale of two teams

Starting point is 00:01:15 because when you look at how they both started and ended their last two games, each of them have kind of flip-flopped and how they played, which defense will show up. But the big story we're going to talk about is the Colts because this time, well, not this time last year, but when these two teams met last year, the Colts were unstoppable. They came into Pittsburgh. Steelers had just come off a butt-wop and the Steelers basically end. ended the cold season with a wild win and then Colts fell off the rails. And Jake, it's been since 2008 that the Colts have been able to win in Pittsburgh, which it doesn't feel like it should have been there.

Starting point is 00:01:49 No, it's great. Like the fact that the Colts still have things that they haven't done since Peyton Manning is just mind boggling, you know? And it's like the recipe has been different a lot of times. Like it used to be Ben Rothlisberger thrown for like 500 yards and four touchdowns. And now it was a super ugly game where, you know, Pittsburgh just gets gifted like 20 points based on turnovers last year. Because like you said, the Colts were unreal and unbeatable until they weren't last year. It was just completely night and day.

Starting point is 00:02:22 Like they weren't turning the ball over leading into it. The offense was awesome. And they turned over the ball like five times. And, you know, Pittsburgh's defense looked really bad going into that matchup. And then everyone flips the switch. at one game altogether. So I think everyone here on the side of his kind of approaching with cautious optimism because you absolutely just got punched in the mouth last year.

Starting point is 00:02:49 You just were not expecting it because Shane Steichen has always kind of been able to figure out those Mike Tomlin defense. It's like the last couple times that they had played, it worked in the Colts' favorite. Now it was in Indianapolis, but there's just the Colts have these things. where there's just locations they can't win. It seems like Pittsburgh's one of them. Jacksonville, they haven't won in Jacksonville since like 2013, 2014, and they play them every year.

Starting point is 00:03:15 Yeah, in Jacksonville. Yeah, that's a division one. That's a problem. And then so, yeah, I don't know what kind of witchcraft is going on, but the Colts are in the midst of a curse right now. And Pittsburgh is just, it's the home to some witches if you're the Colts. I don't know how else to explain it. Listen, man, there's always some weird mojo going on.

Starting point is 00:03:35 on sometimes the NFL. Steelers have a one in Cleveland since 2021. But you're right, this goes back to 2008. The last time, that was the last time the Steelers won a Super Bowl and that was back when Peyton Manning was not Peyton Manning yet. So, because he was still playing in the NFL. But I think that there is a chance here for both of these teams to kind of

Starting point is 00:03:55 rewrite the scripts for their season. Both have, you know, had their up and down starts to the year. I just, Shane Steichen, when I was, when I thought, I saw him last year and what they were doing. I thought like, hey, maybe they're figuring something out. They've got a run game. They can balance. It makes things easier for Daniel Jones.

Starting point is 00:04:13 Their defense is making enough plays. They went and got SOSCA. Like a lot of things were adding up for this team last year. And it just seems like everything fell away last year. And now early off to start the season, it hasn't been built back. And it makes you run. Is there a sense that like last year was a bit of a mirage? Or is there a sense that like, hey, no, wait a second.

Starting point is 00:04:31 They still have the tools to get back to what they were doing last year. and go on a run that puts them in a good spot in the AFC South. Yeah, last year I think they just kind of hit like the perfect storm of everything working in concert. Like the coaching was really good and the players were executing everything really, really well. And when that is happening and there's very few mistakes being made and the coaching actually is working really sharp and they're, you know, they're finding ways to get one up on the opponent. And like defensively, they went from a very boring static defense from Gus Bradley to Lou Anorumo, who it's not, it doesn't always work, but it's always interesting. And he's always changing things up.

Starting point is 00:05:17 That all was working really, really well last year. And I hate to be like the injuries guy because the Pittsburgh game had nothing to do with injuries, but they ultimately lost the final seven games of the season. And it's hard, it's hard to look beyond the injuries because, you know, Daniel, Jones de Forrest Buckner, Sauce Gardner, Mooney, like all their most important guys other than like Alec Pearson, Jonathan Taylor were really banged up last year.

Starting point is 00:05:44 But that's not really, I don't know what can really be their excuse to start out this year. Now, Alec Pierce, of course, played 17 snaps into week two before he went to my R. So that is a problem in itself. But just defensively, your pass rush isn't good enough.

Starting point is 00:06:03 They were really poor tackling the first couple weeks. Like, it's gotten better. But facing Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes is different than facing C.J. Stroud behind a terrible offensive line. And literally Marcus Mariotta followed by a rookie undrafted free agent with the commanders last week. So it's like, what is this, what is this defense for real? You know, there's, they allowed over 1,000 yards in those first two weeks and it got under control these last couple. in more obvious advantageous matchups.

Starting point is 00:06:35 But offensively, I think they're still trying to figure things out. Jonathan Taylor is really the only constant. In three of the four games, he's at over 90 rushing yards and two plus rushing touchdowns. So, like, Taylor is being Jonathan Taylor. He hasn't had that big gaudy game quite yet, but it is, you know, only week five. But it's really a receiver.

Starting point is 00:06:55 They're trying to figure things out. Alec Pierce's presence was the thing that kept defenses honest and really opened up everything because like receivers were running wide open for the Colts last year when you had a legit field stretcher that defenses had to respect and now you've just got I mean Josh Downs can create separation like none other but Keenan Allen Lequan Threadwell like these guys aren't they're not separators they're they're 50 50 guys they're chain movers you know so and Tyler Warren like defenses are kind of selling out to stop him as well right now they're They're needing to figure out new ways to try and use him.

Starting point is 00:07:34 So offensively, they've been productive. You know, they can score 30 points, but I do think they're trying to figure out an identity. And defensively, I think it's just going to be very week-to-week dependent. I'm with you on this identity thing. It's been the theme for the Lockdown Steelers podcast for the past like month, basically. The Steelers are trying to figure out what their identity is. We thought going into the season, it was going to be, hey, you've invested in this offensive line. You pay two tight ends.

Starting point is 00:08:03 Your two top receivers are big physical guys. One of them, a former Colton, Michael Pittman, Jr. But like, so we thought, okay, they're going to run the ball a lot. They're going to use play action. They're going to have short passes where the physical nature of the game is going to be worked in. They're going to have a lot of screens, a lot of quick passes, get the ball out, and then let these guys plower defenders and defenders and wear defenses down and let that be the tone of the offense.

Starting point is 00:08:27 And in their best one of the season, when they took on the Bengals and were able to win at home, about a week and a half ago. It made that they did that. That's what they did. It worked and it made it seem like, okay, this is the version of the team that made the most sense. But then you look at how they've lost,

Starting point is 00:08:41 they've been blown out by the Patriots, how they lost to the Brown, though it went down to the wire. There was just ineptness where they didn't seem to be able to embrace their, their strengths. And I think that's where both of these teams are right now. That's why both of them are two and two. These are not teams deprived of talent.

Starting point is 00:09:01 These are not teams that don't have guys that can win football games. But I do think these are teams that have struggled to embrace a style that's going to be their particular brand that's going to be focused on their actual strengths that makes the help to be a more consistent team. And to me, the team that's going to win this week is going to be the team that buys in on their version of their strength the best. I'd agree with that. I think, you know, Shane Stuyck and tried to establish an identity when he was hired of. they're going to throw to score points and they're going to run to win it. And Jonathan Taylor got off to a historic pace last year. And you would think that's just him running the ball 30 times.

Starting point is 00:09:39 But it really was the Colts peppering defenses with the pass in the first half and then just ramming it down their throats in the second half with Taylor. That's really the recipe they want to have. And then just like stopping the run on the defensive side of the ball and, you know, Lou Interimmo dialing up some interesting blitzes. That's kind of still how they have to win defensively right now. but on the offensive side, it just completely depends on how the pressure affects Jones

Starting point is 00:10:06 because some days he deals with it really well and some days he can't deal with it at all. Well, let's talk about some of those. We'll talk about the defenses in a sec, because I want to talk about the Steelers defense that kind of started real strong and the last two weeks has really struggled, and the Colts are a bit different.

Starting point is 00:10:21 They started off not so great, and then they've kind of rebounded. Which defense will we see from either team on Sunday? We'll talk about that next year on crossover Thursday here on the Locked-on podcast network, Chris Carter, Jake Arthur. Stick with us. We'll be right back. But first, what are you to say? Today's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. A new football season brings some big questions. Who makes the play on? Who wins their division and who takes home the title Kalshi? America's number one prediction market platform.

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Starting point is 00:12:38 Thursday here on the locked-on podcast network chris carter of locked on Steelers take arthur of locked on colt we're continuing to talk about these teams i want to look at this jake uh you brought you brought up the pressure on daniel jones and i want to talk about this as we pull up our match-up card for our youtube uh viewers here one thing that i think could be interesting for the Steelers defense is if they can get back to being able to get after the quarterback, T.J. Watt, you know, surged out four and a half sacks to start the season. But the Steelers, they signed some guys in this off season as to extensions who haven't delivered. Keanu Betton, a second round pick from the 23 draft. He hasn't had a sack yet as an interior defensive line. And Nick Herbig,

Starting point is 00:13:19 a guy they also signed to a pretty hefty extension, fourth round pick from the same draft. He hasn't had a sack yet this season. Both of those guys got paid. To me, the Steelers need those guys to not only produce up front in the pass rush, but produce against the run because you look at the strengths here for the Colts in this matchup. The big thing that I look at are those explosive runs, their red zone production, and their go-to-go production. That means to me, you've got to stop Jonathan Taylor and you've got to pressure Daniel Jones. If you let the run game run while on you, you're going to have a problem. Yeah, that is something that Colts have been very intentional about is

Starting point is 00:13:55 maybe they don't run it all throughout the game, but they want to run it. when they need to. And that's, you know, third and fourth and short. And that's definitely on the goal line as well. That's, that's why they've been so good in the red zone with, with Jonathan Taylor, especially. And the good news about Daniel Jones recovery is now they've been able to use those quarterback sneaks again. You know, when, when he was dealing with like the fractured fibula last year, they obviously were taking it easy on that. But he's healthy enough in everything now to where they're not going to overdo it, but another thing that makes them so effective in the red zone and on third and fourth and short are those QB sneaks. You know, you get behind Tanner Bordellini and Quentin Nelson.

Starting point is 00:14:37 You've got a bigger guy in Daniel Jones that just drives forward and then Jonathan Taylor is helping push him forward. And it just makes them really, really effective. And then, you know, as far as passing weapons go, when it gets in that low red zone, especially Tyler Warren had a short touchdown each of their first two weeks. You know, Josh Downs is a very mousy, sneaky player who can get, you know, in and out of his cuts and finds the soft spots and coverage. And he's very good at getting open down there where it gets crowded as well. So the Colts have the ability to do that. It's just one thing that's held them back, really, is the turnovers. Jones has got like seven turnovers this year.

Starting point is 00:15:20 And you look at it and I think the defenses have scored on. on just about every turnover. So you're seeing a direct correlation of what's holding the Colts back there. Again, their offense has been able to be productive. But, you know, kind of how the script went for them in the first couple weeks was they'd go down, they'd get a touchdown, and then they would immediately turn the ball over on their next drive, which gave the opponent a bonus possession, and then they just started rolling. you know and even last week in london you know i'm sure a lot of people saw that nationally not the

Starting point is 00:15:57 930 a m game uh you know bernhardt ryan gets driven right back into jones and then just jones drops the ball like that's the kind of stuff you're you're dealing with here it's like really boneheaded type of of turnovers like people are starting to discuss like maybe the the giants daniel jones is returning a little bit which it's it's hard to argue that like you see the chemistry with Shane Stuyken as a play caller and like him executing what they want to do things rhythmically and everything and like their short passing game is usually pretty sharp it's really all they've got right now anyways but that the Jekyll and hide thing pops up and like some of his interceptions have been bad

Starting point is 00:16:42 interceptions and the fumbles are just a matter of careless ball security you know it's it's it's not like he's getting smoked and you're like yeah anybody on earth would have dropped that it's like man he's just not paying attention to securing the ball and that's a lot of the stuff that you guys probably remember from that matchup last year like he could not hold on to the ball whether it was a pick or a fumble to save his life and you're seeing a lot of that kind of carelessness this year too yeah i mean you look at the takeaway numbers bringing that back up here for our youtube viewers the the average two giveaways a game. The Steelers average two takeaways a game. That's the 20th. The best for the Colts. That's second best of the NFL for the Steelers. That's the saving grace for the defense right now. This defense has not been lights out there. I mean, 14th and points allowed, 13th and yards, 21st and yards for play, 17th and rushing yards, 12th and passing yards. Their biggest thing is takeaways. They take the ball away really well, and that's a key fact here. But let's flip to the Colts defense because you also were talking

Starting point is 00:17:45 about them. And that's a unit that, you know, they went and added sauce gardener last year, but they have a lot of low numbers themselves. They, and they've also been the opposite. They haven't been able to generate much takeaways. What do the Colts need to do better on defense right now, Jake? I think, you know, you just said it. It's those takeaways. That's what I thought would be the marquee characteristic of this defense this year and make them successful, because they've got a bunch of ballhawks on their team. I know, Cambinum, is a guy who's known for taking the ball away and the interceptions and the celebrations and everything. AJ Halsey, same kind of situation coming into the draft.

Starting point is 00:18:24 I love AJ Halsey. Yeah, me too. I mean, I was yelling about the Steelers getting him and when I was like, oh, the cults. It's not very often that one of your favorite players in the draft actually goes to the team you cover. So I was really a big fan of that. But Soss Gardner and Mooney Ward, they've never been big interception guys, but they have always ranked near the top of past breakups. And so, you know, you bat that. someone else comes and gets it.

Starting point is 00:18:46 I just think like the lack of consistent pressure, like they're having to blitz a lot to get the pressure. Their four-man rush is not good. And now they're down Michael Clemens and Arden Key, which I think that's depressing enough. Like the fact that I just said that and that's like a problem for the Colts is not good. You know what I mean? Like Arden Key and Michael Clemens being out shouldn't be that big a deal,

Starting point is 00:19:09 but it kind of is. So, yeah, the four-man pass rush is not good enough. they can make interesting things happen when they send these blitzes that Lou Aniromo likes to do. But right now they're only blitzing at like 21% rate. Like they rank near the bottom of the league in that, which I do expect that to go up a little bit with the amount of injuries they are dealing with up front. DeForest Buckner and Attaima, Attauah, out of Barre, their top two, three techs are really the only guys getting consistent pressure. Their defensive ends are providing solid like edge setting against the run. right now. But I just think getting better pressure, which if it has to come through blitzes,

Starting point is 00:19:50 it has to come through blitzes. Like sometimes that's just how your team is built. Doing that and then creating turnovers, I think that's really what they need to get better at because sauce gardener's coming off not a great game, but I'm not really concerned about him. I think some of the things that happened were kind of just freak situations. And he's largely been a very good addition. Has it worth the two first round picks probably not it's hard to justify that for just about any player but he's been very good still and then mooney ward is coming off one of his better games as a colt so they're kind of starting to see the benefits of that they really wanted to see those two guys together playing together as to like shut down corners with with good reputations uh and so i think those guys

Starting point is 00:20:37 just stick into it and then if they could just get some more consistent pressure and create takeaways more than just the two they have right now. I think that'll be a big difference. I think that that would be interesting to see if they are able to channel that. Similarly, they face the Steelers offense that hasn't been great either. The Steelers ranked 26 and points right now. And again, like, you know, it's about embracing what you're good at. And the Steelers, you know, we've seen glimpses of it when they've gone to that power offense. And it seems like this would be a great week to work that against a team that ranks 26 and rushing allowed rushing yards allowed, 28th and yards per rush allowed.

Starting point is 00:21:14 Like, you know, granted, the passing numbers don't look great either, but that just leans towards a strength that the Steelers need to be able to capitalize on. And I want to talk about more of that next because Jonathan Taylor is a big name back in the NFL, but Pittsburgh fans have been clamoring about Jalen Warren and what he brings to the table. We'll talk about those two backs and how the teams will match up in how they'll be deployed. Next here on crossover Thursday here on the Lockdown Podcast Network. Chris Carter, Jake Arthur, stick with us. We'll be right back.

Starting point is 00:21:47 But first, we're reminded to today's episode is also brought to you by Fandul. Welcome to your most rewarding NFL season ever. Only on Fandu. How rewarding are we talking? Well, more rewarding than a touchdown with time expiring, more rewarding than an 18-point comeback, maybe even more rewarding than an offensive lineman catching a touchdown. This season, Fandul is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field

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Starting point is 00:23:28 As a business gets busier, it becomes harder to keep up with every call, text, and voicemail. So I'd want a system that keeps all of that organized and makes it. It makes it easy for them to teach the team to respond instead of potential customers falling through the cracks. Money's on the line, so always say hello with Quo. Try Quo for free, plus get 20% off your first six months when you go to quo.com slash lockdown NFL. That's QUO.com slash lockdown NFL. We are back here on crossover Thursday here in the Lockdown Podcast Network, Chris Carter of Lockdown Steelers, Jake Arthur of Lockdown Colts. Jake, these are two running backs that are very explosive.

Starting point is 00:24:04 Everyone knows about Jonathan Taylor. He's been a star in the NFL for some years. Jalen Warren has been that guy that Steelers fans have been waiting to see, kind of have his breakout moment. Last year, he became the starter, but he kind of had to split the backfield with Kenneth gainwell. These early weeks, Jaylon Warren's kind of been the best player on the Steelers' offense. He's been getting after it.

Starting point is 00:24:24 What do the cults do on defense that could be a problem in the run game? Or do you think that this is a game where you're really concerned about Warren breaking loose for big plays? Yeah, I think they've done a lot better job the last couple weeks of two things in particular, just wrapping up and tackling, just like literally the fundamentals of it, but also moving sideline to sideline. Like, actually being able to move with the blocking scheme has worked quite well. Because, you know, the first week, it was Derek Henry and they just could not tackle him. It looked like Derek Henry out there.

Starting point is 00:25:07 But then Kenneth Walker in week two, it was a lot of broken tackles. But like just the blocking scheme that Casey used out there, they were just able to kind of seamlessly open holes for him. So I think, you know, Grover Stewart and DeForest Buckner are looking the part internally on that defense, which you expect to see. But I think the linebackers are playing a whole lot better and actually fitting the runs and getting to the gaps much more. appropriately now. So I just think that just that general discipline I think is quite helpful. Now they do still have some guys that'll get a little overzealous. Like Halsey is someone they've had to pull back a little bit because even on his college film, like he, he will come in too hot and he'll over pursue and that'll lead to broken tackles. And, you know, the corners aren't always

Starting point is 00:25:58 the best tacklers either. But they do have some personnel. Like if they start to get the sense that like Halsey's going to be a detriment. They have Hunter Woller out there is a very good tackling, like strong safety type. They'll probably still play Halsey more. There was a game. They had to pull the reins back a little bit. I think it was Kansas City that he just kind of got a little bit overwhelmed.

Starting point is 00:26:22 But I'm a little encouraged by this. They really, they falter against like the matchups where they are clearly. going to be overmatched, if that makes sense. Like, you expect to get run over by Derek Henry and, like, Kenneth Walker's playing out of his mind right now. Like, they're not rising to the moments of those, but they're kind of taken care of all the other stuff.

Starting point is 00:26:49 Like, they held Bill Kroski Merritt last week to, like, less than two yards of carry, I think. So they're, they're doing reasonably well. Like, David Montgomery a couple weeks ago, completely shut him down as well. So this is when I feel pretty encouraged about the matchup, but Jalen Warren, I think, is a little more talented. It has some more burst and wiggle than some of those other guys. But just how the Colts front seven has been able to perform better recently,

Starting point is 00:27:18 I feel better about it than I would have if you were to ask me two weeks ago. It didn't be interesting to see how this matches up because I do think that the Steelers, when they're at their best, they're able to get this run game going, and then it kind of the run in the past balance off each other to make things easier. Warren is explosive in space. And to me, the thing that's good at the best challenges teams right now in the Stewart's face them is when they get their running run game out in space. Their linemen, they're guys that love to move.

Starting point is 00:27:46 Zach Frazier, Troy Faltonu, Mason McCormick, even Maxi Hunter Cho, the rookie they drive to. These are guys that are athletic. They like to run and block in space. And that allows them to kind of get things going. Same thing for the tight ends. Darno, Washington, a massive human, just, It's just crusher at tight end. He loves to just bulldoze people.

Starting point is 00:28:05 And so when you get all those guys moving all around the offense and then Jalen Warren can get out in space, like you look at the numbers when they run out wide to the left, it's just so much bigger. And so I think that that's going to be the thing that the Colts have to be ready to hit, you know, hit out and hit out in space and bring down warrants. Similarly, I think it comes down to for the Steelers. They've got to take away Jonathan Taylor. If he becomes the guy that's the problem, you're in trouble.

Starting point is 00:28:29 And the Steelers have not. been great against the run in these first four games. And so I think this is a big test. They've, you know, they've had some good moments where, you know, they were in limit guys. Like they went up against Bejohn Robinson. He got his numbers, but he didn't crush them. And I think that's what they have to do to Jonathan Taylor. He's going to get his numbers. He's going to make plays, but you can't let him take over the game. And if they do that, I think at least gives their defense the even standing chance against Daniel Jones. Yeah, and that's exactly right. Like, I don't get the sense right. And they're going to have to

Starting point is 00:29:00 prove it that the passing game can take over a game without Jonathan Taylor being a factor. Because just him being able to get these timely runs keeps them in pretty much every matchup. But if you completely take him away, I mean, I just, the way they've used Tyler Warren hasn't been dominant. Like, if you watch how they use him, you're not like, yeah, he's due for like a 12 catch, 140 yard. like they haven't been using him that way yet. And then, uh, the commanders really clamp down on Josh Downs last week. And Downs had been really starting to separate himself as a true difference maker in the absence of Alec Pierce. So right now I just like their passing game hasn't been doing enough for me to think that they can overcome Jonathan Taylor being smothered.

Starting point is 00:29:51 Uh, but at the same time, he's really hard to contain because that offensive line is very, very good. I just kind of think it depends what. Steelers front seven shows up. If it's the one the Colts faced last year, it's going to be a really, really tough time. But if the Colts are able to kind of stick to the identity that they want to have and, you know, they get John the Taylor another 90, 95 yards.

Starting point is 00:30:16 And that helps Daniel Jones with play action and like picking what Pittsburgh's defense is actually giving him. And he's not giving it away more than the Colts defense is taking it back. Then I think they have it pretty. a good chance. It's crossover Thursday, which means we got to get you ready one more day where we'll be breaking things down. Jake, thanks so much for joining me here on crossover Thursday here on the Lockdown Podcast Network. Let people know they can find you, follow you and get more your work. Absolutely. I'm at Jake Arthur, NFL, pretty much all over social media. And my written work is over

Starting point is 00:30:47 at ColtstsrownTable.com. Absolutely, he's Jake Arthur of Lockdown Colts. Thank you, Jake for joining us here. I'm Christopher Carter of the Lockdown Steelers podcast. You can find me on social media at Carter Critiques, read my work in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, but going to post-gazette.com. Got a lot of takes there and some film study. If you want to see what the Steelers have been up to lately. And as always, you can find me like just you can find Jake here on the Locked-on Podcast Network, Locked-on Steelers, Locked-on Colts, get both shows on your podcasting apps and on YouTube. Tune back in for Friday, we give you our final looks, getting ready for this Sunday showdown for two teams looking to find their true identity.

Starting point is 00:31:20 Keep it here with the Lockdown Podcast Network.

Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - CROSSOVER: Can Indianapolis Colts Exorcise Their Pittsburgh DEMONS?

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