The NFL schedule makers don’t intentionally hand out competitive advantages, but the Pittsburgh Steelers are rolling into Sunday with a massive procedural edge over the Indianapolis Colts. Seriously, it’s pretty wild what went down this week, setting up a brutal test for Indy.
Steelers Are Chillin’ While Colts Are Cross-Continental
Think about it: the Steelers played last Thursday night. That’s a good chunk of extra time. And their trip back from Cleveland? Just a short bus ride. They were home, resting and recovering, all week long. That’s a huge commodity in the NFL, especially early in the season when teams are still finding their form. Pittsburgh gets to come into this Sunday game fresh, focused, and totally without travel fatigue.
A Transatlantic Nightmare for Indianapolis
Meanwhile, what’s happening on the Colts’ side? They were out in London, playing Sunday morning across the pond. Now, they’ve got to deal with insane “transatlantic logistics on short notice” just to get back. But it doesn’t stop there. After that overseas flight, they immediately hit the road *again* to head to Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. That’s London, back from London, and then straight to Pittsburgh. Talk about a brutal travel itinerary for a team trying to establish momentum.
Florio’s Callout: “A Little Irritated By That”
Pro Football Talk host Mike Florio totally highlighted this stark contrast, and honestly, he’s spot on. Florio said, “If I were the Colts, I would not be happy about this.” He pointed out the league usually tries to protect teams on short weeks, but this particular matchup just “slipped through the cracks.” He stressed the Steelers getting “extra days plus short trip” compared to the Colts’ insane journey. Florio even stated, “If I’m the Colts, I’m a little irritated by that.” And who could blame them?
This whole situation hands Pittsburgh a distinct physical advantage. Extra rest paired with absolutely zero flight fatigue gives the Steelers every tactical reason to capitalize on what has to be a jet-lagged opponent. Mike McCarthy’s squad is looking to establish early momentum, and this schedule disparity gives them a major leg up. Can they really make the Colts pay for that insane travel schedule this Sunday? We’ll find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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