The Pittsburgh Steelers are reeling, while the Indianapolis Colts ride into town on a hot streak. The Colts are the best team in football with the league’s best offense from a yardage and points perspective. Meanwhile, the Steelers defense can’t stop anyone, can’t tackle, and is a disaster.

On paper, things do not look good for the Steelers, who are in the midst of a two-game losing streak.

But that’s why they play the games, and the Steelers have an opportunity to turn things around quickly Sunday at Acrisure Stadium. Effort has been questioned, backs are against the wall, and they are being counted out by everyone.

No better time than now to right the ship.

There will be games within the game to watch. Make sure to keep an eye on key individual matchups in all three phases in the Week 9 Steelers-Colts matchup. That’s the biggest thing.

Below are my four matchups to watch Sunday.

STEELERS DL CAMERON HEYWARD VS. COLTS LG QUENTON NELSON

This is the marquee matchup of this game. Two behemoths in the trenches who are going to slug it out in hand-to-hand combat. Though Cameron Heyward hasn’t been his usual dominant self in recent weeks, this is a matchup he’ll have an opportunity to show the rest of the league that he’s still a force, because Quenton Nelson is the best lineman in football, and is rolling right now.

Nelson is at his best in the run game, holding an elite grade of 91.6 from Pro Football Focus as a run blocker. He’s been solid in pass protection, too, allowing just nine pressures on the season, and has been perfect in his last two games, not allowing a pressure in each.

He’ll have his hands full with Heyward, though. Last year in the Week 4 matchup, Nelson allowed four pressures. Heyward had one sack in the game. He has 21 pressures this season but hasn’t truly had that dominant game where he just takes over. The Steelers defense is reeling right now and needs someone to step up.

In a huge showdown in the trenches, Heyward needs to make an impact.

STEELERS TE PAT FREIERMUTH VS. COLTS LB ZAIRE FRANKLIN

When Pat Freiermuth faces teams that tend to play a lot of zone coverages, he’s at his best. He’ll get a look at one this weekend in the Indianapolis Colts, who have former Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo running the show this year. Freiermuth has had a great deal of success in his career against an Anarumo defense, and that shouldn’t change much this time around.

Freiermuth should find himself dealing with linebacker Zaire Franklin and safety Nick Cross in coverage. Franklin has struggled in coverage, allowing 25 receptions for 242 yards and a touchdown on the season on just 35 targets, according to Pro Football Focus. He really struggled in Week 7 against the Los Angeles Chargers in coverage.

Though Freiermuth hasn’t been used much this season, he’s going against a familiar defensive scheme and had five receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown last season against Indianapolis.

COLTS DT DEFOREST BUCKNER VS. STEELERS IOL

Just like Heyward on the opposite side, this is a huge matchup for Indianapolis defensive lineman DeForest Buckner against the interior of the Steelers’ offensive line. Left guard Isaac Seumalo might not play Sunday, so he could be facing an interior of Spencer Anderson, Zach Frazier, and Mason McCormick, which feels very advantageous for the veteran Buckner.

He’s riding a hot streak, too, with 11 pressures in the last two weeks, including an absurd nine pressures in Week 7 against the Chargers. Buckner has had some issues in run defense, but he’s been a real force rushing the passer and could have plenty of opportunities to do just that Sunday.

Anderson had a great training camp and has carved out a role in the Steelers’ jumbo package, so he should be just fine if he steps in for Seumalo. Frazier and McCormick have quietly been really good this season, too, so they should be up for the challenge. And if Grover Stewart can’t play, it will only lighten the load for the interior offensive line Sunday.

COLTS TE TYLER WARREN VS. STEELERS LB PAYTON WILSON

Another tight end matchup that could be very problematic for the Steelers defense, and this time it’s rookie Tyler Warren, a first-round pick out of Penn State. Since stepping into the Colts’ offense, Warren has been a major mismatch for defenders. He’s up to 37 receptions for 492 yards and three touchdowns on the season.

He can line up in-line, in the slot, or out wide as a true receiver and can win on numerous routes. He’s a good blocker, too. The Steelers were destroyed by Tucker Kraft last Sunday night and vowed to correct the issues. Though the likes of Chuck Clark, Juan Thornhill, Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Dugger will draw some Warren assignments, Payton Wilson needs to step up in the matchup.

He declared himself the best coverage linebacker in football in training camp but hasn’t come close to matching that. He’s allowed 24 receptions on 27 targets for 232 yards and two touchdowns. He hasn’t made a single big play in coverage. The Steelers desperately need him to find a way to get back to his rookie-season performance in coverage, starting this week.