‘Sneaky Advantage’: Ben Roethlisberger Explains Why Steelers Could Benefit From Colts’ London Trip

The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off a disappointing loss to the Cleveland Browns ; however, Ben Roethlisberger sees one factor that could quietly work in their favor against the Indianapolis Colts .

Both teams enter Week 5 at 2-2; however, their paths into the matchup have been very different. The Colts just returned from a trip to London, while the Steelers played on Thursday night at home and had extra time to recover before Sunday's game. Roethlisberger believes that difference could matter more than people realize.

Ben Roethlisberger Spots Steelers' Rest Advantage Against Indianapolis Colts

Speaking on October 7, Roethlisberger pointed to the scheduling situation as a potential edge for the Steelers. The former Steelers quarterback admitted it may not be the biggest storyline heading into the game; however, he would keep it in mind.

"My one other little sneaky stat is, Indy is coming off a short week traveling to London. Pittsburgh's coming off a Thursday night game at home. There's a little bit of time, a little bit of rest. To me, that's like a little sneaky something. I do think that that short travel week, the Steelers having off, will be beneficial. Especially the Steelers got the weekend off, that'll be big for me".

The Colts played the Washington Commanders in London on Sunday, earning a 30-13 victory before beginning the trip back to the United States. The Colts had to deal with the travel involved in an overseas game while preparing for another road matchup just days later.

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, played Cleveland on Thursday night. That loss was a rough one for the Steelers; however, the early-week game gave them a longer runway to prepare for the Colts. That extra time could be especially useful for a team that has plenty to clean up after the Browns game. The Steelers struggled on both sides of the ball against the Browns and now have to turn their attention to a Colts team that has won two straight.

The Steelers also have the benefit of returning home for the matchup. Indianapolis will make another trip after its London excursion, while Pittsburgh has spent the week preparing at home . The former QB point is not that the scheduling advantage guarantees a Steelers win. Instead, it gives the Steelers one small edge in a game where the teams otherwise enter with identical records.

The Colts have shown they can be dangerous, taking the Kansas City Chiefs to overtime earlier this season before beating the Commanders in London. Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor also remains a major concern for Pittsburgh's defense.

Yet, the 44-year-old believes that the Steelers' additional recovery time should not be overlooked. After a frustrating loss in Cleveland, Pittsburgh needs to respond quickly. The extra rest gives the Steelers an opportunity to do exactly that, and according to their former quarterback, it could be one of the quieter factors working in their favor on Sunday.