CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) The Indianapolis Colts were struggling mightily on offense last season when owner Jim Irsay decided to fire coach Frank Reich in the middle of his fifth season.Offense hasnt been a big i sue for new Colts coach Shane Steichen.Under Steichen, the Colts (3-4) have improved their scoring average by 8.6 points per game, rank sixth in the league at 25.6 points per game and are the only NFL team to score 20 or more points in all eight games this season.The problem has been Indys defense allowing a league-high 28.8 points , the franchises highest three-week total since yielding 120 points in 2001.ADVERTISEMENT On Sunday, the Colts' defense will try to pull it together when they face Reich's new team, the Carolina Panthers (1-6), who've but are coming off their first win.It stings a lot when you lose three games, especially the way its been going, Colts defensive lineman Tyquan Lewis said. It does hurt. Its basically a game every single day and you want to conquer that day and Hansel Robles Jersey roll it over to Sunday in order to get wins and get things swinging back in the right direction.Reich said this week he has nothing but positive emotions when he thinks about his time in Indianapolis.Theres always a disappointment about moving on just like anybody who moves on in a job but a lot of great relationships, he Garrett Richards Jersey said. But for me, this is very common in this league. Ive been in this league for 30 years. Players and coaches, you move on. You have a new family, you love the people you just left, you respect them, you move on and youre focused on the next chapter in your life and your career.Reich has immense respect for Steichen and is not surprised by his succe s. Reich worked alongside Steichen in Philadelphia during the the Eagles' Super Bowl run.Things to watch on Sunday between the Colts and Panthers:PACKING A PUNCHJonathan Taylor, the 2021 NFL rushing champ, and Zack Mo s, the leagues No. 2 rusher, have given the Colts a strong one-two combination out of the backfield this season.Over the past two weeks, against two top-10 defenses, they teamed up for 59 carries, 293 yards and two scores, averaging nearly 5 yards per carry. This week, they could see an even heavier workload against a Carolina defense that allows 4.69 yards per carry, especially Taylor, who has been working his way back steadily from an ankle injury that ended his season last December.Hes getting there, hes almost there, Steichen said, acknowledging that Taylor probably would be getting 20 carries per game if Mo s hadnt been so productive. He hadnt played a lot of football. Obviously now four weeks in, you can see he Rod Carew Jersey s progre sing every week. I think its great that we have two really good backs.BURNS STAYS IN CAROLINAPanthers general manager Scott Fitterer pa sed on trading his team's best defensive player, Brian Burns, before Tuesdays trade deadline amid speculation the team might look to add some draft picks. Nobody was happier about that than Reich, who called Burns a leader in every way.However, the two-time Pro Bowl selection wont be 100% on Sunday.He's been dealing with a painful elbow injury sustained last week during practice, which has made it difficult for him to wrap up on tackles. On several occasions, Burns could be seen grimacing in pain after contact.It was definitely a problem, Burns said. With time, it will get better. Well keep working on that, but it was a problem.GOING ONCE, GOING TWICELast week, the top two overall draft picks from April faced off and Carolina quarterback Bryce Young . This week was supposed to be a matchup between the No. 1 and No. 4 overall picks, Young and Anthony Richardson.But with Richardson out with a season-ending injury to his throwing shoulder, that faceoff has been put on hold, with Gardner Minshew getting the start for Indianapolis.Colts defensive Fred Lynn Jersey coordinator Gus Bradley likes what hes seen so far from Young.He does do a good job picking up pre sures, he makes sure that theyre not in a bad play, Bradley said. He has been pre sured, but I think we just have to change it up some and make sure we dont give him a lot of open windows. Hes the type of quarterback youre going to see really get better."RELIABLE WEAPONEddy Pineiro has quietly developed into one of the best weapons in the league for Carolina. He has made 24 straight field goals at home, including a game winner as time expired to beat the Texans 15-13 Albert Pujols Jersey .That came after Houston by repeatedly jumping offside."Those guys were like, Oh youre gonna mi s it!, Pineiro said. Theyre just trying to get in your head and I just stayed focused, followed my technique and just did my normal prayer that I usually do before I kick, and thats it.Since coming to Carolina, Pineiro has made 91.8% (45 of 49) of his field-goal attempts.LEANING ON HUBBARDThe Panthers expected Miles Sanders to be their every-down back this season.But Sanders has struggled with injuries and has fumbled twice leading to touchdowns, and has been replaced in the starting lineup by Chuba Hubbard. Hubbard is expected to get the bulk of carries against the Colts, with Sanders and Raheem Blackshear also getting some reps.___AP Sports Writer Michael Marot in Indianapolis contributed to this report.___AP NFL: