The Steelers left Sunday with a 3-2 record, and they did it by leaning hard on the parts of their roster that actually worked. Against a Colts team the source described as mediocre, Pittsburgh found enough answers to survive, even if the bigger picture still looks a little shaky.
Jaylen Warren was the engine. He was the clear difference-maker, and this list pretty much starts and ends with him.
Warren opened with an 80-yard touchdown reception, then later ripped off a 50-yard run that finished in the end zone. The stuff in between wasn’t nearly as flashy, but it was still the same rugged, downhill style he’s been bringing lately.
Since taking over as a true bell-cow back, Warren has kept proving it - and against Indianapolis, Pittsburgh would not have had enough without him.
Pat Freiermuth also gave the offense a needed lift. He had been quiet over the previous few weeks while Darnell Washington got more run as a receiver, and with the passing game stuck in neutral, Freiermuth looked like someone who needed to re-enter the picture.
He did that against the Colts. It wasn’t a huge explosion, but he gave Aaron Rodgers a dependable outlet and scored a pair of touchdowns, with the second one showing off the kind of top-end play the veteran can still deliver.
Rookie Germie Bernard had a mixed afternoon, but the final line was still useful. He dealt with a few drops and some miscommunication that clearly frustrated both the team and the fans.
Even so, with the receiver room battered by injuries, Bernard answered the call. He finished with five catches for 73 yards, and most of that damage came after the catch.
For a game plan centered on quick, short throws, he made the most of his chances and helped keep the offense moving.
Asante Samuel also earned a spot among the winners. After a couple of so-so outings, he was much sharper against Indianapolis.
He stayed glued in coverage, knocked away passes, and was close to a few interceptions. With the cornerback room suddenly thin, Samuel looked like a legitimate starter the defense can lean on going forward.
The run defense did its job, too. The Steelers knew the cleanest way to attack the Colts was to bottle up Jonathan Taylor, and they got that part right.
Taylor was held to just 45 yards on the ground. Pittsburgh did give up plenty through the air with softer coverage, but taking away the Colts’ best runner was non-negotiable, and the defense handled it.
The biggest concern remains the pass rush. For a team with as much talent and depth off the edge as Pittsburgh has, the lack of sacks is starting to stand out in a bad way.
Nick Herbig was invisible again, while T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith flashed pressure here and there without finishing plays.
The only sack came on a coverage sack by Cameron Heyward. That’s not enough for a defense with this kind of price tag, and it’s becoming a real issue.
There’s also the broader question of whether this is a sustainable formula. The Steelers won, but they did it with extremely fast passes on offense and soft coverage on defense, daring a struggling Colts team to beat them deep.
That worked against Indianapolis. It may not hold up against a better opponent.
Brock Hoffman rounds out the losers. He had looked like an upgrade over Spencer Anderson, and at times had played like one of the best blockers on the field.
This game went the other way. Hoffman struggled in both the run game and pass protection, and right guard once again looks like a weak spot.
If he wants to keep the job, he’ll need a quick rebound.
In Other News...
Steelers Suddenly Linked To A Marvin Harrison Jr. Swing
A surprising receiver watch has landed on the Steelers doorstep, with Arizona reportedly finalizing a trade involving Marvin Harrison Jr. The Cardinals made him inactive for their Week 5 game, and that alone has been enough to put a jolt through the market as teams around the league start gauging whether there is any path to a deal.
Pittsburgh has been mentioned as a possible landing spot, but the fit is viewed as a long shot, especially with the Steelers still sorting through their own roster needs after recent transactions. If they stay in the conversation, they are not expected to overpay, which leaves the situation very much in wait-and-see mode for now. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Need A Response As Colts Bring Real Momentum
The Steelers get back to Acrisure Stadium on Sunday afternoon with a chance to steady themselves after a frustrating trip to Cleveland. Pittsburgh had its chances in a 27-24 loss to the Browns, but a second-half opportunity slipped away as the offense never fully cashed in on Clevelands miscues, and the result left both the locker room and the standings looking a lot tighter than the Steelers would have liked.
Indianapolis arrives with a little more bounce, riding a two-game winning streak into a matchup of 2-2 teams that already feels important in the AFC race. The game kicks at 1 p.m. ET, and with both sides listing their inactives and the usual broadcast details available, this one has the feel of a midseason measuring stick for a Pittsburgh team that needs a cleaner answer than it found last week. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylen Warren Just Gave Steelers Fans A New Reason To Believe
The Steelers left Indianapolis with a 3-2 record, and Jaylen Warren made sure the trip came with a performance that stood out well beyond the box score. The running back topped 100 rushing yards and piled up 188 all-purpose yards, giving Pittsburgh a much-needed spark in a game it controlled enough to keep building momentum.
Warrens afternoon had the kind of burst that can reshape how a team views its backfield, blending explosive plays on the ground and through the air into one of the most memorable outings of his career. For a Steelers offense still looking for consistent answers, his showing offered a reminder that the biggest difference-makers do not always come from the most obvious places. [Read more 🡒]