The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves at a crossroads. After losing back-to-back games, including a disheartening 35-25 home defeat to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football, Mike Tomlin's squad desperately needs a victory to regain momentum in the AFC North. Standing in their way is the red-hot Indianapolis Colts, owners of the NFL's best record at 7-1 and the league's most explosive offense. On paper, this matchup looks like a nightmare for a Steelers defense that has been thoroughly exposed in recent weeks.
But the Steelers have a lifeline. Despite their dominant record and historically efficient offense, the Colts possess a glaring vulnerability that Pittsburgh's offensive brain trust must target relentlessly: an anemic pass rush that ranks among the worst in the NFL.
The Colts' Pass Rush Deficiency Creates Golden Opportunity
Indianapolis enters Week 9 with a pass rush win rate hovering around 25 percent, which ranks fourth-worst in the entire league. For context, this means opposing quarterbacks have an eternity to operate in the pocket against Lou Anarumo's defense. According to ESPN analytics, opposing signal-callers enjoy the seventh-longest time to throw per attempt at 2.86 seconds when facing the Colts. While Indianapolis has recorded 19 sacks through eight games, they rank a dismal 19th in sacks per pass attempt.
The disconnect between the Colts' overall defensive success and their pass rush efficiency is striking. Indianapolis has survived largely on opportunistic turnovers—they rank third in the NFL with 11 takeaways—and the fact that their offense scores so frequently that opponents are forced to play catch-up. But sustainable pass rush production remains conspicuously absent. The Colts rank 20th in get-off rate at just 0.86 seconds, meaning their defensive linemen are slow off the snap and struggle to generate consistent pressure.
Even more encouraging for the Steelers, the Colts' secondary has been compromised by injuries throughout the season. Cornerback Charvarius Ward has dealt with multiple concussions, and the team has been forced to rely on veteran Xavien Howard, who was systematically picked apart for 112 yards and a touchdown on nine targets in Week 4 against the Rams. Indianapolis ranks 29th in pass defense and has allowed the fourth-most explosive plays in the NFL this season, with 40 coming through the air alone.
How the Steelers Offense Can Capitalize
Aaron Rodgers and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith must approach this game with calculated aggression. The blueprint is straightforward: give Rodgers time to operate, attack the Colts' vulnerable secondary with intermediate and deep routes, and exploit the favorable matchups created by Indianapolis' inability to generate consistent pressure.
Rodgers has shown flashes of his vintage form this season, ranking fifth in the league with 16 passing touchdowns. More importantly, his rapport with star receiver DK Metcalf has developed into one of the most dangerous connections in football. Metcalf has emerged as Pittsburgh's premier offensive weapon, and with the Colts' defensive backs struggling in coverage, he should feast on one-on-one opportunities downfield.
DK Metcalf cooks Nixon (AGAIN) for the touchdown from Aaron Rodgers 🔥 pic.twitter.com/UbwH4lxAYz
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) October 27, 2025
The Steelers' offensive line has made significant strides in recent weeks, particularly in pass protection. Second-year tackle Troy Fautanu has looked increasingly comfortable protecting Rodgers' blind side since Week 4, and guard Mason McCormick has praised the unit's improved chemistry and communication. Against a Colts pass rush that struggles to win with a four-man front and rarely generates quick pressure, Pittsburgh's offensive line should be able to provide Rodgers with clean pockets consistently.
Arthur Smith also brings a tactical advantage into this matchup. As the former offensive coordinator who faced Lou Anarumo's defenses regularly when Anarumo was with the Cincinnati Bengals, Smith understands the weaknesses inherent in Anarumo's scheme. In one of their previous matchups last season, Smith's offense exploded for 44 points against Anarumo's unit. Smith knows exactly where the soft spots exist in Anarumo's zone coverages and how to exploit them with well-timed route combinations.
Beyond the statistical deficiencies, the Colts' secondary has shown repeated vulnerabilities against competent passing attacks. Quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Justin Herbert both finished in the top seven in fantasy scoring against Indianapolis over the last three weeks, while Jordan Love just carved them up for multiple touchdowns. The common thread? These quarterbacks had time to throw and took advantage of favorable coverage matchups.
Pittsburgh should target the intermediate passing game relentlessly. Tight end Jonnu Smith presents a particularly advantageous matchup, as Colts linebackers have struggled in coverage all season. Second-year receiver Roman Wilson, coming off a career-best 74-yard, one-touchdown performance against Green Bay, could also exploit the Colts' depleted cornerback depth.
The Steelers must also utilize play-action effectively. With the Colts' defense likely stacking the box to slow down Jaylen Warren and limit Pittsburgh's rushing attack, play-action passes can create wide-open throwing windows for Rodgers. The Colts have allowed multiple explosive plays through the air this season precisely because their pass rush fails to disrupt play-action fakes, giving quarterbacks extra time to find receivers breaking free downfield.
The Path Back to the Win Column
For the Steelers to snap their two-game skid and get back on track, they cannot play conservatively. The conservative, run-heavy approach that has defined Pittsburgh's identity in recent years won't work against an Indianapolis offense that will score points in bunches. The Steelers must trust Rodgers to attack the Colts' weak pass rush and vulnerable secondary from the opening drive.
Mike Tomlin's teams have historically performed well as home underdogs, but the Steelers face this matchup on the road at Acrisure Stadium with the weight of consecutive losses on their shoulders. The pressure is mounting, and the defense has been thoroughly exposed. But offensively, the opportunity is there for the taking.
If Rodgers can operate with time, if Metcalf and the receiving corps can win their matchups, and if Smith can scheme open the favorable looks that the Colts' defense will inevitably provide, Pittsburgh has every chance to pull off what would be considered an upset by the betting markets. The Colts enter as three-point favorites, but their fatal flaw—an inability to pressure the quarterback—gives the Steelers exactly the kind of exploitable weakness they need.
This isn't about forcing the issue or taking unnecessary risks. It's about recognizing that Indianapolis' pass rush simply cannot disrupt a well-executed passing attack, and the Steelers possess the offensive firepower to capitalize. If Pittsburgh can protect Rodgers, attack downfield with confidence, and force the Colts to defend the entire field, they'll find themselves back in the win column and back in control of their season. The fatal flaw is there. Now the Steelers must exploit it.
