After back-to-back wins against the Houston Texans and Washington Commanders, the Indianapolis Colts now head to Pittsburgh in Week 5 with a chance to extend their win streak. This is a huge game for the Colts. Division rival Jacksonville is playing like a Super Bowl contender, and Indianapolis has to do everything it can to keep up in the AFC South race.
The Steelers will be a harder challenge for the Colts than their last two opponents. The Texans are now 0-4 and didn’t have star wide receiver Nico Collins in Week 3, while the Commanders were playing with their third-string QB last week in London.
Despite having plenty of star power between Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, and T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh’s 2-2 record proves that they haven’t yet found their rhythm. Their losses against Cleveland and New England exposed major vulnerabilities that Indianapolis has to target. Here’s how the Colts can do it.
Indianapolis Colts just need to follow a simple gameplan to beat Pittsburgh in Week 5
Step 1: Unleash Jonathan Taylor on Pittsburgh’s weakened run defense
The Steelers were already struggling in run defense this season, with the fifth-most missed tackles in the league, before defensive tackle Derrick Harmon was placed on injured reserve. Without Harmon’s space-filling presence, Pittsburgh is even more exposed to the downfield run game.
Luckily, the Colts have the exact type of player who can take advantage of bad tackling and gaps at the line of scrimmage. All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor is a world-class talent, but Indianapolis has misused him this season.
There have been inexplicably long stretches in games where Taylor barely touches the ball, causing the offense to stall. The Colts have to stop getting in their own way and feed Taylor consistently all game long, right from the opening kickoff.
Step 2: Get the ball out of Daniel Jones’ hands quickly
Pittsburgh’s pass rush is a scary sight, averaging 2.5 sacks per game in 2026. The group is headlined by elite edge rusher T.J. Watt and also has a stellar supporting cast featuring Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Payton Wilson, and Cameron Heyward.
When facing pressure, Indianapolis QB Daniel Jones is prone to holding onto the ball for too long, panicking, and making mistakes. He’s already turned the ball over seven times this season, including four interceptions and three fumbles lost. Many of those giveaways were due to Jones’ reckless decision-making when the pocket collapsed.
The Colts have a solid offensive line, but there’s only so much you can do against a talent like Watt. Jones can do the o-line a favor by getting the ball out as fast as possible. Quick throws, dump-offs, and smart throwaways can help neutralize the Steelers’ pass rush and limit costly turnovers.
Step 3: Dial up the blitz on Aaron Rodgers
Veteran and future Hall of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers may still have NFL-level arm talent, but his athleticism and mobility have fallen off a cliff. At 42 years old, Rodgers can’t maneuver or escape the pocket anymore, making him an easy target for Indianapolis.
It also doesn’t help that Rodgers is holding onto the ball longer this season while also playing behind a young and unproven offensive line. Rodgers has been sacked a league-leading 13 times, setting Pittsburgh back over 100 yards.
Under defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, the Colts blitz at one of the lowest rates in the league. If there was ever a time to bring the heat, it's now. Indianapolis shouldn’t be afraid to get creative and generate pressure with their linebackers, safeties, and cornerbacks. That’s the best way to throw Rodgers and the Steelers’ offense off their game.
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