ClutchPoints
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.
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.
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...
