The Indianapolis Colts are reeling after another loss, falling 34-22 to the Steelers and pushing their season record to a concerning 2-3. What’s even wilder? This wasn’t some offensive implosion by their struggling QB.
Daniel Jones Wasn’t the Problem, Believe It or Not
Daniel Jones, the guy who’s been slammed for protecting the ball, making smart throws, and stepping up into a crowded pocket all season? Yeah, he largely shed those issues on Sunday. He went 24-for-44 for 267 yards, zero touchdowns, and zero picks. Honestly, for a guy who’s had his struggles, Jones played a pretty solid game. He managed the clock and kept them in it between the 20s.
Sure, he had a couple of plays that didn’t help, like an underthrown deep ball to Deion Burks in the fourth that could’ve gotten them into the red zone, and some key drops by Josh Downs and Keenan Allen, plus Nick Westbrook-Ikhine whiffing on a potential touchdown. But seriously, Jones was far-and-away from the problem. This one isn’t on him.
Rodgers Feasted, Defense Starved
So, if Jones wasn’t the issue, what the heck happened? Turn your eyes to the defense, because against Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers, Lou Anarumo’s unit delivered maybe its most disappointing performance of the year.
Think about it: Rodgers came into Week 5 as the MOST-SACKED quarterback in the entire league, with 13 takedowns. You’d think the Colts’ pass rush would be licking its chops, right? Wrong. Rodgers got hit only *twice* all game, and one of those was a delayed rush for a sack in the fourth. That’s it! He basically had all the time in the world to pick apart whoever he wanted, whether it was a wide receiver, tight end, or running back. He’s one of the most cerebral QBs out there, and the Colts gave him a free pass to do his thing.
Warren Rips It Up, Linebackers Get Exposed
It wasn’t just Rodgers slinging it either. Steelers running back Jaylen Warren went off. He had an 80-yard catch-and-run early on that set the tone, and then, just to rub salt in the wound, ripped off a 50-yard touchdown run right up the middle in the second half. Warren finished with over 170 total yards of offense. Rodgers, outside of Warren’s big play, was still averaging nearly six yards per catch. This defense just got gashed.
The problems? They’re glaring, man. If DeForest Buckner doesn’t get home, the pass rush is totally ineffective. And don’t even get me started on the linebackers. They were ineffectual, constantly missing tackles over the middle, and absolutely getting shredded in coverage. It’s like those limited offenses they faced the last two weeks totally hid how many issues this unit still has. This wasn’t just a bad game; it was an exposure.
The Colts are sitting at 2-3, and after a performance like that on defense, you gotta wonder what head coach Shane Steichen’s group does next. They gave up big plays, couldn’t pressure the QB, and missed tackles when it mattered. If they don’t fix these fundamental issues, this season is gonna spiral faster than they can say “next game.” You just can’t give elite QBs that much time, and you definitely can’t let running backs run wild like that. Big questions ahead for that defense.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply