The Pittsburgh Steelers are reeling after a frustrating loss to the Cleveland Browns, a game where their division rival practically tried to hand them the win. Deshaun Watson went cold in the second half, the Browns racked up 14 penalties for 88 yards, and yet the Steelers still couldn’t capitalize, falling to a 2-2 record. Now they’re staring down another 2-2 squad, the Indianapolis Colts, and if the version of Pittsburgh that showed up against the Browns takes the field again, they could be in for an ugly fight.
Colts Grind Out Ugly Wins, Despite Their QB’s Struggles
Don’t let the Colts’ 2-2 record fool you into thinking this is an easy game. After dropping their first two matchups to the Ravens and Chiefs, Indy has pulled out some seriously “ugly wins” against the 0-4 Texans and 1-3 Commanders. They haven’t exactly looked impressive in either of those victories, but they know how to get it done. The Colts are not a team you should expect an easy win from, especially if Pittsburgh brings that inconsistent energy we saw against the Browns or Patriots. However, if the Steelers can bring the fire they showed against the Bengals, then a win is absolutely within reach.
When you look at the Colts’ offense, it’s a mixed bag. They’re sitting 14th in the league with 109.5 rushing yards per game and 14th in points per game at 25.5. But man, their passing game is struggling, ranked way down at 26th with just 174.8 passing yards per game. And there’s a huge reason for that.
Daniel Jones Is Cooked, and It’s Brutal to Watch
Seriously, folks, what is going on with Daniel Jones? His Week 4 international game against the Commanders was a rough watch. You had Washington, down to their third-string quarterback, rookie seventh-round pick Athan Kaliakmanis, after injuries forced a mid-first quarter change. Then you had Jones, the oft-injured quarterback who was one of the most fascinating stories of the 2025 season before he tragically tore his Achilles. It’s truly admirable that he’s back so quickly, soldiering through recovery, but he just hasn’t looked right this season.
In that Week 4 slugfest, the Colts couldn’t even put points on the board until there were only 3:23 left in the first half! Jones completed just 12 of 22 passes, and a shocking detail: only *two* of those completions traveled more than nine air yards downfield. The second half didn’t get much better. Honestly, Daniel Jones, I’m sorry to report, is cooked. Overcooked even. Pittsburgh’s defense might be banged up and trading away stars, but you’ve gotta hope they can handle this Colts offense when their quarterback is performing like this.
This is a huge game for the Steelers as they host the Colts. They need to find that Bengals-level performance and capitalize on a struggling Colts passing game, or they risk falling further into an “ugly game” scenario. Can they do it, or will Indy pull off another gritty win?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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