The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering their Week 9 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, and there are a lot of mixed feelings around the Steel City right now. Coming off back to back loses where the defense has been embarrassed, Steeler Nation has their fingers crossed that a third straight week of giving up 30 points or more won't come to fruition.
Karl Roster / Pittsburgh Steelers
Patrick Queen and Joey Porter on the field during the Steelers 35-25 loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 8 of the 2025 NFL Season.
There are plenty of struggles across all the levels of the Steelers' defense. The defensive line and edge rushers are failing to get pressure on the quarterback, and that is despite a very high blitz rate. The secondary is also frequently getting beat and allowing several yards of separation to all pass catchers, regardless of the coverage.
Even with all of the defensive strugglers, the Steelers' opponents are focused on what their offense and 41 year older quarterback Aaron Rodgers is capable of doing. Leading up to the matchup with the Colts, linebacker Zaire Franklin was discussing the matchup in the locker room with members of the media. He mentioned that their top goal is making sure Rodgers can't get comfortable.
"Yeah I would definitely say that is our goal for sure," said Franklin on if a high priority is making Rodgers uncomfortable.
Prior to being asked if that is a high priority for them, Franklin was detailing about how Rodgers wasn't always comfortable prior to this year.
"I just feel like he is in a situation where he is comfortable. I think the last few years, he has been uncomfortable, and I think that is where some of the issues kind of arise. Obviously we know the kind of coach Mike Tomlin is, he gets all those guys to buy in and believe. They're a tough team and we have to make sure we are ready."
One of the biggest concerns this season has been if Rodgers would be comfortable in Pittsburgh. A new offense to learn that varied significantly from his own, a new cast of play makers, and a questionable offensive line.
Joe Sargent / Getty Images
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin shakes hands with former New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers after a game as quarterback Russell Wilson looks on in the background.
The offense has ended up being the brightest spot of the team, and Rodgers has proven to be very comfortable in his new situation. The offensive line has held up for the most part, the run game has had some shining moments, and the play-makers all have fit into their roles nicely despite continued questions around the Steelers' wide receiver room.
Continuing to keep Rodgers comfortable will be a tall task for the Steelers' offensive line against the Colts, as Indy gets pressure on opposing quarterbacks at a top 5 rate. They also are able to get pressure without sending extra bodies at the quarterback, as they blitz at a lower rate than the league average.
Should Rodgers continue to remain comfortable, and the offense continue to operate at a high level, the defense is going to have to step their game up. The Colts' offense is among the tops in the league, so the defense will very likely be put in many uncomfortable situations they will have to step up and overcome.
Steelers Will Need To Make Changes To Turn The Defense Around
The Steelers made a trade with New England Patriots to acquire safety Kyle Dugger for a late round pick swap, which is likely a direct response to news that DeShon Elliott will miss multiple weeks with his knee injury. However, they might need to continue to look to bolster the defense in order to improve their chances of turning their season around defensively.
Michael Ainsworth / ap photo
Former New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger gets ready for a snap as he participates in a professional football game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA.
The addition to their team might be by subtraction, as it is reported that there might be some members on the move. It is no surprise that cornerback Darius Slay has been getting a ton of criticism for his poor play this season, when he was brought in this offseason to help fix the secondary. His playing time has decreased significantly since the beginning of the season, so if there was a member of the secondary that could be closer to the exit than others, it makes logical sense that Slay would be that guy.
Do you think the Steelers will be able to keep Rodgers comfortable and rebound against the Colts? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share all of your Steelers takes with me on X @matt_papiernik and follow me.
#SteelerNation
