The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for a pivotal game against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5. Pittsburgh currently has a record of 2-2 and sits in third place in the AFC North, and this is an important game against an AFC foe that could be a player in the Wild Card race towards the end of the regular season. Getting a win at home is critical for the Steelers as the team looks to get back on track after losing a big game to the Cleveland Browns in Week 4. Pittsburgh handled the Colts during the 2025 season by getting out to a big lead early, and the Steelers' offense will have to try to do the same this time around.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA.
A key factor in the offense for the Steelers over the last two weeks has been running back Jaylen Warren. He was quieter over the first two weeks of the season as he was sharing the backfield with Rico Dowdle, but he has pretty much been the lone back for the last two games while Dowdle has been dealing with an injury. Dowdle's status for the upcoming game against the Colts is still up in the air, and Head Coach Mike McCarthy has not provided any clarity on what the running back room might look like upon his return. Warren has earned the right to be the lead back, but it will be interesting to see how McCarthy handles the situation.
Warren had the best game of his career in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals, and he was productive once again against the Browns. He has a chance to have a big day against the Colts in Week 5, but the Steelers need to lean more on the run rather than the pass. This was pointed out by Brooke Pryor of ESPN in a recent article.
"QB Aaron Rodgers and the passing attack have been inconsistent, and while the run game found a spark in Jaylen Warren, the play-calling has often put the ball in Rodgers' hands," Pryor wrote. "He has 167 dropbacks; the Steelers have run the ball just 86 times."
The Steelers will have a great opportunity to lean on Warren and the rushing attack when Indianapolis comes to town. Through four weeks, the Colts defense ranks 26th in the league when it comes to yards given up on the ground. Defending the run is a clear weakness for the defense, and the Steelers have to take advantage.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers hands the ball off to Jaylen Warren during a home win over the Bengals in 2026.
Pittsburgh has not run the ball as well or as much as the team wanted to going into the 2026 season. The rushing attack has looked better over the last two weeks. It just needs to be trusted more. The game script can affect how much a team can run the football due to facing a deficit and battling the clock, but the offense for Pittsburgh should lean on Warren and his legs right out of the gate on Sunday. Pittsburgh can control the game that way, and it also takes some weight off of the shoulders of Aaron Rodgers.
Steelers' Offense Needs To Put Together A Complete Game Against The Colts
The Colts are specifically bad against the run, but the defense as a whole is ranked near the bottom of the NFL. Pittsburgh's offense needs to find a way to put together a complete game. That means starting strong with the run and then playing off of it through the air, which would make life easier for Rodgers. He is at his best when utilizing play action, and a strong running game can set that up. Another benefit of the Steelers establishing a lead would be the Colts being forced to turn to the passing game, which is how Pittsburgh won in 2025.
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