The Pittsburgh Steelers currently sit with a 2-2 record through four games in the 2026 National Football League season. While they do not have a losing record, their losses have looked very bad. Now, they shift their attention to the Indianapolis Colts, whom they will host in Pittsburgh on Sunday. The Colts may also be 2-2, but they look far better than the Steelers so far, as they took the Kansas City Chiefs to overtime in Week 2 despite a tough 33-30 loss. The Steelers, however, find ways to win, and with that being said, let’s look at some of the Steelers keys to a win over the Colts.
Steelers Keys To Week 5 Win
Slow Down The Running Game
If there is one thing the Colts excel at, it is running the ball. Jonathan Taylor has 86 carries for 353 rushing yards and six touchdowns, which shows that he can impact the game at a high level. If the Steelers can blitz, plug holes, and stop that, though, Pittsburgh should be the favorite to win. It is likely that giving the ball to Taylor will be the Colts’ go-to game plan, and stopping that could create chaos for the Colts’ offense and require them to change things up. The Steelers have to make Taylor the game plan if they want to win.
Use Tight Ends
The next key comes on the Steelers’ offense: if they can get the ball to their tight ends. Darnell Washington takes around three defenders just to bring him down, and Pat Freiermuth is a red zone threat. An ideal game plan would be to use Freiermuth downfield like Penn State did when he was in college. He is not just a short-yardage tight end; he can also run down the middle, which would really fix things in the Steelers’ offense if they just use him for that.
They also need to get the ball to Washington because, again, it takes three or more defenders to bring him down, and he is great for third downs when they need just a few yards. If the Steelers do this, a win may not be guaranteed, but it sure increases the likelihood of putting more points on the board, which could lead to a win.
Use D.K. Metcalf
The final key is for the Steelers to use D.K. Metcalf. He has struggled tremendously with drops this season, but he dominated against the Cleveland Browns. Metcalf had five catches for 115 yards and that proves that they just need to use him more. His drops are a problem, but we have seen what he can do, and they would be smart to use him vertically down the field and let Aaron Rodgers throw downfield to him.
By doing this, you obviously have the risk of a turnover, but you also either can draw a defensive pass interference call, or Metcalf makes a big catch. They do not have to constantly do it and should avoid overdoing it, but right now the Steelers offense is not playing aggressive enough at all, and it is time to make some changes if they want to win. This starts with Rodgers and the offensive line taking accountability, as well as more aggressive playcalling.
The Steelers season is far from over, but right now they are digging themselves into a deep hole. They currently sit at 2-2 and do not look like a contender in the AFC Conference. They have the opportunity to begin a winning streak this Sunday against the Colts but it will not come easy despite being the home team. Do you think these are the Steelers keys to a Week 5 victory or is there something else that will determine the outcome of this week’s game?
Main Image: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
