The Pittsburgh Steelers came out against a mediocre Indianapolis Colts team and held their own. Despite struggles against Cleveland, they persevered and found a way to win against Indianapolis.
While a strong showing in some area's, this is still a team that needs some help in other areas.
However, a win is a win, and the Steelers improve to an above-average record of 3-2. One winner in particular stands out as the real reason for Pittsburgh's success this week.
Jaylen Warren sticks out as the Pittsburgh Steelers biggest winner
Winner: Jaylen Warren
This list could honestly start and stop here. There are other players who did well, but ultimately Jaylen Warren's dominance and explosiveness won the Steelers this game.
He kicked off his strong performance with a bang with an 80-yard touchdown reception early in the game. Warren followed that up with a powerful 50-yard run that ended in a score. The in-between lacked the big plays, but he ran with his usual hard style.
Warren has been a revelation over the past few weeks since taking over as a true bell-cow back. He once again backed it up this week as both a receiver and runner. Without Warren this week, Pittsburgh simply doesn't do enough to keep this game close.
Winner: Pat Freiermuth
Pat Freiermuth had quietly faded over the past few weeks. The offense as a whole was struggling, and Darnell Washington was being featured more as a receiver. Given the overall passing game struggles, it felt like Freiermuth needed to get more involved.
He did just that against the Colts. It wasn't an incredible performance by any means, but he provided a safety valve for Aaron Rodgers. Add in a pair of touchdowns, the latter of the two displaying some of the top-end plays you can get from the veteran, and it was a solid day for a player who needed a good week.
Winner: Germie Bernard
I almost left the rookie off the list. Germie Bernard had a few drops and miscommunications that left fans and the team frustrated. However, in a game that saw the receiver room continue to suffer from injuries, Bernard stepped up.
Five receptions for 73 yards is an excellent stat line for him, especially considering the game plan was to rely on short and quick passes. Bernard made the most of his opportunities after the catch and provided an outlet for the offense.
He needs to improve his problem areas, and he isn't a complete player yet, but he showed some strength in this game. Given the rash of injuries, he will need to step up quickly.
Winner: Asante Samuel
After a couple of ho-hum games, Asante Samuel had a strong showing against the Colts. He was sticky in coverage and constantly got his hands on passes to break things up.
He was close to a few interceptions, and ideally, he can convert those in the future. Given how shallow the cornerback room suddenly got, Samuel looked the part of a viable starter for the defense moving forward.
Winner: Run Defense
The best way to stop the Colts was to limit Jonathan Taylor. That is exactly what this defense did, stopping one of the best backs in the league to just 45 yards on the ground. The soft coverage allowed the Colts to win through the air plenty, but stopping Taylor was a must and was accomplished this week.
Loser: The Pass Rush
Despite having one of the most talented and deep edge rusher rooms in the NFL, the Steelers continue to generate a lot of pressure and convert to sacks. It is officially concerning.
Nick Herbig was invisible once again, and while T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith generated the occasional pressure, neither converted any of the opportunities into sacks. The only sack on the day was a coverage sack by Cameron Heyward.
This defense hasn't been dynamic despite their high price tag. It is becoming a big problem.
Loser: The Long-Term Game Plan
While the Steelers got the win, and that is important, the way they won doesn't feel sustainable. The offense relied on hyper-quick passes, and the defense played soft and dared a bad offense to beat them deep.
Against a struggling Colts team? It worked well enough. Put in a better team, and this game would likely go the other way.
Loser: Brock Hoffman
Brock Hoffman was quickly an upgrade over Spencer Anderson, and at times he looked like one of the best blockers on the field. This week was another story.
Hoffman struggled in both the run and passing game. Right guard is once again a weak link, and the veteran guard will have to bounce back if he wants to keep his job.
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