Great teams take advantage of opportune moments in the NFL. On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Indianapolis Colts at Acrisure Stadium. The inter-conference showdown will be the latest test for Mike McCarthy’s unit. His offense has yet to meet expectations heading into Week 5.
But I believe Aaron Rodgers will string together an efficient performance against a struggling secondary. Truthfully, the aging veteran doesn’t have a choice.
Questionable performances have placed Mike McCarthy’s team under the microscope before the season’s halfway point. An embarrassing 27-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns was the icing on the cake. At times, the offense sputtered, making it hard to move the chains. Sure, Pittsburgh’s 14-point surge in the fourth quarter was impressive.
But Pittsburgh shouldn’t have needed a frantic fourth quarter to make the game competitive.
There were a few rays of positivity despite the divisional loss. Yes, the seasoned veteran threw two interceptions and was sacked five times. But he also managed three touchdown passes while accumulating more than 290 passing yards for a consecutive week. He took full advantage of a struggling Browns secondary, even if the final result still did not fall in his favor.
Now imagine if the Steelers' offensive line bought Rodgers a little bit more time? The mistakes would decrease while production would keep rising. This season, Pittsburgh is tied for 30th in sacks allowed (13).
The Pittsburgh Steelers must take advantage of Aaron Rodgers’ heat check against Indianapolis Colts
A chance to pick apart another inconsistent secondary would be a dream come true for the 42-year-old gunslinger. Luckily, the Colts are also struggling against opposing quarterbacks. Heading into Week 5, Indianapolis allows 261.3 passing yards per game (29th). Lou Anarumo’s defense also has just one interception.
Finding open targets against Indianapolis sounds like a walk in the park. And Sauce Gardner’s recent struggles should only grow McCarthy’s confidence. According to Pro Football Focus, the All-Pro allowed three receptions on four targets for 104 receiving yards and a touchdown last weekend against the Washington Commanders. His 156.3 passer rating when targeted was also the highest among defenders in Week 4.
The biggest challenge for Rodgers and his receivers this weekend will be creating separation from defenders. Indianapolis utilized cover 1 (20.9%) and cover 3 (31.4%) throughout the first four games. Defeating man coverage has been an issue for Pittsburgh’s wideouts in recent weeks.
Cleveland blanketed Pittsburgh’s corps. It hindered Rodgers’ production, but he still managed to put points on the board.
Unfortunately, the Steelers are known for offensive inconsistency. But recent outings should convince fans that Aaron Rodgers is finding comfort amid early-season madness. If true, the Steelers could be in an opportune situation. Especially on Sunday, facing a vulnerable Colts secondary.
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