Colts vs Steelers: Good, bad and ugly from another loss

The Indianapolis Colts found themselves in a competitive game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, trailing by two points in the fourth quarter. Despite their efforts, Pittsburgh ultimately won the game 34-22. One notable aspect of the game was the limited opportunities for running back Jonathan Taylor, who managed only 45 rushing yards, with half of those coming from a single play.

It's worth noting that this is the second game of the season where Taylor has not scored a touchdown. Since 2021, the Colts have a 1-7 record in games where Taylor had under 50 rushing yards and did not score a touchdown.

The good news includes some strong plays in the passing game. Without Alec Pierce, Daniel Jones and his receiving corps managed to find success. Josh Downs had a 42-yard reception, Tyler Warren had a 29-yard reception, and Jones had two other completions of 20-plus yards. Spencer Shrader also shined, making all five of his field goal attempts and his extra point attempt, including a couple beyond 55 yards and one from 40 yards out.

Tyler Warren had a standout performance, contributing significantly as both a rusher and receiver. He scored a rushing touchdown on fourth down and was the team's leading receiver with seven receptions for 83 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown. Warren's performance was particularly crucial, as Alec Pierce was not available to provide additional receiving opportunities for the Colts.

On the downside, the Colts struggled in the red zone, managing to score only one touchdown during three red zone possessions. This lack of efficiency in the red zone, combined with a struggling run game, contributed to the team's inability to move the ball effectively in scoring territory. The run game was notably ineffective, with the Colts accumulating just 66 rushing yards, their lowest total of the season.

This lack of a strong ground game put additional pressure on the passing game, which, without Pierce, had to compensate for the missing offensive threat.

The ugly part of the game came in the form of penalties. In the first four games of the season, the Colts had been disciplined, accumulating only 16 total penalties. However, against the Steelers, they committed nine penalties, resulting in 59 penalty yards. This marked a season-high for the Colts in penalties, which always puts the team at a disadvantage.

Additionally, missed tackles were a recurring issue throughout the season, and they continued to be a problem in this loss. PFF credited the Colts with eight missed tackles, which led to significant yardage gains for the Steelers' offense. Linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither addressed this issue in his post-game comments, highlighting the ongoing challenge the team faces in this area.