Steelers Have 1 Essential Job Before Colts Can Turn Sunday Into Their Kind Of Game

Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger stressed on his podcast that Pittsburgh's top defensive priority against the Indianapolis Colts must be stopping running back Jonathan Taylor. Taylor enters the game with 353 rushing yards and six touchdowns through four games, serving as the engine of an Indianapolis offense that has won two straight contests. Keeping Taylor from sustaining drives is viewed as essential to disrupting the Colts' offensive flow.

Roethlisberger argued that limiting Taylor on early downs forces Indianapolis into obvious passing situations, allowing Pittsburgh's pass rush featuring T.J. Watt to take control. Pittsburgh has surrendered 451 rushing yards this season, making defensive discipline critical. In their meeting last season, the Steelers held Taylor to 45 rushing yards on 14 carries, enabling their defense to record five sacks and force six takeaways.