PITTSBURGH (AP) Jaylen Warren rushed for 188 total yards and two long touchdowns – one rushing and one receiving – to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers past the Indianapolis Colts 34-22 on Sunday.
The Steelers (3-2) overcame a loss in Cleveland by relying on Warren and a defense that frequently bent but rarely broke.
Warren caught six passes for 87 yards, including an 80-yard catch-and-run score in the first quarter, and added 101 more on the ground, highlighted by a 50-yard sprint to the end zone in the third quarter in which the usually low-key former undrafted free agent crossed the goal line in celebration.
Aaron Rodgers completed 22 of 31 passes for 235 yards and three scores. While Warren did most of the work on their 80-yard connection that gave Pittsburgh’s offense a boost, Rodgers, 42, paid the price by absorbing a crushing hit from 314-pound Colts defensive tackle Grover Stewart as he threw the ball to the do-it-all running back.
Pat Freiermuth caught five passes for 44 yards and two touchdowns for Pittsburgh, the second being a 17-yard toss from Rodgers with 6:40 left, which gave the Steelers enough cushion to beat the Colts for the 10th time in 12 games.
Daniel Jones threw for 267 yards for Indianapolis (2-3) and avoided the turnovers that plagued him whenever he faced the Steelers, but the Colts also saw their drives consistently stall in Pittsburgh territory.
Spencer Shrader made five field goals for Indianapolis, including three in the second half from 40-plus yards.
Tyler Warren finished with seven receptions for 83 yards and the second rushing touchdown of his career. Jonathan Taylor had 82 total yards for the Colts, who were coming off an impressive win over Washington in London but haven’t won in Pittsburgh since 2008.
First-year coach Mike McCarthy’s Steelers bounced back from a shaky performance with a strong one for the second time in a month.
Pittsburgh never trailed after Warren turned a Rodgers turnover into the ninth touchdown pass of 80 yards or more of the quarterback’s career, tying former Steelers cornerstone Ben Roethlisberger for the most in NFL history.
Three times the Colts came within a point and Pittsburgh responded each time behind Warren, who made the team in 2022 as an unheralded rookie and developed into one of the league’s best backs.
Placed in a more prestigious role while teammate Rico Dowdle recovers from a toe injury, Warren has kept the Steelers from relying too much on Rodgers, the NFL’s oldest active player, who is playing his 22nd and final season.
Steelers: Ace WR/special teams Ben Skowronek left in the second quarter with a calf injury. … WR Roman Wilson exited in the second quarter after injuring his hand while trying to make the catch. … LB TJ Watt was treated for a facial injury in the second quarter after being fouled by Indianapolis RT Jalen Travis.
Colts: Host AFC South rival Tennessee next Sunday.
Steelers: Visit Tampa Bay next Sunday.
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