NFL Week 9 Recap: Steelers Defensive Adjustments Spark Win
Warren Sharp analyzed how the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive strategy shifts fueled their victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 9.
Defensive Strategy Shift
After their failure against the Green Bay Packers, where they blitzed 46% of the time and were punished for it, the Steelers changed their approach. Facing another offense that excelled against the blitz, Pittsburgh significantly reduced their blitz rate to 24%, their lowest of the season.
Schematic Adaptations
The Steelers, one of the top three blitzing teams in the league, complemented this change by playing their highest rate of Cover 2 defense all season and minimizing man coverage. This unpredictability disrupted the Colts’ passing rhythm and limited their offensive success.
Run Defense Dominance
Pittsburgh also delivered its best run defense performance of the year against the league’s top rushing team. Before this game, the Colts led the NFL in rushing offense, while the Steelers ranked 16th and had only faced struggling ground games ranked 18th or worse for six consecutive weeks. Despite that, they managed to shut down the most productive rushing attack in football.
“The creativity and lack of predictability defensively threw off the Colts' passing game.”
Summary
The Steelers’ victory highlighted their defensive transformation—less blitzing, smarter coverage, and a breakthrough run-stopping performance against the league’s best.
Author’s Resume: This recap showcases Pittsburgh’s disciplined defensive evolution that balanced strategy and execution to outsmart a top-ranked opponent.