Indianapolis, IN

14 things to watch as streaking Colts offense takes on reeling Pittsburgh defense

Published

7 months ago

November 2, 2025

14 things to watch as streaking Colts offense takes on reeling Pittsburgh defense

The toughest stretch of the Indianapolis schedule begins with a trip to a place that has been an intermittent house of horrors for the Colts over the years.

Indianapolis hasn’t won in Pittsburgh since 2008.

Daniel Jones, Jonathan Taylor and the rest of the Colts will try to end that streak at 1 p.m. Sunday in Acrisure Stadium (WTTV-4) against a reeling Steelers team hoping to bounce back from disheartening losses to Cincinnati and Green Bay.

Plenty is at stake for both teams. Indianapolis (7-1) placed itself in the driver’s south for the AFC South title and potentially the No. 1 seed with its fast start, and Pittsburgh (4-3) is trying to hold onto the lead in an ugly AFC North this season.

1. Pittsburgh is typically known for defense. Not this Steelers team. These Steelers rank 30th in the NFL in yards allowed (386.0 per game), 32nd in passing yards (273.3), 18th against the run (112.7), and they’re not much better on a per-play basis. Pittsburgh ranks 22nd in scoring defense, giving up 24.1 points per game, but the wheels are coming off there, too — the Steelers allowed 33 and 35 points in their last two games. Their reward is facing a Colts offense that is the No. 1 attack in the NFL, leading the league in yards (385.3) and points per game (33.8) while sitting in the top 10 in essentially every major category.

2. The Steelers made a trade to upgrade their defense this week, picking up strong safety Kyle Dugger from New England for a low pick. Dugger was once considered one of the NFL’s best up-and-coming safeties, earning him a four-year, $58 million extension from the Patriots, but he’s fallen out of favor in New England due to issues in coverage. Pittsburgh may need Dugger to play right away; normal starting strong safety DeShon Elliott is out with a knee injury this week.

3. Rookie tight end Tyler Warren should be licking his chops. Warren leads all NFL tight ends with 492 receiving yards through the first eight games, averaging an impressive 13.3 per catch, and now he gets to go up against a Pittsburgh defense that will likely counter with Dugger and free safety Chuck Clark, who is allowing opposing quarterbacks to produce a 144.4 quarterback rating when he’s the nearest defender in coverage. Pittsburgh has given up 555 yards to tight ends this season, the third-worst mark in the league, and the Steelers are susceptible to players who can make plays downfield like Warren.

4. Then again, Indianapolis wide receivers Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce and Josh Downs are going to get their opportunities. Pittsburgh has allowed the third-most catches and sixth-most yards in the NFL to wide receivers this season. The Steelers doubled down on experience by picking up aging star cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay, but both players are allowing opposing quarterbacks to post ratings of more than 100 when they’re the nearest player in coverage. Indianapolis can beat secondaries in a variety of ways with Pittman, Pierce and Downs, and Jones has been excellent at spreading the ball around, making the Colts’ tendencies difficult to gauge.

5. Pittsburgh’s old defensive formula was to overwhelm offenses with the pass rush, and the Steelers are tied for eighth in the NFL in sacks this season with 22, but the pressure has been far from consistent. Pittsburgh ranks 14th in the league in pressure rate, getting pressure on 35% of dropbacks, and the Colts have been one of the league’s best at avoiding sacks this season, giving up just nine sacks through the first eight games.

6. The edge tandem of T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig drives the Pittsburgh rush. Herbig has 4.5 sacks, Watt has four of his own and the two outside linebackers each have 27 pressures this season, a number that ranks firmly within the top 10. Indianapolis will counter with the excellent tackle tandem of Bernhard Raimann and Braden Smith, who have been solid in pass protection all season long.

7. With Jones at the helm, Indianapolis simply hasn’t turned the ball over this season. The Colts have committed just four turnovers (three interceptions, one fumble), trailing only Philadelphia and Green Bay for the NFL’s top spot. Pittsburgh has forced 10 turnovers, tied for eighth in the NFL and a big reason why the Steelers’ tendency to hemorrhage yards hasn’t hurt them as bad as it could have this season. If Pittsburgh is going to make life tough on this Indianapolis offense, the Steelers are going to have to force a few Jones mistakes, but when Pittsburgh took on the Packers last week, Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love carved up the Steelers instead of turning the ball over.

8. Taylor has forced his way into the MVP discussion this season because he’s been remarkably consistent, producing something special in almost every game. Pittsburgh’s run defense is probably better than its numbers; the Steelers have been solid in five games this season, giving up big days on the ground to only the Jets and Bengals. Taylor’s a different kind of test, though; the Colts superstar leads the NFL with 850 rushing yards and 14 total touchdowns even though he’s faced five defenses ranked higher in rush defense than Pittsburgh.

9. With Taylor on the ground and Jones finding Taylor, Warren, Downs and Pittman through the air, the Indianapolis offense has been a nightmare for opposing linebackers this season, and according to the numbers, Pittsburgh’s primary passing tandem of Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson looks ripe for the picking. Queen has allowed a rating of 132.7 when he’s the nearest defender in coverage, and Wilson isn’t far behind at 111.9. Expect Jones to attack the soft underbelly of the Pittsburgh defense as often as possible.

Can the Colts stop Aaron Rodgers?

10. Aaron Rodgers could be a problem for the Indianapolis defense. Decimated by injuries at the cornerback position, the Colts have struggled against the pass this season, ranking 29th in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game (252.0) even though they’ve been 13th in yards per dropback (6.4). Rodgers has been good, completing 68.3% of his passes, averaging 7.2 yards per attempt and posting a 104.4 quarterback rating while taking just 12 sacks through the first seven games. Green Bay was able to put Rodgers under fire in the second half last week, but the Packers pass rush is far more dominant than Indianapolis has been. Making matters worse, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is going to have a hard time confusing Rodgers, who has seen just about everything in his career by this point.

11. D.K. Metcalf is a problem for young Colts cornerbacks Mekhi Blackmon, Johnathan Edwards and Cameron Mitchell. Metcalf is volatile, but he’s also racked up 461 yards and five touchdowns on just 27 catches this season, and his combination of size and speed makes the former Seahawk a difficult matchup for any Indianapolis cornerback. If third-year cornerback Jaylon Jones is finally ready to make his defensive debut after missing the first half of the season due to recurring hamstring injuries, he will help, but it will also be his first action of 2025.

12. Indianapolis has Warren at tight end. Pittsburgh has Jonnu Smith (22 catches, 134 yards), Pat Freiermuth (16 catches, 200 yards) and mammoth red-zone target Darnell Washington (9 catches, 84 yards). The Colts have struggled against tight ends, allowing the third-most catches and second-most yards to the position. With Rodgers at the helm, Indianapolis safeties Nick Cross and Camryn Bynum must be on top of their games.

13. Pittsburgh’s running game has been fairly pedestrian this season. Running backs Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell are both averaging 4.5 yards per carry, but the Steelers rank just 22nd in the NFL in yards per carry (4.07) and 25th in rushing yards per game (94.3). If Indianapolis can jump on Pittsburgh early, it might take the running game out of it entirely, but if the Colts start a little slow, nose tackle Grover Stewart might be able to take the Pittsburgh running game out of it by himself.

14. The Steelers have been incredible in the red zone, converting 73.68% of their chances into touchdowns, the third-best mark in the league. Indianapolis has been a middling defense in the red zone, allowing scores on 61.54% of its chances to rank 18th, and Anarumo is going to need a plan to limit Rodgers when Pittsburgh starts sniffing the goal line.

Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.

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Indianapolis, IN

IndyCar driver Felix Rosenqvist had the busiest week after winning the Indianapolis 500

Published

3 hours ago

May 30, 2026

Press Room

IndyCar driver Felix Rosenqvist had the busiest week after winning the Indianapolis 500

The Indianapolis 500 is kind of unusual in that it’s the biggest race the series has to offer, and it comes in the middle of the season after an entire month of preparation.

That’s exhausting, and for the winner, attaining a lifelong dream like that means one thing: one hell of a wild week before you have to do it all over again.

IndyCar is in Detroit this week for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, but Rosenqvist hasn’t had much downtime since the biggest win of his career.

Felix Rosenqvist reacts after winning the NTT IndyCar Series 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Ind., on May 24, 2026. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)

According to IndyCar, immediately after winning the race, Rosenqvist’s media obligations got under way and those continued for several hours after the race.

Then, on Monday, he had more interviews and a photo session and the Victory Celebration that night.

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Then it was on to New York for more interviews, trips to the Empire State Building, Times Square, and even the red-carpet premiere of Indy 500 Grand Marshal Brendan Fraser’s new movie, “Pressure.”

On top of that, he still had more to do in Indy and threw out the first pitch at a Tigers game ahead of the Detroit Grand Prix weekend.

Felix Rosenqvist, driver of the No. 60 Meyer Shank with Curb-Agajanian Honda, crosses the finish line to win the 110th Indianapolis 500 ahead of David Malukas on May 24, 2026, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Ind. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)

I’m exhausted typing that. He lived it, and still has to race this weekend.

And, oh yeah, this is coming about two weeks after he became a father.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

“Obviously, (I’m) tired, but I had fun with it,” he said. “(There were) a lot of interviews, but you’ve got to strike when the iron is hot, right? Also, I feel like I’m representing motorsports in a way maybe we normally (can’t). It’s kind of cool. It’s good for the sport.”

Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist poses with his Indianapolis 500-winning car. (© Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

It’s great for the sport, and especially after the closest finish in Indy 500 history and one of the most exciting. It’s also great to ride the momentum and get back to racing as soon as possible.

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Rosenqvist will look to become the first driver to win the next race after winning the Indy 500 in quite some time, but he’ll have to do it from the middle of the pack. He’ll start the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix in P16.

Championship leader Alex Palou starts on pole with Will Power alongside him on the front row in P2.

Matthew Reigle is a writer for OutKick.

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Indianapolis, IN

Circle City Orchestra wraps up season with ‘Sound Bites’ fundraiser

Published

13 hours ago

May 30, 2026

Press Room

Circle City Orchestra wraps up season with ‘Sound Bites’ fundraiser

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Circle City Orchestra will close its 2025-26 season with a special “Sound Bites” concert on Sunday.

The concert begins at 4 p.m. at the Athenaeum’s Basile Theatre. Admission is free, with a suggested donation to support the nonprofit, all-volunteer orchestra and “keep the music going.”

Craig Mince, president of the Athenaeum, said the venue has been home to the orchestra for several years — a connection that runs deeper than most might expect. The Athenaeum once hosted a full-time orchestra of its own, and welcoming Circle City Orchestra back into the space has felt like a natural homecoming.

“We love having them,” Mince said. “It harkens back to an old Athenaeum orchestra that used to be in the building full-time. We’re happy to have music back in the building again.”

Phil Kranyak, principal cellist with the orchestra, started playing cello in third grade but stepped away from the instrument for 17 years before joining Circle City Orchestra. He said the group’s welcoming culture made the return feel seamless.

“We are inclusive in every sense of the word,” Kranyak said. “Whether you’re picking up an instrument for the first time or coming back after a long pause, it is so easy to step into this orchestra.”

Andrew Wu, an oboist who joined about a year ago, had a similar experience. Wu played violin, saxophone, and oboe through graduate school before taking a roughly 10-year break. He said the orchestra gave him a meaningful way to reconnect with both music and community.

“Music is such an important part of people’s lives,” Wu said. “Being able to express yourself through music and connect with a greater audience — and within your own orchestra — is just wonderful.”

The orchestra says it is always looking for new musicians.

Rehearsals are held every Wednesday at the Athenaeum, and new faces are always welcome. Mince said nearly every rehearsal brings at least one first-time attendee, and the orchestra embraces that.

Musicians do not need to commit to a full season – the orchestra asks only that members participate in rehearsals for the concert cycle they plan to perform in.

Concert Details

❓: Circle City Orchestra “Sound Bites” End-of-Season Concert.
⏰: 4 p.m. Sunday.
📍: The Athenaeum’s Basile Theatre, 401 E. Michigan St.

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Indianapolis, IN

Top seeded West Chester cruises to 12-3 win over University of Indianapolis in the Division II championship

Published

24 hours ago

May 30, 2026

Press Room

Top seeded West Chester cruises to 12-3 win over University of Indianapolis in the Division II championship

CARY, N.C. — One big inning was all the West Chester baseball team needed to get off to a winning start at the Division II championship.

The Golden Rams put their first five batters on base in the first inning and all eventually came around to score in a 12-3 opening round victory against the University of Indianapolis at the USA Baseball National Training Complex on Friday.

Ace Julian Costa didn’t have his best stuff on the mound, but he battled through seven innings while his offense pounded out 14 hits to earn a date against UT Tyler on Sunday (6 p.m., ncaa.com) in the winner’s bracket of the double-elimination tournament.

» READ MORE: Kyle Lazer aims to finish what he started with West Chester baseball in Division II championship

“Our guys all do our homework, so we knew what we were getting and were just looking to be aggressive early,” said catcher Caleb Strawhecker, who in addition to going 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored at the plate, threw out two would-be UIndy base stealers. “Putting up a lot of runs on the board was the goal and luckily we were able to do that.”

The Rams (45-10) wasted little time establishing their dominance against the overmatched Greyhounds, who advanced to Cary, N.C. by winning the Midwest region.

Carter Rust hit a leadoff single in the first inning and scored on a double by Strawhecker, who then came around on a single by Austin Stalker. After Hunter Smith walked and a perfectly placed bunt single by Patrick Gozdan loaded the bases, Tanner Donati made it 3-0 with an RBI single before two more runs scored on a double-play grounder by Harry Middlebrooks and a single by No. 8 hitter Christian Michak.

“It was a good complete game effort,” West Chester coach Mike LaRosa said. “Jumping out to a 5-0 lead in the first. Give Costa a five spot and I think everybody feels confident from there on that we’ve got an opportunity to take that game.”

As it turned out, the first inning outburst was enough for the Rams to win the game. But it wasn’t as easy even with their best arm on the mound.

The senior left-hander Costa wasn’t as sharp as he was when he held Millersville without a hit into the seventh in last week’s NCAA Atlantic Super Regional. While he gave up 10 hits and walked two, he always seemed to make the right pitches at the right times to wiggle out of trouble.

» READ MORE: Rowan baseball drops opening game vs. Adrian in Division III championship, face elimination on Saturday

The only runs he allowed were a second inning homer to Brayton Bowen and an RBI single by Austin Bode in the fourth.

Not only did Costa leave the bases loaded twice on the way to his 13th win in 14 decisions this season, he started the game by picking off the first two UIndy runners to reach base in the top of the first. Strawhecker also helped him out by throwing out two more runners trying to steal second.

“It was a little [difficult] location-wise at the start of the game,” said Costa, who struck out seven. “Around the third inning was when I started extending my legs and worked on the mound, and everything came together.”

West Chester added to its lead with a run in the fifth, then broke the game open late with two in the seventh and three more in the eighth on a three-run homer to left center by Rust. UIndy (39-23) got its final run in the ninth off the Rams’ bullpen.

“After the pickoffs happened [in the top of the first], we all just laughed to ourselves and said ‘We’re good now,’” Strawhecker said. “Then it was just getting back to business, getting outs and playing our game.”

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