The Pittsburgh Steelers got the win they desperately needed against the Indianapolis Colts — but franchise legend Ben Roethlisberger isn’t entirely convinced by what he saw.
On the latest episode of his Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger podcast, the former quarterback didn’t hold back. While he praised Pittsburgh’s dominant defensive performance, he questioned whether the team could sustain success without constantly shooting themselves in the foot.
“I love this team’s heart,” Roethlisberger said. “They fight. They find ways to win ugly. But at some point, you can’t keep putting yourself in bad spots — penalties, turnovers, missed reads. Good teams make you pay for that.”
It’s hard to argue with him. The Steelers’ 23–14 victory over Indianapolis showcased both the best and worst of Pittsburgh football in 2025. The defense, led by T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick, was relentless — forcing two fumbles, snagging a key interception, and holding Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson under 180 passing yards.
But offensively? The issues were glaring. Quarterback Kenny Pickett once again struggled with consistency, missing open receivers and taking unnecessary sacks. The running game, anchored by Najee Harris, flashed potential early but fizzled as the game wore on. Penalties wiped out two long drives, and a red-zone turnover nearly gave Indianapolis a chance to claw back in the fourth quarter.
Still, a win is a win — and Roethlisberger acknowledged that.
“The defense is keeping this team alive,” he added. “They’re playing with pride. But you can’t expect them to bail you out every week.”
Head coach Mike Tomlin echoed similar sentiments in his postgame comments, emphasizing discipline and accountability.
“We played hard, but not clean enough,” Tomlin said. “We’ll enjoy this one, but we know there’s a lot to fix.”
With the AFC playoff race heating up, the Steelers sit on the edge of contention. Their defense might be championship-caliber, but unless the offense can eliminate mistakes and finish drives, Pittsburgh’s margin for error will remain razor-thin.
Roethlisberger’s message was clear — this team has the grit, the leadership, and the talent to make a run. The only question is whether they can get out of their own way long enough to prove it.
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