SPORTS

Colts fall 34-22 to Steelers; contributor says 'a lot of loafing'

The Indianapolis Colts lost 34-22 to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 12, 2026; WISH-TV contributor Heather Lloyd said there was 'a lot of loafing' and criticized the team's tackling and talent through Week 5. Colts kicker Spencer Shrader scored 16 of the team's 22 points with five field goals.

BUSINESSINDY BRIEFBy BusinessIndy Editorial StaffCommentsPublished October 12, 2026 at 11:33 AM EDTLiving story · 2 sources

AI-generated illustration of the topic: Colts fall 34-22 to Steelers; contributor says 'a lot of loafing' — AI illustration · Not a photograph of the reported event.

The Colts dropped to 2–3 with a 34–22 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on 2026-10-12. Daniel Jones completed 24 of 44 passes for 267 yards with no touchdown passes, while the Colts managed one offensive touchdown — a rushing score by tight end Tyler Warren, who had seven catches for 83 yards (WISH-TV).

WISH-TV and Colts.com reporting highlighted big plays the Colts allowed (an 80-yard and 50-yard score) and a defense that surrendered 352 yards and missed numerous tackles. Shrader converted five field goals (accounting for 16 of Indianapolis’ 22 points) and tied the franchise single-game record (Colts.com, WISH-TV). The Colts were scheduled to host the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil at 1 p.m. Sunday (WISH-TV).

WHY IT MATTERS

This was a game defined by explosive plays allowed and red-zone struggles, a combination that changes how a team must approach both play-calling and defensive assignments.

The Colts’ offense reached the Steelers’ 25-yard line multiple times but converted only one such possession into an offensive touchdown, and two separate goal-to-go sequences stalled, producing short field goals instead (Colts.com). That matters because settling for field goals after long drives keeps the team from erasing momentum created by defensive stops and forces the offense into higher-leverage, fourth-down decisions later in games.

Kicker Spencer Shrader’s five field goals supplied most of Indianapolis’ points; while that rescued scoring on several drives, relying on long field goals is not the same as finishing drives with touchdowns. The defense’s allowance of an 80-yard touchdown reception and a 50-yard touchdown rush (Colts.com) shows the game swung on a few explosive plays rather than sustained domination by Pittsburgh.

What to watch next: the Colts’ Oct. 18 matchup at Lucas Oil (scheduled 1 p.m. Sunday per WISH-TV) — specifically whether Indianapolis improves tackling and red-zone efficiency and converts drives inside the opponent’s 25 into touchdowns rather than field goals.

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Primary reporting or source material published October 12, 2026 at 10:58 AM EDT. Prepared with AI assistance from the linked research; material claims remain attributed in the article.

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