The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Indianapolis Colts 34–22 on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at Acrisure Stadium. Jaylen Warren’s 80-yard touchdown reception and 50-yard touchdown run gave Pittsburgh two enormous scoring plays, while Indianapolis settled for five field goals and scored only one touchdown. The result moved Pittsburgh to 3–2 and dropped Indianapolis to 2–3.
The final margin was 12 points, but the Colts had pulled within two in the fourth quarter. Here’s how the biggest plays, stalled drives and late response decided the game, based on the Colts’ official October 11 game report and the official box score.
Colts vs. Steelers: The final score at a glance
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis Colts | 6 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 22 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 7 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 34 |
Pittsburgh scored four touchdowns, three on passes from Aaron Rodgers and one on Warren’s long run. Indianapolis scored one touchdown and relied on kicker Spencer Shrader for the rest of its points. The Colts reached 332 total offensive yards to Pittsburgh’s 352, making the points-per-opportunity difference especially revealing.
The two Jaylen Warren plays that changed the score
First quarter: an 80-yard touchdown catch
Early in the first quarter, Rodgers threw a short swing pass to Warren. The running back turned it into an 80-yard touchdown, giving Pittsburgh a 7–3 lead after the extra point. It was a one-play scoring response immediately after the Colts opened the scoring with a field goal.
The distance matters: although the play is recorded as a touchdown pass, Warren’s run after the catch created much of the value. The Colts had to defend quick completions that could turn into long gains, not just deep throws downfield.
Third quarter: a 50-yard touchdown run
Indianapolis opened the second half with a drive that reached scoring position but ended in another field goal, narrowing Pittsburgh’s lead to 17–16. Warren then broke a 50-yard touchdown rush, pushing the Steelers ahead 24–16. The Colts’ next field goal cut the difference to five, but they had still not matched Pittsburgh’s touchdown production.
According to the Colts’ official report, Warren became the first player since Herschel Walker in 1986 to combine an 80-yard touchdown reception and a 50-yard touchdown run in one NFL game. That comparison comes from the team’s coverage; it is not an independent AVARIXO statistical database calculation.
Why five Colts field goals were not enough
Indianapolis kicker Spencer Shrader made all five of his field-goal attempts, from 57, 56, 22, 40 and 28 yards. The long first-half kicks were significant achievements. But the shorter attempts highlighted the offense’s difficulty finishing drives close to the end zone.
The official scoring record shows the Colts producing only one touchdown: a one-yard run by tight end Tyler Warren in the second quarter. Their offense was 1-for-3 in the red zone, while Pittsburgh converted both of its red-zone opportunities into touchdowns. Three trips inside the opponent’s 20 are not the same as five field-goal drives, but together those numbers show a consistent problem: Indianapolis could move the ball without turning enough of its best field position into seven-point possessions.
The contrast was not simply quarterback passing yardage. Indianapolis gained 266 net passing yards and Pittsburgh 225; Indianapolis also used more offensive snaps. Pittsburgh’s 127 rushing yards versus Indianapolis’ 66 and its higher yards per offensive play made its possessions more efficient in the decisive moments.
The fourth-quarter sequence that sealed Pittsburgh’s win
After a late third-quarter field goal, the Colts got another stop and advanced far enough for Shrader’s 28-yard field goal early in the fourth. That made it Steelers 24, Colts 22 with 11:42 remaining.
Pittsburgh answered on its next important possession. Rodgers found Germie Bernard for 25 yards on third-and-two, keeping the drive alive, then threw a 17-yard touchdown to Pat Freiermuth on third-and-six. That extended the lead to 31–22 with 6:35 left. The Colts did not convert their next drive, and Chris Boswell added a 54-yard field goal for the 34–22 final.
Freiermuth also caught an earlier one-yard Rodgers touchdown in the second quarter. Those two scoring catches gave the Steelers a reliable short-area target alongside Warren’s explosive plays.
What the result means for the teams
The Steelers improved to 3–2, creating momentum after a closely contested first three quarters. The Colts fell to 2–3 and returned home with a clear offensive priority: convert promising field position into touchdowns, not merely field-goal attempts.
The Colts’ official report identifies their next game as a home meeting with Tennessee. Readers looking for other Week 5 takeaways can also read AVARIXO’s reports on the Packers’ win against the Bears and the Patriots’ victory over the Raiders. For a related rules explainer, see how NFL onside kicks work in 2026.
Colts vs. Steelers Week 5: Frequently asked questions
Who won Colts vs. Steelers on October 11, 2026?
Pittsburgh won 34–22 at Acrisure Stadium.
What were Jaylen Warren’s biggest plays?
Warren scored on an 80-yard reception in the first quarter and a 50-yard rushing play in the third.
How many field goals did Spencer Shrader make?
Five. His successful distances were 57, 56, 22, 40 and 28 yards.
Why did Indianapolis lose despite gaining more net passing yards?
Indianapolis scored only one touchdown, was 1-for-3 in red-zone opportunities, and allowed two long Warren touchdowns. Pittsburgh also rushed for more yards and capitalized on its late fourth-quarter opportunity.
Photo note: The featured image is an archival Steelers–Colts photograph from November 3, 2019, not the 2026 game. Photo by Joshua J. Seybert / U.S. Air Force, public domain. Photo source and rights.
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