The Pittsburgh Steelers officially got off the mat against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Coming off an embarrassing performance against the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football, Pittsburgh looked like a much better team, and the final score of 34-22 reflected it.

The win wasn’t perfect, though, and a few problem spots from the Browns game showed up again. So let’s get into the winners and losers from the Steelers’ victory over the Colts.

Winners

RB Jaylen Warren

Steelers running back Jaylen Warren was the winner of the day. He’s also the winner of the season so far for Pittsburgh.

Warren piled up more than 170 yards from scrimmage and multiple touchdowns. He opened the game with a huge 80-yard pass play from Aaron Rodgers, got vertical, and scored. He added a 50-yard rushing touchdown later, and there honestly wasn’t much blocking there. He made people miss and ran through arm tackles all the way to the end zone.

Warren is a spark plug who just doesn’t go down. He’s the straw that stirs the Steelers’ drink on offense, and he needs the ball as often as Pittsburgh can get it to him.

QB Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers had an efficient day. He started out 10-of-10 for over 100 yards and two touchdown passes, and he passed Peyton Manning for third on the all-time touchdown passes list along the way.

He didn’t produce many explosive plays. Even so, he did what needed to be done to win the game.

WR Germie Bernard

Bernard was a winner because Rodgers was more than fine targeting him. That’s notable, since Rodgers has typically been a quarterback who shies away from rookies.

In fairness, Rodgers didn’t have much of a choice. Michael Pittman Jr. wasn’t out there because he’s heading to IR, and Roman Wilson got injured during the game. Bernard stepped up in a major way. He made some great catches over the middle of the field, plus a grab down the boundary on third down that all but sealed the game for Pittsburgh.

Bernard is exactly what the Steelers were looking for, and they need more of him.

TE Pat Freiermuth

Freiermuth is another player who fits exactly what Pittsburgh wants. He has been a reliable option for years, but he has really come into his own this season with Rodgers in Mike McCarthy’s new offense.

He had two big catches that turned into touchdowns against Indianapolis. Freiermuth has turned into a route-running savant over the middle of the field, and he’s a great tight end.

CB Asante Samuel Jr

Samuel has had an up-and-down season, but he was great on Sunday. His two pass breakups in the red zone helped thwart any potential comeback and forced the Colts to keep settling for field goals.

The Steelers defense kept bending without breaking, and Samuel was a major reason why.

Losers

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Special Teams

You have to start with the special teams. The Colts ripped off a big kick return early in the game, and Kaden Wetjen had problems with the ball.

The special teams unit just hasn’t been up to snuff for much of this season. Pittsburgh won the game, but you never accept something in a win that you wouldn’t accept in a loss. Letting Indianapolis move the ball on special teams simply isn’t good enough.

The Steelers have to get better in coverage and when it’s their turn to return punts and kicks. Those marginal differences count, and they’ll decide close games.

Back 7

The other loser is the back seven of the Steelers defense. I’m not going to single anyone out because the issues came from a lot of different players.

Pittsburgh had multiple blown coverages, and opponents ran open several times. Patrick Queen missed some tackles, and Colts tight end Tyler Warren started to get hot in the third quarter.

To be fair to the defense, the Steelers bowed up most of the time and kept Indianapolis out of the end zone. The group also looked better than it did a week earlier against the Browns, when it was horrible.

There are still real concerns with that back seven. Pittsburgh has to shore up the tackling and stop handing opponents momentum. Above all else, the communication has to be better if this defense is going to hold up over the rest of the season.