The opinions found in Asked and Answered do not reflect the views of the Steelers organization.
Let's get to it:
DON NEWCOMER FROM PITTSBURGH, PA: There was a muffed punt that hit a Colts player and was then plucked out of the air by Brandin Echols who then took it into the end zone. Why was this NOT ruled a touchdown?
ANSWER: You correctly described it as a muffed punt, and the rule is that in those situations the ball can be recovered by the kicking team but it cannot be advanced. Brandin Echols recovered the muffed punt, and the Steelers were given the ball at the spot of the recovery. For that to have been a touchdown, the Colts player would have had to possess the ball, make a football move, and then fumbled. Then the recovery could have been advanced.
- Download and listen to the Asked & Answered Podcast here: Apple Podcast | Spotify
PATRICIA CREEL CLAYTON, NC: I love that the defense came alive today after having 2 horrible games. However, did anyone else notice that we scored 24 points off turnovers and 3 on a long drive? I think that's very concerning since the offense had been playing pretty well.
ANSWER: You asked, did anyone notice? Yes, Aaron Rodgers did. During his postgame media briefing following the win over the Colts, here are some of the things he said in response to questions about the offense:
"I loved the play calling. I thought the execution was pretty bad. We've got to look in the mirror and play better on offense because that's not good enough. Any phase. Me, run game, catching the football."
And …
"Defense played incredible. We've got to put – a game like that, we've got to put 35, 42 on the board and close the game out. So good tape for the coaching staff when you win a game, and you've got a lot to work on."
And …
"We did just enough on offense. Play-calling was solid. Loved the mixture of play-calling at various times in those possession downs, but the execution was pretty bad."
PAUL DiMARTINO FROM FT. LAUDERDALE, FL: Just watched the Colts game. The defense started off horrible similar to the previous two games. I feel the game shifted when the Steelers defense started to rush/blitz while dropping some defenders in coverage to confuse Daniel Jones and take away some passing lanes. This reminds me of what "Blitzburgh" was in the day, when the opponent couldn't tell who is blitzing and who is covering. The defense seems like it couldn't adjust in the consecutive losses as they were picked apart. Do you agree with this opinion and can you shed light on the lack of adjustments in the defense?
ANSWER: I cannot agree with your opinion, and that's possibly because I find it not well-stated and difficult to understand. The way I saw the difference in the game against the Colts was that the Steelers shut down the running of Jonathan Taylor, which accomplished two things: It made the Indianapolis offense one-dimensional, which in turn allowed the Steelers to get to their pressure packages to create the situations that led to Daniel Jones throwing 2 interceptions and losing 2 fumbles. For example, attributing T.J. Watt's strip-sack to "adjustments" is absurd, because it discounts the effort, athleticism the will to finish the play. If the Steelers couldn't/didn't control Taylor, there was no adjustment on earth that could've gotten them out of that predicament.
MATT HESS FROM SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, TN: How much and what brand of gum does Danny Smith chew during a game? I'm an Aliquippa born fan, and my wife is watching all games for the first time this year (she was walking through the room during the Jets game when the Jets fumbled the kickoff so she HAD to stay) and she loves Smith and his enthusiasm. Figured I'd ask, since he is close to converting a non-football fan into a diehard Steelers fan.
ANSWER: Danny Smith's brand is Dubble Bubble, and I honestly have no idea how many pieces he goes through in a game.
CHRIS O'BRIEN FROM SCRANTON, PA: I understand the pressure on Mike Tomlin not to settle for a FG in a potentially high-scoring game, but I would like your thoughts on the decision to not put 3 points on the board instead of going for it on fourth down when the offense has done nothing thus far in the game after a big special teams play.
ANSWER: If Darnell Washington catches the ball on that fourth-and-goal from the 3-yard line on a play where Aaron Rodgers' throw hit the '8' on the front of his jersey, are we having this conversation? If not, then your issue is not with the decision but with the execution of the play that was called. Let me remind you that the Colts had gone for it on fourth-and-1 twice to that point, and since the score was 0-0 when they did, I guess you could say their offense had done nothing to that point in the game, either. Indianapolis came into the game averaging over 30 points a game, and settling for field goals on fourth down from the 3-yard line is no way to approach the game against a team like that. That's my opinion.
OSCAR A. GUERRERO FROM GUADALAJARA, MEXICO: Do you know why WR Hines Ward was not present at the 2025 Alumni Weekend celebration?
ANSWER: Hines Ward currently is Associate Head Coach/Wide Receivers for the Arizona State football team, and the Sun Devils had a game at Iowa State on Saturday.
DAVID SMITH FROM N. LAS VEGAS, NV: Did the former players who participated in the Super Bowl XL alumni program during the Colts-Steelers game get to keep those jerseys or did they have to turn them in after the ceremony?
ANSWER: Those jerseys were presented to the players for their participation in Alumni Weekend.
