Colts Score 30 Unanswered Points, Roll Past Faltering Steelers
Coming back from a 13-point deficit, the Indianapolis Colts pulled off one of their most impressive performances this season, scoring 30 unanswered points to highlight their 30-13 victory over the slumping Pittsburgh Steelers. The Colts, who improved to 8-6, have continued to mount together an unimaginable season of success following a season-ending injury to rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson earlier in the season and constant turmoil with star running back Jonathan Taylor. The Steelers, who dropped to 7-7, have been on a downhill spiral the past month having lost four of their last five games and currently being on the outside of the playoff picture following Saturday’s loss to the Colts. Let’s take a look at how the Colts managed to enforce their dominance on the Steelers’ defense leading to their victory.
The Steelers would start the game grabbing the early momentum by capitalizing on a Colts missed field goal, which gave the Steelers’ offense the football at midfield to begin their second drive. Pittsburgh would capitalize on the excellent starting field position by scoring a touchdown on a one-yard run by quarterback Mitchell Trubisky to take a 6-0 lead in the first quarter. Following a blocked punt by the Steelers defense, Trubisky and company would start their next drive at the Colts' one-yard line to begin the second quarter. The Steelers would extend their lead to 13-0 on a four-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Diontae Johnson. The Colts would get on the board on their corresponding drive, which ended in a 16-yard touchdown pass to running back Zack Moss to cut the deficit to 13-7 with 11 minutes left in the half. Prior to the first half concluding, Indy would put together a touchdown drive following a 14-yard pass to wide receiver D.J. Montgomery to grab a 14-13 lead entering halftime.
On the Steelers' first play of the second half, running back Najee Harris fumbled the ball and gave the Colts the football inside the Steelers’ twenty-yard line. The Colts would take advantage of the forced turnover with an 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mo Alie-Cox to extend their lead to 21-13 in the third quarter. The Steelers’ offense would fail to put together any sort of rhythm, as they were forced to punt on back-to-back drives late in the third quarter. The Colts' running attack would begin to assert their dominance against an injury-rattled Steelers defense. The Steelers defense would give up a methodically soul-crushing drive by the Colts’ offense to begin the fourth quarter, in which they would run the ball on their first 13 plays to begin the drive, which resulted in a 31-yard field goal by kicker Matt Gay to extend their lead to 27-13 mid-way through the fourth quarter. The Steelers’ offense would have one last attempt to show any sign of life but were unable to accomplish much as the drive ended in a Trubisky interception to Colts’ safety Julian Blackmon, which sealed the deal for the Indianapolis victory.
In the win, Colts’ quarterback Gardner Minshew would finish the game going 18 for 28, with 215 passing yards and three touchdowns. The Colts’ running game was in full force throughout the matchup rushing for a total of 170 yards on a Steelers squad that is known for having a stout front seven defense. Despite leaving the game in the second quarter due to a concussion, wideout Michael Pittman Jr. would lead the Colts in receiving with four receptions for 78 yards. In the loss, Steelers’ quarterback Mitchell Trubisky would put forward another lackluster performance going 16 for 23, with 169 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. The Steelers' sole offensive standout performance came by wide receiver Diontae Johnson who caught four passes for 62 yards and a touchdown. The Steelers will aim to find a sign of life in their remaining three games as they face the Bengals next week at home, while the Colts will travel to square off against the Falcons in Atlanta.
