The Indianapolis Colts came into Sunday’s game only winning in Pittsburgh once since they’ve moved to Indianapolis. The heavily-betted game came down to the wire, but in the end, the Steelers outlasted the Colts, 26-24.
The Colts had two quarterbacks appear in the contest as starter Jacoby Brissett was injured early. Backup quarterback Brian Hoyer stepped into Brissett’s shoes and posted 168 yards with three touchdowns.
Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph pinpointed the Colts after a slow start. After an early interception, he finished with 191 yards and a touchdown.
Although the Steelers won, how did the Colts keep it close?
Well, goal-line stands and a strong first half gave the Colts an early lead.
First Half
The Steelers began the game on their 25-yard line. A couple of 10-plus yard passes pushed the Steelers to the Colts’ 49-yard line. Since running back Jaylen Samuels struggled to carry the ball early, Rudolph threw often.
One throw slipped through wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster’s hands. Unfortunately for the Steelers, Smith-Schuster was in tight coverage. The slipped pass was intercepted by Kenny Moore II.
The Colts responded early with a run-heavy play call in the first drive. Running back Marlon Mack and Brissett drove down to the Steelers’ seven-yard line. However, they were forced to settle for an Adam Vinatieri 25-yard field goal.
Rudolph and Samuels worked together to march the Steelers down the field. He picked up two of his 13 receptions on that drive, with his end result of 13 being the most for a running back in a single game in franchise history.
Once the Steelers hit the one-yard line, they could not finish. Chris Boswell tied the game with a 21-yard field goal.
Brissett continued his success to the Steelers’ 12-yard line. He could not finish, though, as defensive tackle Casey Heyward drove his opponent into Brissett’s left ankle and knee.
Hoyer took over and finished the drive with an 11-yard pass to Jack Doyle for six.
Next drive, the Steelers turned the ball over downs and gave the Colts a chance to open the lead. However, Hoyer hit the Steel Curtain.
At the Steelers’ 20-yard line, Hoyer went for the end zone and was intercepted by safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick followed the wide-open lane down the sideline to complete a 96-yard pick-six.
With a Colts touchdown and a Steelers half-ending field goal, the Colts had a 16-13 lead at halftime.
Second Half
Hoyer’s Colts began the drive at their 35-yard line. After a deep pass to Zach Pascal for 17 yards, the Steel Curtain rose again. Outside linebacker Bud Dupree beat the left tackle off the edge. With his eyes locked on Hoyer, Dupree forced a strip sack and recovered the fumble, too.
In the middle of the Steelers’ drive, it seemed they could not motor through the Colts’ defense. Yet, an unnecessary roughness call on Darius Leonard moved the Steelers to the Colts’ 19-yard line.
Rudolph earned his one passing touchdown a few plays later, with a seven-yard dart to tight end Vance McDonald.
After the Colts punted, the Steelers were stuck on their own one-yard line. Rudolph held onto to the ball in the end zone and Colts defensive tackle Justin Houston took advantage. He broke through the offensive line and strip-sacked Rudolph. Alejandro Villanueva fell on the ball in the end zone for a safety.
Despite the Colts picking up two points, it hurt them in the long run. On the free-kick punt, returner Chester Rogers fumbled and Pittsburgh special-teamer Johnny Holton recovered.
The final result, though, was a Boswell 33-yard field goal.
Later in the quarter, Samuels fumbled on the Steelers’ 30-yard line. The Colts took the field position and turned it into six. However, they decided to go for two and failed.
With a one-point lead, the Steelers added a field goal to take a 26-24 lead.
The Colts had less than three minutes left for a game-winning drive. Hoyer and the Colts started at their 15-yard line.
The Colts went big with a deep pass to Pascal, but it was incomplete. However, after the controversial Leonard penalty earlier, the Steelers challenged a defensive pass interference call. The Steelers failed controversially.
Hoyer went deep to Pascal again for 19 yards. Once again, the Steelers challenged a pass interference call on Pascal. After a minute, that call stood as well.
The Colts lined up a straightaway shot on the open side of the Heinz field from 43 yards out. Vinatieri dealt with slight wind as he took his steps back.
Off the snap, Vinatieri had minimal defenders able to block the kick. While taking his steps, the laces of the ball faced him. He wailed the ball far left and the Steelers snuck out of Pittsburgh with a 26-24 win.
Conclusion
Neither offense flourished, but the Steelers’ defense was responsible for 17 points off of turnovers. The Colts had a strong run game, but the offensive line gave up five sacks.
The Colts (5-3) look to bounce back against the Miami Dolphins, while the Steelers (4-4) host the Los Angeles Rams.
