Indianapolis tallied zero net yards of offense in the first quarter. Matt Ryan’s first completed pass was a screen to Jonathan Taylor eight minutes into the second quarter. Unless you count interceptions, in which case Steelers CB James Pierre broke his streak on the Colts’ opening possession.
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh scored on three of their first four drives en route to a 13-0 lead, which tied the Steelers’ largest margin of the season (Week 1 @ Cincinnati).
HB Anthony McFarland got a helmet for the first time this season to fill the shoes of Jaylen Warren while he nurses a hamstring injury. McFarland had 8 touches for 31 yards, including this nifty 15-yard scamper:
WR George Pickens continues to be unguardable. Kenny has been living on that back shoulder and the duo again found 30+ the loud way:
Najee finally finished a drive for the Steelers with a split zone run from six yards out. You’ll see TE Pat Freiermuth peeling back behind the face of the formation to seal back-side pursuit:
The Colts didn’t start rattling the chains (Jacob Marley-style) until they took the ball out of Ryan’s ghostly-cold hands and let Taylor do his thing (3 rushes, 21 yards). Once they tried to throw again, the drive stalled and they settled for a 51-yard FG to shatter their goose egg.
DE Isaiah Loudermilk blocked a second FG attempt in the expiring seconds of the first half.
HALFTIME SCORE: 13-3 PIT
Indy took the second half opening kickoff back to about the Steelers’ 20. Three of the four plays were Taylor runs (11 yards) including a two-yard TD plunge. As it turns out, that’s what it took for the Colts’ offense to score tonight. 13-10 PIT
When the Steelers got the ball back they were without HB Najee Harris who was ruled out for the game with an abdominal injury. They got another decent run out of McFarland on 2nd down but the Colts stuffed him on third to force Pittsburgh’s first three-and-out of the evening.
Indy was gifted Pittsburgh’s 1 after two questionable coverage penalties on the Steelers. A mishandled exchange between Ryan and Taylor led to a fumble recovery by DE Chris Wormley and the Colts came up empty again.
Unfortunately, after a 3rd down drop from Pickens, the Steelers returned the favor. This time luck was not on their side, and Pierre negated any goodwill his interception garnered by giving up a TD on a fade to the corner of the end zone. 17-16 IND
The Steelers picked up their first 1st down of the second half on the ensuing drive, going over the middle of the field to Pickens. Pickens had dropped a couple passes in the second half so it was nice to see him get back in the W column. Pittsburgh punched it in with a little Benny Snell Football (TM):
For the two-point conversion Pickett went back to Pickens after a scramble:
The Colts cobbled together a drive that survived a 4th and 3 (TJ Watt tipped the pass) but a strip-sack and TFL by OLB Alex Highsmith set up a second 4th and 3. This time DT Cam Heyward forced an inaccurate pass into double coverage and CB Cam Sutton and FS Minkah Fitzpatrick converged to end Matt Ryan’s night.
Enter: Victory Formation. FINAL SCORE: 24-17 PIT
Steely Cam 