Sunday’s game started at 4:25 but apparently no one told the Indianapolis Colts. After riding a dominating five-game win streak, the Colts were taken apart by the Pittsburgh Steelers, 51-34.
The Steelers rolled out to a 35-20 halftime lead, and weren’t forced to punt until under a minute left in the half. That moved proved to be disastrous as Ben Roethlisberger‘s (yes, the quarterback) punt was blocked. The Colts then moved quickly down the field for a field goal before the break.
The Steelers continued to roll out of halftime and marched down the field for another too easy touchdown. The Colts struggled to stop the Steelers in any phase of the game.
Indianapolis made numerous attempts to keep the game close, and even had a chance to tie the game early in the fourth. Those hopes were crushed when a penalty in the end zone resulted in a safety, giving the Steelers two more points and the ball back.
They immediately marched down the field to score the game sealing touchdown on a fourth-and-inches play fake.
Roethlisberger had the game of his career. He completed 40-of-49 passes for 522 yards and six touchdowns. He had all day to throw as the Colts failed to mount anything resembling a pass rush.
Injuries took their toll on the defense today as well. Vontae Davis left in the first quarter with a knee injury and without him in the game, Antonio Brown ran wild against the secondary. Brown finished with
Cory Redding came up limping early in the third quarter with what appeared to be a groin injury, but later returned to the field. Erik Walden also left early with a sore hip.
The Colts are lucky that Andrew Luck wasn’t hurt Sunday after taking dozens of hits and seeming to pick himself up after every play. Luck completed 26-of-45 passes for 400 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw a rough interception in the first half that was returned for a touchdown and another one at the end of the game on a forced pass in the endzone.
T.Y. Hilton picked apart the Steelers secondary this afternoon. He finished with six receptions for 155 yards and a touchdown.
With Trent Richardson only available in an emergency, Ahmad Bradshaw got the bulk of the running back snaps. He had six carries for 35 yards and a touchdown. He also caught seven passes for 52 yards.
Rookie Donte Moncrief made a name for himself today. With Reggie Wayne out, Moncrief saw more time on the field and likely improved his position on the depth chart. He had seven receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown.
After five weeks against inferior teams, the Colts finally faced a competent quarterback who was able to expose all the flaws of the defense.
The Colts will be on the road again next week when the face the New York Giants on Monday Night Football.