Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers started rough for the Indianapolis Colts. Early in the second quarter, Indy found itself down 13-0 to a struggling Pittsburgh team. A few plays later, Indianapolis would lose running back Zack Moss to an arm injury and Michael Pittman Jr. to a concussion after a scary hit. Despite the deficit, and being down the team’s two best offensive players, the Colts scored 30 unanswered points to win 30-13, moving to 8-6 and keeping themselves in the playoff picture.
Now, perspective is important. The Steelers entered the game on a two-game losing streak, with the losses coming to the Arizona Cardinals and the New England Patriots. So handily defeating Pittsburgh isn’t sending a message to the league or anything. However, the statement the Colts made is that they will find a way to win, regardless of the circumstances.
Colts pull it all together for a big win over Steelers
After every unit struggled in Indy’s Week 14 loss, the team’s offense and defense bounced back in big ways on Saturday. Indianapolis had 372 total yards, 202 through the air and 170 on the ground. The unit scored three touchdowns and three field goals and didn’t have any turnovers. Defensively, the Colts held Pittsburgh to just 216 yards, recorded four sacks, and took the ball away three times.
The moment in the game when Indianapolis really made its statement, and made it clear that the Colts would win, came at the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth. Indianapolis was already leading 27-13, but the game was far from over. To ensure that it was over, the Colts went on a 15-play, 70-yard drive that lasted nine minutes. The first 14 plays of the drive were all runs, and the Steelers didn’t have an answer. Additionally, this was without Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss. Indy’s offensive line, along with Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson did all the damage.
Indianapolis only got three points out of the drive, but it was the kind of drive where Indy treated Pittsburgh like a little brother, letting the Steelers know that it was nothing they could do to win this game. If the Colts carry this attitude and execution into their final three games, they should make the playoffs. If they enter the postseason healthy, they’ll be a tough team for anyone.