Indianapolis Colts Blasted in Steel-Town
Hasselbeck struggled to get by Pittsburgh
Indianapolis Colts came into “Steel-town” floating on air, but it all came crashing down on Sunday Night Football. It started strong. The opening kickoff was fumbled away by Steelers returner Jacoby Jones, which the Colts recovered at the 11-yard line. It was all downhill from there.
After Frank Gore to the opening possession for a couple of yards on a run, Matt Hasselbeck spotted Andre Johnson ran a quick out and was wide open on the right side of the field, but the signal caller underthrew him badly. The next play, Hasselbeck forgot what team he was on, and lobbed a pass right to linebacker Jarvis Jones at the one-yard line. After a nice 26-yard run by DeAngelo Williams, he would go on to fumble on his fourth carry giving it back to the Colts at the Steelers 25-yard line. After a couple of runs, the Colts settled for an Adam Vinatieri 35-yard field goal.
Pittsburgh took over at their 20-yard line. Ben Roethlisberger then marched the Steelers down the field. Roethlisberger hit several receivers on the drive, including Jesse James, Darrius Heyward-Bey, and Antonio Brown. But they eventually stalled, and settled for a field goal of their own, as Chris Boswell connected from 29-yards out. The Colts then started their third possession, and in less than five plays gave it back to the Steelers on an interception. Hasselbeck tried to get the ball to Griff Whalen on the left side, but defensive back William Gay tipped the pass in the air, and Brandon Boykin made a diving catch to make the pick at the Colts 37.
Indianapolis held strong and forced a three-and-out. Boswell then put Pittsburgh ahead 6-3 when he was successful from 51-yards out. Quan Bray took the kickoff to the 26-yard line. The first quarter ended after two consecutive first downs. When the second quarter opened, offensive left tackle Joe Reitz was called for holding, and the Colts couldn’t make up the ground, having to punt with 12:36 remaining in the quarter. Pittsburgh took over on their ten after a fair catch by Jones. They promptly went three-and-out and had to punt, and Indianapolis took over at the Steelers 46-yard line.
Hasselbeck looked good hitting Andre Johnson for consecutive first downs and moving the ball into the two-yard line. After a delay of game penalty by Matt Hasselbeck, he found Frank Gore up the middle for a touchdown reception and a 10-6 lead. After a touchback, the Steelers didn’t waste any time getting their team down the field. After a mixture of short runs and passes, Roethlisberger hit Martavis Bryant for 26-yards to the Colts 41. He then hit Antonio Brown for 26-yards to the Colts. A few plays later Roethlisberger was able to connect with Antonio Brown for the touchdown and completed the two-point conversion to take a 14-10 lead.
After the two-minute warning, the Colts went three-and-out and had to punt; Jacoby Jones muffed the punt, but it was recovered by Heyward-Bey and Steelers took over at the 40. The drive was dominated by the Steelers, as Roethlisberger hit Markus Wheaton for 18-yards, then hit DeAngelo Williams for 15-yards, Wheaton for 27-yards, and hit Markus Wheaton for the score, making it a 21-10 game at the half.
The Colts opened up the second half on their 20, but after a couple of incomplete passes and a Frank Gore run they had to punt. Matt Hasselbeck became injured on this drive and had to leave the game. Pittsburgh took over at their 22, and it didn’t take long to stretch the lead, as Roethlisberger hit Martavis Bryant for 68-yards and the score (28-10). The Colts took over at their own 32, and Hasselbeck hit a quick strike to T.Y. Hilton for 19-yards. That would be it for first downs, and on third down, Hasselbeck went down with injury on an incomplete pass to Zurlon Tipton.
Pittsburgh took over at their own eight, and then it became the DeAndre Williams show. After a first down on a holding penalty, Williams had the next four of five plays go his direction. He gained 44-yards total from the line scrimmage. Eventually, the drive stalled at the Colts 30, where Boswell missed a 47-yard field goal. Hasselbeck returned to the field and hit Frank Gore on a nice pass, that Gore took down to the Steelers 23 for 34-yards. The drive would end, and behind, by 18-points, the Colts turned it over on downs as Matt Hasselbeck missed Greg Whalen, in the end, zone on fourth down.
Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers took over at their 18-yard line, and with the third quarter coming to a close, Roethlisberger hit Antonio Brown on a beautiful throw and catch for 48-yards to the Colts eight yard line. After DeAngelo Williams ran for three yards, “Big Ben” hit Brown for a five-yard touchdown and a 35-10 lead. The Colts took over on the Steelers 27-yard line after Quan Bray took the kickoff for 60-yards, and an extra 15-yards was added on for a face mask penalty. It didn’t take long as Hasselbeck would fumble the ball after Jerome Harrison stripped him of the ball and Vince Williams recovered.
Roethlisberger then took the Steelers on a nine-play drive down to the Colts 24-yard line, and after a third down incomplete pass, Boswell connected on a 42-yard field goal to put the score at 38-10. The longest play came on a DeAngelo run for 18-yards at the 8:47 mark of the fourth quarter. The Colts took over at their eight-yard line after Gray muffed and recovered the kick. Charlie Whitehurst came on in relief for the injured Matt Hasselbeck. Colts punted after going three-and-out, Antonio Brown fielded the punt at the 29-yard line at took it to the house and ended up slamming himself on the goal post in a very interesting but hilarious touchdown celebration and a 45-10 Steelers lead.
With just 3:56 left in the game, the Colts took over at their 45. On a fourth and ten, Whitehurst hit Donte Moncrief who took the pass down to the Steelers 22-yard line after a 33 yard gain. After another first down, Whitehurst was sacked twice, and could not complete a pass on his two attempts, forcing the Colts to turn the ball over at the Steelers 24. With 0:41 seconds left, Landry Jones took the field for his one-play kneel down in victory formation.
