Steelers come alive to edge Colts
against a team that allows more points than any other in the NFL. Their ground game floundered (Le’Veon Bell finished with 80 yards on 26 carries, a 3.1 average).
And just like that, the alarm bell rang and quicker than you could say “Ben Roethlisberger’s 40th career game-winning fourth-quarter drive,” the Steelers scored the final 17 points of the game to win, 20-17.
It was the first time since Christmas 2016 that Roethlisberger brought them from behind in the final quarter to win. That’s when Brown reached over the goal line against Baltimore with nine seconds left.
That victory clinched the AFC North Division title but in a way, this one might be more important albeit the 3-7 Colts. Their 17-point comeback lifted the Steelers record to 7-2 to stay on course for the best record in the AFC, which comes with many benefits in the postseason.
“Credit to this team for sticking with it,’’ DeCastro said. “Down, 17-3, in the third quarter and sticking with it and knowing we had the ability to do it, to overcome it. We stuck with it and got the win.”
Their defense shut out the Colts for the final 27 minutes, 46 seconds after Chester Rogers caught a 61yard scoring pass from Bissett to put Indianapolis on top, 17-3. Bissett also struck for the big one in the second quarter, a 60-yard touchdown pass to Donte Moncrief.
“I didn’t like the first half but I liked the second half, how we responded, how we tackled, how we picked up the pressure,’’ said Cam Heyward. “I just liked the way our energy picked up in the second half. If you have a lot of energy, good things are going to happen.”
JuJu Smith-Schuster provided plenty of that energy. The rookie caught a 44-yard pass three plays after Indianapolis took that 17-3 lead. He then caught Roethlisbeger’s 7-yard touchdown pass.
The extra point was blocked. Indy’s Matthias Farley picked it up and ran the other way, but Jesse James and punter/holder Jordan Berry ran him down at the 3, preventing a 2-point Colts score.
Although a somewhat negative play, that seemed to spark the Steelers more.
“That was just awesome in my mind and my opinion,’’ Roethlisberger said. “And everyone else on the team recognized what that play meant.”
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin spoke last week for the need to make “splash” plays on offense and defense. Ryan Shazier delivered. He ripped a pass away from tight end Jack Doyle for his third interception of the season to give his offense a first down at the Indianapolis 10.
Three plays later, Roethlisberger had so much time he could have eaten a Snickers bar before tight end Vance McDonald came wide open on the right. The quarterback delivered the 7-yard touchdown pass, and then threw another to Martavis Bryant for the 2-point conversion that tied it, 17-17.
Vince Williams and Stephon Tuitt sacked Brissett on consecutive plays on the next series as the Steelers pass rush also woke up.
“I think we just made our mind up and the four-man rush got hot,’’ Williams explained.
That ultimately helped set up a 37-yard field goal try by Boswell for the lead with 6:17 to go, but it bounced off the upright. All would be forgiven 6:17 later when he connected from 33 yards.
That winning drive started with 3:10 left at the 15 and quickly faded to secondand-17 at the 18. But three consecutive pass completions by Roethlisberger to Bell of 13, Bryant of 19 and then the big one to Brown for 32 to the 18 put Boswell back in position.
“That wasn’t too much of a surprise ,’’ De Castro said of his team’s play in the final 1½ quarters. “I was more surprised by how badly we played in the first half than howwe played in the second.”
Brown had been quiet most of the game with just two catches for 15 yards because of double teams and that long pass he said he thinks he lost in the lights of the indoor stadium.
“I just stayed in the game, continued to be positive,’’ Brown said. “I knew I would have some opportunities late in the game and I was able to come through.”
That was the best thing that could be said for a Steelers team that looked for a while as if they were taking consecutive weekends off.
“Maybe it was the bye, trying to get that rust off, trying to get out of it,” DeCastro offered.
They won’t have that problem this week. They play the surprising Tennessee Titans (6-3) Thursday night at Heinz Field. The Steelers are solid favorites again.