USA TODAY International Edition
Colts blow 24- 7 lead in loss to Steelers
Pittsburgh clinched the AFC North Division title after Indianapolis melted down, a stinging defeat that puts playoff hopes in jeopardy.
The meltdown in Pittsburgh.
If the Colts ( 10- 5) don't somehow find their way into the NFL playoffs, Sunday's collapse will be remembered for years to come.
After taking a 24- 7 lead early in the second half, the Colts fell apart, letting the Steelers ( 12- 3) score 21 unanswered points and falling 28- 24.
The victory gave Pittsburgh the AFC North Division title and ended a threegame losing streak after the Steelers opened the 2020 season with 11 victories.
The Colts had a chance to rally back at the end of the game, but their lastminute drive came up short after Philip Rivers' errant pass sailed off the fingertips of Zach Pascal.
Their playoffs hopes are now in jeopardy, as they will need help to get in. According to Fivethirtyeight. com, the Colts' playoff odds dipped 7%, from 89% to 82%.
The Colts can still make the playoffs if the following happens:
● They beat Jacksonville, Tennessee loses at Green Bay ( Sunday night) and at Houston. This earns the Colts the AFC South title.
● They beat Jacksonville, Miami, Cleveland or Baltimore loses.
The loss will sting Colts fans all the more because of what they let slip away. They absolutely throttled the Steelers in the first half. If not for one bad play, they probably would have gone into the intermission with a shutout intact. Instead, they led 21- 7.
It's hard to know how much to blame Rivers for what went down Sunday, given the offensive line in front of him. But the Colts needed their leader to step up and carry this game across the finish line, and he couldn't do it.
After scoring 21 points in the first half, he led them to just three in the second.
What's worst, Rivers fell short in the clutch, a narrative that has shadowed him throughout his NFL career.
With the ball in his hands on the final drive of the game, he could not march the Colts down the field for a game- winning touchdown that would have all but clinched the playoffs for them.
Even worse, he threw one of those late- game interceptions that cost the Colts dearly. They had a chance on their second- to- last drive to take the lead, but instead he chucked a prayer downfield toward Michael Pittman and was intercepted by Mike Hilton.
The Colts' defense forced a Steelers punt on the ensuring possession, but it didn't matter. The Colts' offense pushed the ball to the Pittsburgh 33 but went no further.