The Pittsburgh Steelers are back on the road for the third time out of their opening four games. This time, against Anthony Richardson, Jonathan Taylor and the Indianapolis Colts. The Steelers have the No. 1 ranked defensive line and the No. 1 overall defense, while the Colts have the No. 1 offensive line and one of the most potent rushing attacks.
It will be the first time the Steelers have played against Richardson as he was already injured last season when the two teams played. The Steelers defense have been talking about him all week and how it changes their rules with how they attack him as a passer.
Both teams are short some key players. The Colts are missing DE Kwity Paye and CB Kenny Moore II, while the Steelers are without RB Jaylen Warren and OLB Alex Highsmith.
Lucas Oil Stadium has a retractable roof and windows, and they are closed up like a dome for this game with some light rain and wind on the forecast.
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Mason McCormick is going to start in place of Spencer Anderson, per Gerry Dulac, but there will be another rotation like last week. Isaac Seumalo is getting closer to his return, so this could be McCormick’s only start of the season.
Steelers Inactives
QB Russell Wilson (3rd QB)
WR Roman Wilson
CB Darius Rush
RB Jaylen Warren
LB Alex Highsmith
OG Isaac Seumalo
TE MyCole Pruitt
Colts Inactives
QB Sam Ehlinger (3rd QB)
WR Anthony Gould
CB Kenny Moore II
DE Kwity Paye
T Blake Freeland
C Ryan Kelly
DE Genard Avery
The Steelers won the toss and elected to defer. The Colts will start out the game on offense.
START OF GAME
The kickoff went for a touchback.
1st and 10, Anthony Richardson dialed up a 32-yard completion to Michael Pittman Jr. Joey Porter Jr. very nearly picked it off.
1st and 10, Jonathan Taylor picked up 14 on the ground up the middle.
1st and 10, Taylor up the middle for 4 yards. 2nd and 6, Richardson incomplete intended for Pittman. 3rd and 6, Richardson designed run up the middle for 9 yards.
1st and 10, Taylor up the middle for 6 yards. The defense is off to a very slow start. 2nd and 4, Taylor up the middle for 3 yards brought down by Nick Herbig from behind. 3rd and 1, Taylor punched it in up the middle for a touchdown. 7-0 Colts.
For a defense that has allowed 8.7 points per game so far, they have already allowed nearly their entire per-game average on the opening drive. That was the first rushing touchdown allowed all year, and rookie C Tanor Bortolini looked fantastic in the middle filling in for Ryan Kelly.
Justin Fields and the offense need to respond, or this game could play right into the Colts’ hand.
1st and 10, Fields under center, he got tripped up and nearly fumbled the snap. He barely managed to get the ball off to Harris for a 2-yard loss. 2nd and 12, Fields on the run and he scrambled for 3 yards. 3rd and 9, Fields hit hard for a sack, but roughing the passer bailed out the Steelers. The tackle was clean, but he drove his body weight into Fields.
1st and 10, Fields missed Harris on the swing route. 2nd and 10, Harris took a huge shot for a gaiin of just 1. The Colts are electric right now while the Steelers look like they are sleep walking. 3rd and 9, Fields complete to Calvin Austin III for 17 yards to convert. Austin getting involved again after a big game a week ago. James Daniels was hurt on the play, but walked off the field on his own power. Mason McCormick and Spencer Anderson starting.
1st and 10, Cordarrelle Patterson tackled for a loss of 3. 2nd and 13, Fields complete to Patterson for a modest gain, but Spencer Anderson called for a late hit. 3rd and 23, complete to Pat Freiermuth for 8 yards. The punt went 27 yards to the Colts’ 14 for a fair catch.
This game could get out of hand fast if the defense doesn’t get their act together.
1st and 10, Richardson complete to Pitman for 28 yards.
1st and 10, Taylor up the middle for 1 yard. 2nd and 9, Richardson complete to Josh Downs for 11 yards.
1st and 10, Richardson scrambled for a big gain, but DeShon Elliott ripped the ball out. Richardson late to get to his feet after the hard hit. Tanor Bortolini recovered the fumble. Joe Flacco is in the game.
1st and 10, Flacco complete to 10 yards.
1st and 10, Taylor broke some tackles on a pitch for 13 yards. Anthony Richardson is back on the field.
1st and goal, Richardson scrambled for 1 yard. He is limping a bit and took another big hit by Minkah Fitzpatrick. Richardson is back into the medical tent. 2nd and goal, Taylor stuffed for 1 yard. Richardson is headed to the locker room. 3rd and goal, Flacco complete to Downs for a touchdown. 14-0 Colts.
What a terrible, awful, no good start for the Steelers on both sides of the ball.
1st and 10, Fields to Freiermuth for 7 yards. 2nd and 3, Harris for 1 yard. 2nd and 2, Harris gained just 1. A quick three-and-out and the ugly start continues. 4th and 1, Fields was stuffed for no gain. It is all bad for the Steelers.
1st and 10, Flacco went deep to Adonai Mitchell, but incomplete. 2nd and 10, Flacco complete to Downs for 4 yards.
END OF 1ST QUARTER: 14-0 COLTS
3rd and 6, Flacco complete to Downs for 6 yards to convert. They have the gas pedal all the way down with no-huddle offense. Playing with pace and the Steelers are floundering. Tomlin challenged whether it was a catch. This is going to be a signature failed challenge to top off a terrible opening quarter.
1st and 10, Flacco complete to Pittman for 2 yards. 2nd and 8, end around for Mitchell for 10 yards.
1st and 10, Taylor up the middle for 3 yards. 2nd and 7, Flacco incomplete to Pittman and Porter dropped the interception. 3rd and 7, Downs tripped on the route and incomplete. The field goal is good. 17-0 Colts.
Porter has dropped two interceptions, Queen failed to recover a fumble. It would be a totally different game, but instead the Colts lead by three possessions. Nick Herbig was shaken up on the play and is now limping to the injury tent. It is going to be the DeMarvin Leal show unless Herbig can return.
1st and 10, Fields complete to Pickens for 4 yards. 2nd and 6, Harris up the middle for 3 yards. 3rd and 3, Fields’ pass was batted down at the line of scrimmage. Waitman’s punt went just 40 yards. Nick Herbig was back in for the punt.
Anthony Richardson was ruled out, but I am not sure it matters. Flacco might be the better quarterback at this point of their careers, and the Colts are just going to be running all game.
1st and 10, Flacco complete to Pittman for 22 yards. Three drives with an explosive play to Pittman.
1st and 10, Taylor off right tackle for a loss of 1, brought down by Cameron Heyward. 2nd and 11, Flacco complete to Taylor for 10 yards. 3rd and 1, Larry Ogunjobi and Elandon Roberts got the stop to force a punt.
The punt pinned the Steelers deep and a flag backed them up further. The Steelers can’t do anything right.
1st and 10, Patterson off right end for 3 yards. 2nd and 7, Patterson up the middle for 12 yards.
1st and 10, Fields dumped the ball to Patterson for 14 yards.
1st and 10, Patterson up the middle for 11 yards.
1st and 10, Harris around the left end for 1 yard. 2nd and 9, Fields complete to Washington who stiff armed and leapt his way for 20 yards.
1st and 10, Patterson up the middle for 9 yards and the penalty was picked up on the play. 2nd and 1, Patterson off right tackle for 10 yards. Patterson was injured on the play.
1st and 10, Harris back in the game, Fields complete to Pickens for 6 yards, Pickens slipped the tackle and then fumbled. Once again, it is one of those Murphy’s Law games for the Steelers.
1st and 10, Taylor tackled for a loss of 2. 2nd and 12, Porter called for pass interference. A rough game for Porter gets worse.
1st and 10, Flacco complete to Downs for 9 yards.
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
Patterson was carted off during the break. 2nd and 1, Flacco to Pittman for 17 yards.
1st and 10, false start. 1st and 15, Flacco incomplete to Taylor. 2nd and 15, Flacco deep to Pierce, but incomplete with Donte Jackson in coverage. Probably should have been offensive pass intereference. 3rd and 15, Taylor picked up 8 yards. Steelers use timeout No. 2 with 1:21 on the clock.
Steelers take over at the 25. 1st and 10, Fields sacked for a loss of 4. The Colts called a timeout. 2nd and 14, Fields escaped pressure and complete to Freiermuth for 29 yards.
1st and 10, Fields complete to Pickens for a modest gain, and it was ruled incomplete and out of bounds. He definitely had both feet in and the booth is reviewing. It was a catch. 2nd and 4, Aaron Shampklin for 5 yards to convert.
1st and 10, Fields sacked for 3 yards and timeout No. 3 called. 2nd and 13, Fields scrambled for 11 yards and spiked the ball to kill the clock. Boswell nailed the field goal from 50 yards out. 17-3 Colts.
END OF 1ST HALF: 17-3 COLTS
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