The Colts defeated the Steelers with three good and three bad plays – see why

admin | December 18, 2023 | Other Clubs | No Comments

The Indianapolis Colts defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in emphatic way on Saturday, and there’s lot to digest from the huge victory.

The Indianapolis Colts bounced back from a disappointing setback in week 14 by defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-13.

The win not only enhances the Colts’ playoff chances, but it also illustrates Shane Steichen’s team’s determination and grit.

With the Colts now sporting an 8-6 record, let’s take a look at the good and bad from the crucial victory that keeps the Colts’ playoff aspirations alive.

The Good: Defensive Front

The Colts’ defensive front returned to form one game after being pounded 34-14 by the Cincinnati Bengals and receiving 0 sacks.

This defensive front crushed every attempt by Pittsburgh to take big shots downfield or run the ball consistently, whether through the pass rush or run defense. Mitchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph were sacked four times each, with defensive ends Dayo Odeyingbo and Samson Ebukam leading the way with 1.5. Tackles Grover Stewart and DeForest Buckner would each provide 0.5.

Ebukam leads the Colts with 9.5 sacks on the season, with Odeyingbo coming in second with 8.0. Expect these two and the rest of the defensive front to play important roles in Indy’s quest for a postseason berth.

The Bad: Special Teams

The score does not reflect all aspects of the Colts’ game. While the final score was 30-13, Steichen may have been most frustrated by the special teams.

Kicker Matt Gay has looked off in recent weeks. He would go 0/1 on FGs and XPs against the Bengals. In this battle, despite connecting on FGs, he finished with a poor 3/5. The most notable miss for Indy was a poor shank on the opening drive. Gay will need to clean up his inconsistencies if he wants to help this club win critical games.

On the other hand, punter Rigobert Sanchez, largely regarded as one of the greatest in the NFL, had a difficult day, owing primarily to one play.

Sanchez attempted two punts, but only one went for 57 yards. The other was blocked by Steelers tight end Connor Heyward at the start of the second quarter. This would culminate in an easy touchdown pass from Trubisky to Diontae Johnson, putting Pittsburgh up 13-0.

Coordinator Brian Mason has shown flashes of brilliance this season, so expect him to smooth out all the rough areas in preparation for the Atlanta Falcons.

The Good: The Safeties

Trubisky had trouble adjusting to Gus Bradley’s defense. He would use this to throw two interceptions to safety Julian Blackmon and Nick Cross. Blackmon recovered a fumble as well, giving the safeties three turnovers on the day.

Because of the shift to strong safety, Blackmon is playing his best ball of his career. He has 87 tackles, five tackles for loss, eight passes defended, and four interceptions (fourth on the team). Expect him to continue stepping up and making plays, as the Colts will need all the help they can get over the next three games.

Cross made an outstanding play on a deep pass to Steelers receiver George Pickens. Cross virtually snatched the grab away from Pickens at the conclusion of the second quarter, putting an end to the Steelers’ drive.

Is this the arrival of Cross that the Colts had been anticipating? Expect #20 to see an increase in snaps after making a game-changing play.

The Bad: Handling Diontae Johnson

Pickens was suffocated by the Colts defense, prompting Mike Tomlin to focus almost all receiving attention on Johnson.

Johnson, to his credit, was solid on an offense with a terrible quarterback situation, as Trubisky was benched near the conclusion of the game for Mason Rudolph. He would score the aforementioned goal, giving Pittsburgh an early lead. He’d follow up the touchdown with four catches for 62 yards.

The Colts’ youthful secondary covered Pittsburgh’s playmakers with JuJu Brents back in the mix. Brent and company will try to keep sharp in order to finish strong in 2023.

The Good: The Reserves

Michael Pittman Jr. (concussion) and Zack Moss (arm) would both depart Saturday’s game and not return. This raised the prospect of difficulties, as they are the two most significant offensive components of Steichen’s strategy.

The reserves, on the other hand, stepped up and played at starter levels. Running backs Tyler Goodson and Trey Sermon, as well as receiver D.J. Montgomery, came through when it counted.

Below are the numbers on the day for all three players:

Montgomery: 2 catches, 48 receiving yards, TD
Goodson: 11 carries, 69 rushing yards, 2 catches, 10 receiving yards
Sermon: 17 carries, 88 rushing yards

Montgomery was recently promoted to the active roster, but veteran Isaiah McKenzie was a healthy scratch for this game. Montgomery missed a huge fourth-down score just before halftime. However, the Colts would regain possession, and Montgomery would respond with a massive touchdown, his first of his career.

Goodson and Sermon had 28 touches and 157 rushing yards combined heading into this game as clear backups. This combination deserves credit for grinding out a crucial victory and demonstrating their skill sets. Also, the offensive line and Steichen’s scheme must be lauded.

The Bad: Containing T.J. Watt

T.J. Watt, the Steelers’ monster pass-rusher, is so talented that he’ll likely make a number of big plays regardless of how well the offense handles him.

He had two sacks in this game and was continually putting pressure on the pocket. Rookie right tackle Blake Freeland did everything he could to stop Watt, but the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year was a disruptive influence in the end. Watt now leads the NFL in sacks with 16.0 after this game.

The Colts still have to deal with Maxx Crosby (Las Vegas Raiders) and Will Anderson (Houston Texans) to finish the season, so if Freeland has to step in for Braden Smith (knee), he’ll look to keep Gardner Minshew upright as Indianapolis’ playoff hopes grow brighter with each win.