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Final Score
Steelers — 14-7-0-7–28
Colts — 0-7-0-0–07
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
The Steelers scored touchdowns on their first three possessions and stuffed the Colts at the goal line twice to claim a 28-7 win in Indianapolis. Scott Tolzien shook off a poor start to lead the Colts down the field several times, but a missed field goal and short-yardage struggles were enough to doom the Colts.
The Colts couldn’t afford to struggle on offense, as they couldn’t stop the Steelers on defense. Antonio Brown tied a career high with three touchdowns catches, and Le’Veon Bell was impossible to tackle all night long on his way to 120 rushing yards.
The Steelers head home to host the Giants next week, while the Colts will travel to New Jersey to face the Jets on Monday Night Football.
Keep reading to see the game stats and highlights:
Game Highlights
Ben to Brown Complete The Trilogy
.@AntonioBrown will have thirds, thank you very much.
AB x3! #PITvsIND t.co/NR5YpT2ptW
Antonio Brown again. Third TD catch. Dude is just too good. Steelers lead #Colts 28-7, 5:30 remaining.
Make it three for Brown. Brown separates from coverage again, and he ties a career high with three TD catches. Steelers put the Colts to bed with 5:30 remaining.
Tolzien’s First Major Mistake Comes Late
CLUTCH.
@iammikemitchell comes up with the INT on Tolzien’s deep ball. #PITvsIND t.co/XsB0biwlw1
Mike Mitchell with the interception on a pass intended for Dorsett. Defense needs a three and out, stat.
The Colts still had a shot midway through the fourth, but a sailing pass from Tolzien was intercepted by Steelers safety Mike Mitchell. Mitchell has been all over the field tonight, and gets the turnover the defense was looking for all night long. Tolzien makes the tackle. You can’t say he’s not trying.
Colts Stuffed Again to Start Final Quarter
Another HUGE goal-line stand by the defense.
Sorry, but if you get your hands on it, you’ve gotta make the catch, Phillip Dorsett. Second time Colts stuffed at the 1.
The third quarter consisted of two sustained drives, the latter belonging to Indianapolis. They ate up over eleven minutes of clock, took it down to the one yard line, and were once again turned by Pittsburgh. On both fourth-down plays the Colts elected to pass, and on both plays they were unable to convert.
Colts Stuffed Right Before Halftime
With the ball at the half yardline, Colts try two pass plays and fail on both — sack and incomplete in end zone. No Luck?
BIG goal-line stand for the defense.
Our offense takes over at PIT1 with 1:08 remaining in the half.
Antonio Brown Burns Vontae Davis For Second TD
https://twitter.com/ComplexSports/status/801975263340990464
Big Ben last 2-plus games vs. Colts:
72-of-98, 1,021 yards, 12 TDs, 0 INTs, 146.3 rating
After being flagged for an offensive pass interference penalty on the Steelers third drive, AB beat the coverage again for a 33-yard TD. The Steelers have scored on all three possessions thus far.
Fake Punt Pass Sets Up Colts TD
Precision pass from Scott Tolzien…
🚨FAKE PUNT ALERT! 🚨
@PatMcAfeeShow completes it to Swope! 😱 #PITvsIND t.co/HT59Hv7Fhw
When you go back for a third plate of food.
t.co/ysoAGjSR7H
The Colts are going to need some tricks if they plan on winning tonight, and they converted a crucial fourth down en route to their first TD. Pat McAfee found Erik Swoope for a 35-yard gain, putting the Colts offense back onto the field and within striking distance. Tolzien hit Moncrief in the endzone to pull Indy within a touchdown.
Ben & Brown Connect From 25 Out
.@AntonioBrown vs @vontaedavis … advantage 🆎https://t.co/GXeSz7EX8M
Seriously, Davis couldn’t cover Brown when he was healthy; now trying to cover him with a bum ankle. Ugliness ensues.
After a rare miss from Adam Vinatieri, the Steelers offense went back to work. It doesn’t look like the Colts will be able to contain Bell tonight, and he added another 33 total yards on the drive. On third and five, Roethlisberger hit Antonio Brown in a simple hookup to extend the Steelers’ lead.
Bell Scores on Pittsburgh’s Opening Possession
.@L_Bell26 bounces to the outside…
Touchdown @steelers! #PITvsIND t.co/2jIsrMaQd1
Le’Veon Bell didn’t play in last year’s Pitt-Indy game, and the Steelers still scored 45 points.
Steelers opening TD drive took less time (4:19) than Aretha Franklin’s national anthem in Detroit today.
The Steelers go 52 yards in seven plays, capping it with an athletic run from Le’Veon Bell. Worst possible start from Colts fans, as Bell looked fast on his touches, and Ben looked sharp on a 30-yard hookup to Eli Rogers.
Tolzien Struggles on Indy’s First Possession
Awful opening for Tolzien/offense — sack/fumble, overthrow TY, minus-5 to Turbin.
Tolzien looks like a player that hasn’t started since 2013. His first series ends quickly, and the Colts are punting.
Game Stats
Stats will be updated throughout the game
Pittsburgh Steelers
Passing: Roethlisberger: 14/20, 221 yards, 3 TD
Rushing: Bell: 23 carries, 120 yards, TD
Receiving: Brown: 5 receptions, 91 yards, 3 TD
Indianapolis Colts
Passing: Tolzien: 22/36, 205 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Gore: 15 carries, 28 yards
Receiving: Moncrief: 6 receptions, 45 yards, TD
Preview
Like Thanksgiving, Steelers-Colts has been an annual tradition recently. Much like the meeting of the Pilgrims and Natives, the meeting has been beneficial for only one side of the table.
The Steelers have outscored the Colts 96-44 in the last two matchups combined, and they meet for a third consecutive season in Thursday’s finale. This time the Colts will be without Andrew Luck, who will miss this week’s contest with a concussion.
Pittsburgh recovered from a four-game losing streak with a win over Cleveland last week, but still trail Baltimore in the AFC North via tiebreaker. The Colts are also hanging around the playoff picture, and can take advantage of Houston’s loss with a big win a home.
If the Colts are going to have success, it’s largely going to depend on the play of Scott Tolzien. The former Packer hasn’t started an NFL game since 2013, and is in his first season with the Colts. Indianapolis spent much of the 2015 season without Andrew Luck, going 6-3 with a combination of Matt Hasselbeck, Charlie Whitehurst, Josh Freeman and Ryan Lindley.