At the end of the day, it’s all about being able to take advantage of of your opponents mistakes. That is why as the Indianapolis Colts look at the standings today they sit at 5-4 while the Pittsburgh Steelers are 6-3 following a Colts gutsy 24-20 win in Pittsburgh Sunday over the shell-shocked Steelers. The Steelers were done in by two ill advised throws of QB Ben Roethlisberger that were turned into 14 points, the final seven being the game-winner with 3:04 remaning.
It was that second pick by Tim Jennings with 4:44 left at the Steelers 34 that was the key play in the game. At that point the Steelers led 20-17, and seemed to have the game in hand. They get a couple of first downs and they can put the game away. Instead, on a 3rd-and-4, Roethlisberger tried to force it in, and Jennings stepped in front and picked it off, giving the Colts new life.
Four plays later after a Dominic Rhodes run on 3rd-and-1 that gained six yards to the Steelers 17, Manning hit Rhodes down the sidelines with a perfect pass that burned the Steelers D for a score that gave the Colts a four-point lead. The Steelers got down to the Colts 27 with three seconds left, but Roethlisberger’s Hail Mary pass was picked off in the end zone, saving the win for the never say die Colts.
The Steelers QB has had a very tough last three games. In a loss to the Giants, half of a win over the Skins, and now the loss to Indy, he has thrown 8 picks and just one TD. Against Indy, he was 30-for-42 for 284 yards with three picks. While his O-line has been off all season, and he has taken way too many hits, there is no excuse for the poor passes that have gotten away from him.
The two biggest plays of the day were his two picks that got turned into two Colts TD’s. One near the end of the first half turned the game around. The Steelers were ahead 17-7, and he threw short on a 3rd down play that was picked by Keiwan Ratliff at the Steelers 16 with 1:24 to go in the first half. Peyton Manning moved quickly, and after getting to the two on a third down play, he hit Dallas Clark for a TD with six seconds left in the half to make it 17-14.
The Colts tied the game on their first drive in the third quarter, but the Steelers came back with a solid drive in the 4th quarter that looked as if they would be able to go ahead 24-17. They had the ball 2nd-and-goal from the Indy one, but Mewelde Moore was stuffed twice, and the team settled for a field goal with 7:57 left to make it 20-17.
After the teams traded possessions, the pick put the Colts in position to get the winning score and pull off the comeback win in a place it’s not ever easy to get the win. Manning was 21-for-40 for 240 yards with three TD’s. The Steelers outgained the Colts 326 to 290, and had the ball for 34:05 to 25:55, but in the end, were killed by the three picks.
The Colts will be at home next Sunday to take on the Houston Texans. The Steelers will look to bounce back against the AFC West’s San Diego Chargers at home at 4:15pm.
3 Comments
Leave a Reply
Show Your Team Spirit
Get Your Steelers Tickets
Steelers Gab Newsletter
Sign up to receive our Steelers Gab newsletter, and keep up to date with all the latest Pittsburgh Steelers news.
Tim
November 10, 2008 at 11:04 am
The QB play of the Steelers is starting to become rather disturbing. “Little Ben” is not playing like the highest paid Steeler in team history ($27 Mil this year alone) and it is now time to question his intelligence.
I can appreciate “Little Ben” wanting to make plays to try and win the game all by himself. But it is unforgiveable the POOR clock management at the end of the game. You know, for a minute there I don’t think “Baby Ben” realized it was fourth down and he might have had thoughts of spiking the ball!!!!!?????
Ben is rapidly losing his place among the “elite” QB’s in the league. Bruce Arians needs to either go no-huddle more often, mix up the play calling and be a little more creative or Tomlin should fire his ass at season’s end. Hell, fire him right now! It is rather telling when the Colts game plan appeared to be stack it against the run and let “Little Ben” try and beat them.
“IF” Pittsburgh is to make the playoffs and be successful (aren’t we now tied with the Ravens??? don’t they have a Rookie QB???) they are going to have to start winning consistently and beating GOOD teams. The San Diego game this Sunday scares the hell out of me. Pittsburgh seems to have a habit of not beating teams they SHOULD beat.
It’ll be interesting to see how Mike Tomlin handles things this week. Priority Number 1? Fix your suddenly INT prone QB regain his confidence and stature as a premier QB. But it isn’t going to be easy, “Little” hasn’t been the same since Super Bowl XL – and it has nothing to do with the Accident or the Appendectomy!
mark
November 10, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Well, another charity case. Ben, Arians, Tomlin are all responsible for this latest collapse. I need to know who called for that pass with 1:24 left in the first half? Are you kidding me? The INT’s are sickening. Ben has been playing like a rookie. Bad throws, bad reads and no zip on the ball at all. Arians has to be our worst coordinater since Ray Sherman. The Colts are the worst against the run right? well, the Steelers threw the ball 42 times last night. Whats the excuse? The colts sold out against the run? ok, how about the adjustments. I hate to get on the defense,but they really needed a turnover in that 4th quarter. The Steelers are in disarray right now. I actually do NOT expect them to beat the Chargers. Mike Tomlin looks foolish ou on the sidelines clapping his hands after another offensive debacle. Hey Mike, do something about it. Patience is at an all time low right now. Your team looks comical on offense. Its very sad. Roethlisberger, Ward, Holmes,Miller,Washington and a top pick in Sweed and the unit STINKS!
Jay Sabo
November 10, 2008 at 8:57 pm
You know what I find funny…all the lib, diehards who stick up for our team are nowhere to be found! That should tell you something! Where are all these bloggers who support EVERY STINKIN’ Pittsburgh Steeler decision? I am a diehard fan but what I am even before that is a man of principle and someone who honors right and wrong. It is not right what is going on with our offense right now. I almost wish we could go back to the days of ball control, great offensive line play and find a quarterback who won’t lose you games; we almost had it with O’Donnell, yeah, he wasn’t going to win you any but not lose you any either (except in XXX). All I’m saying is I think the season is trashed only because Parker is banged up and Mendenhall is out and we have no protection in our running game and need to throw the ball…so put in a healthy leftwich…Roethlisberger has thrown his last interception for me as a fan who roots for him–whether he wins four more super bowls or only four more games as a Steeler—not allowed to make 100 mil and throw crucial int’s as far as I’m concerned. It ain’t right…you gonna get paid that type of money, then kinda need to be perfect like Tom or Peyton,sorry, just the way I see it.