By: Jared Villani @JVillain10
SteelerNation.com
After a stunning loss this past Monday night, the Pittsburgh Steelers faced off with the Indianapolis Colts in what was poised to be a defensive showdown as the league's two best defensive units fought to stake their claim in the playoff race.
The Colts looked great right from the start as they continued to center their offense around rookie running back Jonathan Taylor and Philip Rivers still playing at a high level. Taylor put Indianapolis on the board first with a six-yard touchdown run to put the Colts ahead early, 7 to 0.
Indianapolis' next drive on offense would end abruptly as DPOY candidate T.J. Watt sacked Rivers and forced a fumble in which Mike Hilton was able to recover for the Steelers to help get things going on offense. All it took was three plays and James Conner was able to even the score with a one-yard touchdown. Steelers tie things at 7 all.
In for 6️⃣!@JamesConner_ | ???? CBS????https://t.co/tI5aUTu7te pic.twitter.com/fAcc1Z5fbx
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 27, 2020
Unfortunately Pittsburgh's offensive success was short lived in the first half when Jonathan Taylor found the end zone for a second time in addition to a quick turnaround in which Rivers found receiver Zach Pascal for a 42-yard touchdown connection. The Steelers ultimately went into the locker room after the first half on a low note, however a 21 to 7 deficit could easily turned around if/when Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense could get rolling.
With the Colts receiving the ball first in the second half, they were able to keep a steady pace and use 10 plays to conclude an effective drive with a short 28-yard field goal. Indianapolis now leads by three scores, 24 to 7 over the Steelers.
The Steelers offense had been extremely quiet and somewhat embarrassing to watch to this point, but just as things appeared to be bleak for Pittsburgh's offense, Big Ben found Diontae Johnson for a gorgeous connection for a 39-yard touchdown. All it took was one play for Roethlisberger and they saw the Colts lead fade just a bit as they cut their deficit down to 10 points, with Indy still leading 24 to 14.
That was pretty‼️@Juiceup__3 | ???? CBS????https://t.co/tI5aUTu7te pic.twitter.com/ql4tkPMetz
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 27, 2020
If this game was turned on at halftime, there would be no inclination as to how badly the Steelers offense struggled in the first half because they looked like a completely different unit out of the locker room. Roethlisberger looked fantastic against the league-leading Colts defense and was able to put another successful drive together, capping it off with a five-yard touchdown pass to Eric Ebron to put the Steelers within a field goal at 24 to 21.
???? CBS????https://t.co/tI5aUTu7te pic.twitter.com/5rZxISOGDn— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 27, 2020
The Steelers team that came out in the second half looked nothing short of brilliant with Big Ben leading the offense drastically better than the previous few weeks had shown. After Coach Tomlin's talk with JuJu Smith-Schuster after their third straight loss, it was apparent the young receiver came into this game with something to prove. In the game's biggest moment, Roethlisberger looked to non other than his most reliable set of hands and found Smith-Schuster for a crucial 25-yard touchdown. This connection gave Pittsburgh a 28 to 24 lead with the game drawing to a close.
RIGHT. ON. TARGET.@_BigBen7 | @TeamJuJu | ???? CBS????https://t.co/tI5aUTu7te pic.twitter.com/tZhUluDFWA
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 27, 2020
Mike Hilton continued to make big plays in this game and a perfectly-timed interception on Rivers with the game on the line was arguably his most significant play of his career to this point. Hilton's interception all but sealed the deal for the Steelers as their second half surge was enough to snap a three-game losing streak.
.@MikeHilton_28 is really good ????
???? CBS????https://t.co/tI5aUTu7te pic.twitter.com/0GFMhG4HmB— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 27, 2020
Pittsburgh Steelers Stat Leaders
Ben Roethlisberger 342 Passing Yards 3 Passing Touchdowns
James Conner 20 Rushing Yard One Touchdown
JuJu Smith-Schuster 9 Receptions 96 Yards One Touchdown
T.J. Watt 2 Sacks
Avery Williamson 14 Total Tackles
