Colts 27-24 Steelers (September 29, 2024) Game Recap

INDIANAPOLIS – When the Indianapolis Colts needed Joe Flacco to replace the injured Anthony Richardson, the 17-year veteran kept it simple.

The 39-year-old Flacco threw two touchdown passes and the Colts got the stop they needed in the final minute to secure a 27-24 victory over the previously unbeaten Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

“You just see the guy and hit him. That’s all you do,” Flacco said after going 16 of 26 for 168 yards. “Some guys like to think about every little thing and that’s how they play best. But I think my personality is suitable for such a situation. Just don’t think about it too much.”

The former Super Bowl MVP and longtime nemesis of the Steelers during his 11 seasons with Baltimore proved he can still play at a high level last season when he helped the Cleveland Browns reach the playoffs. Indy signed Flacco as a free agent to back up the injury-prone Richardson.

Richardson left the ball twice in four plays, first taking a hard hit to the right hip and later a hard hit to the head, both on targeted runs. The second time, he went straight to the locker room and was eliminated when he returned to the sideline.

Coach Shane Steichen had no immediate information about Richardson or running back Jonathan Taylor, who suffered an ankle injury in the final minutes.

Flacco continued to build on the momentum from Richardson's fast start and the Colts (2-2) won their second straight overall and second in a row against the Steelers (3-1), who came back from a 17-0 deficit in the recovered in the first half.

Flacco connected with Michael Pittman Jr. six times for 113 yards. He connected with Josh Downs for a 2-yard scoring pass and Drew Ogletree for a 15-yard TD strike to keep Indy in the lead. Taylor ran 21 times for 88 yards and scored on Indy's first series.

“He was out there, a veteran,” Colts coach Shane Steichen said of Flacco. “Obviously he played a lot of football, went in there and did pretty darn well.”

The Steelers' high-octane defense produced a season high as Pittsburgh's six-game regular season winning streak ended.

Justin Fields played well again, scoring twice in the second half and finding Pat Freiermuth for an 8-yard TD pass on third-and-goal to make it 27-24 with 3:40 to play. But Pittsburgh couldn't recover from a botched snap that resulted in a 12-yard loss on its final possession.

Fields was 22 of 34 for 312 yards and ran 10 times for 55 yards, but was sacked four times and lost a fumble – one of two Pittsburgh turnovers. George Pickens finished the game with seven receptions for 113 yards and also lost a fumble.

Fields took the blame for the snap that ruined the final drive.

“After I kick my leg up, I have to be ready for the ball. It’s up to me,” he said.

Richardson started quickly, completing a 32-yard pass on the first play of the game. Taylor's TD run made it 7-0 with 12:01 left in the first quarter. But for the fourth time in his eight career starts, Richardson failed to finish a game.

Flacco threw a 4-yard TD pass to Josh Downs on his fourth play of the game and then helped set up a 33-yard field goal to give the Colts a 17-3 halftime lead.

When the Colts needed Flacco to make plays late, he was mostly successful.

After Fields scored on a 5-yard run late in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 17-10, Flacco found Ogletree. After Fields scored again, this time on a 2-yard run, to put the Steelers up 24-17 with 11:23 left, Flacco led the Colts with a 10-play, 54-yard drive that nearly reached 5 It took 1/2 minute and resulted in a 33 yard field goal for a 27-17 lead.

Fields responded with a TD pass to Freiermuth and when Flacco couldn't get the first down, he had to finish the ball, but Indy's defense was stopped.

“They’ll never get the (practice) reps,” Flacco said. “You're on an emotional roller coaster on the sidelines, and as the backup quarterback you're always trying to stay ready and stay calm.”

Injury report

Steelers: RG James Daniels, RB Cordarrelle Patterson and LB Nick Herbig all suffered ankle injuries. Patterson was carted to the locker room.

Colts: Played without three starters – CB Kenny Moore II (hip), DE Kwity Paye (quadriceps) and C Ryan Kely (neck).

Star power

Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, a two-time Super Bowl champion who attended high school in northwest Ohio, watched his former rival Flacco at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark was also in attendance.

Next

Steelers: Host Dallas next Sunday night.

Colts: Next Sunday at Jacksonville.

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