Roethlisberger, Steelers pick apart Colts
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) leaps into the goal post after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015, in Pittsburgh. The Steelers won 45-10. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) celebrates his touchdown catch during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Fred Vuich)
Indianapolis Colts cornerback D’Joun Smith (30) recovers a fumble on the opening kick off by Pittsburgh Steelers’ Jacoby Jones (13) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) signals during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Fred Vuich)
PITTSBURGH – When the Steelers hosted the Colts last season, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw for 522 yards and six touchdowns in a 51-34 victory.
Sunday night against Indianpolis, the Steelers matched that 522-yard output and scored five touchdowns.
Talk about your encore performances.
The Steelers overcame a sloppy start, Roethlisberger threw for 364 yards and four touchdowns, Antonio Brown scored three times, and Pittsburgh again had its way with Indianapolis, whipping the AFC South leader, 45-10, at Heinz Field.
The win improves the Steelers to 7-5 and keeps them in the running for a playoff spot in the AFC. Pittsburgh is still on the outside looking in behind the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets, both of whom are 7-5 and currently hold the final two wild-card playoff spots.
“Big game for us and we’re not going to overanalyze it,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “We made all of the necessary plays. We stood up in the face of adversity and there was some adversity. We turned the ball over early on. But once we got it going, I thought we complimented each other in a positive way.”
Indianapolis head coach Chuck Pagano, who saw his team fall to 6-6 while still holding the AFC South Division lead, wasn’t nearly as diplomatic.
“They kicked our ass. Period,” said Pagano. “We had some opportunities in that ballgame, and we did not capitalize on them.”
Pittsburgh turned the ball over in its own end on fumbles on its first two possessions – including one by Jacoby Jones on the opening kickoff – but led 6-3 as Indianapolis managed only a field goal after getting the good field position.
The Colts’ first possession ended on an interception by linebacker Jarvis Jones – the first interception of his career – at the Pittsburgh 1-yard line and the second, coming after a fumble by running DeAngelo Williams, netted only an Adam Vinatieri field goal.
“I went by and thanked every one of (the defensive players) for bailing me out because that was big,” said Williams, who finished with 134 yards on 26 carries.
That proved to be the case as the Colts failed to put the Steelers on the defensive and paid the price.
The Colts took a 10-6 lead midway through the second quarter when Matt Hasselbeck threw a 9-yard TD pass to running back Frank Gore, something that seemingly awoke the Steelers from a first-quarter slumber.
Roethlisberger threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Brown – who had eight receptions for 118 yards – then connected with fullback Will Johnson for a two-point conversion pass that made it 14-10 with just over four minutes remaining in the first half.
After the defense forced a three-and-out, Roethlisberger again quickly led the Steelers in for a score, this one a 5-yard TD pass to Markus Wheaton with 10 seconds left in the first half to make it 21-10.
“That’s the way it’s supposed to work,” said guard Ramon Foster. “The defense picked us up early, and then when we got going … I don’t know how you stop this offense with all of the playmakers we have.”
As if to drive that point home, the defense again quickly got the ball back into the hands of the offense to open the second half and three plays in, Roethlisberger went deep to Martavis Bryant for a 68-yard TD pass and a 28-10 lead. Bryant had four receptions for 114 yards and a score.
Roethlisberger would again find Brown for a 5-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter and, after a Chris Boswell field goal, Brown scored on a 71-yard punt return, leaping onto the goal post at the end of run to put an exclamation point on the victory.
The defense wasn’t done, either. Linebacker James Harrison had three sacks in the fourth quarter – Pittsburgh had five sacks in the game – knocking the 40-year-old Hasselbeck out on a sack-strip that the Steelers recovered.
Hasselbeck, who had been 4-0 subbing for injured starter Andrew Luck, threw for 169 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions before leaving with neck and shoulder injuries.
The Steelers have to regroup quickly and prepare for the next challenge, traveling to Cincinnati next week to face the AFC North-leading Bengals (10-2).
“Things could be worse, things could be better,” said Harrison, who now has 74 1/2 career sacks, 2 1/2 fewer than Jason Gildon’s team record of 77.
“We’ll deal with it on a weekly basis and hopefully be where we want to be when everything is said and done.”
Tight end Heath Miller was among the inactives for the Steelers. … The Steelers are 7-for-10 on two-point conversions. The seven conversions are a team record. … Harrison’s forced fumble was the 30th of his career. … Brandon Boykin played extensively in the nickel defense and had a first quarter interception off a tipped pass from Will Gay. … Gay suffered a blow to the head in the fourth quarter and was placed in NFL concussion protocol. … The Steelers have won eight consecutive games played in December. … Brown’s punt return touchdown was his fourth, matching Antwaan Randle El for the most in team history.