Steelers’ defense takes frustrations out on Colts
Steelers defensive back Brandon Boykin intercepts a pass intended for Colts wide receiver Griff Whalen Sunday night during the first half.
Colts quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is pressured Sunday night by Steelers outside linebacker Jarvis Jones.
PITTSBURGH – Three consecutive weeks of opponents throwing the football all over the field had the Steelers feeling like Howard Beale in the movie “Network.”
They were mad as hell and weren’t going to take it anymore.
That feeling made things quite uncomfortable for the Indianapolis Colts Sunday night.
While the Steelers’ offense rolled up 522 total yards, Pittsburgh’s defense was equally impressive, limiting the Colts to 240 yards, recording five sacks and forcing three turnovers in a 45-10 victory.
“Obviously, we were (ticked) off about our performance last week, so we had to take it out on somebody,” said safety Mike Mitchell.
The Steelers allowed five touchdown passes in a 39-30 loss at Seattle, culminating a stretch in which they allowed more than 300 passing yards in three straight games to fall to 30th in the league.
The Steelers (7-5) won two of those games, beating Oakland and Cleveland, but knew they had to shore up the secondary if they were going to make a push toward the playoffs.
Enter two unlikely heroes, 37-year-old linebacker James Harrison and seldom-used cornerback Brandon Boykin.
Pass rush and coverage often go hand in hand and both players provided plenty to what had been a struggling defense.
“We played well collectively,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “Hard rushing and coverage work together. That’s a formula for playing well back there.”
Pittsburgh allowed 186 yards passing to the Colts, nearly 100 yards below its average, while giving up only 54 rushing.
Boykin, rotating with Antwon Blake and Ross Cockrell in the nickel defense, played 40 snaps, 18 more than he had seen in the Steelers’ first 11 games combined. He had two pass breakups, including a diving interception of a pass that was tipped by teammate William Gay in the first quarter to set up a Pittsburgh field goal.
Acquired for a fifth-round draft pick from Philadelphia, Boykin wasn’t about to allow the opportunity to make a play slip by.
“I know I’m only going to get so many snaps,” Boykin said. “I want to make the most of them. I was envisioning that on the way here, like ‘I’ve got to get a pick. Somehow I’ve got to make a play.’ I was blessed to be able to do it.”
Harrison felt the same way.
Slowed by a knee injury the past few weeks, the 37-year-old had been stuck on two sacks this season since recording one Oct. 18 in a win over Arizona.
Harrison had three sacks – all in the fourth quarter – and knocked 40-year-old quarterback Matt Hasselbeck out of the game early in the fourth quarter with a strip-sack.
“Midway through fourth quarter, I told him to stop getting sacks so we could actually get some balls down the field,” Mitchell joked.
Harrison’s three sacks lifted his career total to 74.5, 2.5 behind franchise leader Jason Gildon, while his forced fumble was the 30th of his career. Harrison and Greg Lloyd are the only Steelers since 1987 to force 30 fumbles.
With Harrison feeling like he’s got another season left in his body, there’s no reason to think that record won’t fall.
“I’ve still got another year on the contract,” he said. “I’m not even thinking about that right now, to be honest with you. I can’t think any further ahead than the next game. That’s the situation we’re in right now.”
The situation, as Harrison put it, is on the outside looking in on the playoffs.
The win over the AFC South-leading Colts (6-6) was their second over a current division leader this season – Arizona was the other – the Steelers still have a tough road to the postseason.
Kansas City (7-5) and the Jets (7-5) currently hold the two wildcard spots in the AFC based on tiebreakers over the Steelers, who travel to AFC North-leading Cincinnati (10-2) Sunday.
“Things could be worse; things could be better,” said Harrison. “We’ll deal with it on a weekly basis and hopefully, be where we want to be when everything is said and done.”
Odds and end zones
The Steelers rose to second in the NFL in total offense, averaging 409.1 yards per game. … The Steelers have had four consecutive games with at least 450 total net yards, tying an NFL record (Kansas City in 2004, Miami in 1984 and Houston in 1961). … The Steelers are 7-10 on two-point conversions this season, breaking the NFL record of six successful conversions held by Miami (1994) and Minnesota (1997).