News

Steelers 28, Indianapolis Colts 7
November 24, 2016
Lucas Oil Stadium

The Steelers and Colts broke bread on Thanksgiving, and it would be the Steelers who would feast on this night.

Antonio Brown set a single-game career-high with three touchdown receptions, including a 25-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter and a 33-yard grab in the second quarter. He closed out his scoring with a 22-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter.

Brown finished the night with five receptions for 91 yards.

“I appreciate it. I don’t take it for granted,” said Coach Mike Tomlin of Brown’s performance. “But I am not surprised by it. He is a hard, diligent worker, a talented guy, so he is maximizing his opportunities.”

Le’Veon Bell carried the ball 23 times for 120 yards and a five-yard touchdown on the Steelers’ opening drive. He also had four receptions for 22 yards.

“A lot of credit to the guys up front,” said Ben Roethlisberger. “They opened holes for Le’Veon. They gave me time in the pass game. And guys made plays.”

The defense was asked to stop the Colts not once, but twice from the one-yard line on fourth down. And both times they did their job, coming up with two crucial goal-line stands.

The Colts had a first down at the two-yard line with 3:18 to play in the first half. Sean Davis stopped Frank Gore for no gain, followed by a stop by Ricardo Mathews after Gore picked up just a yard. On third-and-one from the one-yard line Davis stepped up again, stopping Scott Tolzien for no gain. On fourth-and-one Mike Mitchell broke up Tolzien’s pass, turning the ball over on downs. In the fourth quarter it was more of the same when the Colts had first-and-goal at the Steelers’ six-yard line. Lawrence Timmons held Robert Turbin to a two-yard gain, and then kept Gore at bay, allowing him just a two-yard gain. On third down Tolzien scrambled, but was stopped by Mitchell for a one-yard gain. On fourth-and-one the defense came up with their second stop of the night when Tolzien threw incomplete to Phillip Dorsett.

“Really more than anything it was two nice plays by safeties,” said Tomlin. “In one instance Sean Davis, the quarterback was scrambling and he made the definitive decision to come out of coverage and make a tackle. I think the other one was Mike Mitchell in a similar way. Those were two significant plays by pass defenders first to come out of coverage. You get significant plays like that you’ve got a chance to have a stand.”

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