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Week 10 Game Recap: Indianapolis Colts 20, Pittsburgh Steelers 24
What you need to know
| Indianapolis Colts |
QB Peyton Manning was unable to sustain any drives early in the game, connecting on less than half of his passing attempts in the first half. This was directly related to how effective the Steelers' pass rush was. However, the Colts made significant adjustments at half time and Manning was able to avoid any sacks in the second half. His overall numbers were quite good, and could have been much better had WR Marvin Harrison held on to two likely touchdown passes. The lack of any real running game also hurt Manning by taking away his play action passes; where he usually forces defenses cover more of the field.
RB Joseph Addai had little impact in this game due to an effective Steelers' run defense. He did not show much of a burst returning from a hamstring injury, and had less than three yards per carry. Backup RB Dominic Rhodes proved to be more effective as a replacement, with 28 yards on seven carries and a touchdown receiving. He ended up with only 52 total yards to Addai's 47 on five less touches. This game further clouded the Colts' backfield situation.
WR Reggie Wayne led all Colt pass catchers with over 100 yards. He, along with TE Dallas Clark, was the focal point of the pass offense for much of the game. Wayne did come up with some clutch catches including two off of tipped balls, one of which resulted in a spectacular 65 yard touchdown in the first half.
| Pittsburgh Steelers |
QB Ben Roethlisberger was unable to protect the football, tossing three interceptions leading to two Colts scores. The Indianapolis defense kept both safeties deep in the cover two scheme and took away most of the deep plays and the sideline patterns. Roethlisberger was able to work the middle of the field with the tight end and running backs. In the second half, the Colts' pass rush intensified and Roethlisberger could not get much time to make any big downfield throws, getting sacked twice. RB Mewelde Moore, continuing a string of starts in place of injured Pittsburgh running backs, was held in check for most of the game. He was held to just 31 rushing yards in the first half and was only slightly better in the second stanza. Moore ended up with two touchdowns, but had barely more than two yards a carry. Ben Roethlisberger was able to get him the ball out of the backfield where they connected six times, with several being on third down.
WR Hines Ward played a very effective game working the middle of the field. Ben Roethlisberger was able to find Ward nine times for over 100 yards. The most notable play was a 41 yard flea-flicker in the first half that set up a short TD run. On more than a few occasions, Ward was not able to make any significant yards after the catch, but this was due to the Colts' defensive scheme and some sure tackling by SS Bob Sanders.
What you ought to know
| QB Peyton Manning, Pass: 21 - 40 - 240 - 3 TD / 0 INT |
Manning was not his usual self in the game, despite posting good overall numbers. Two of his three TDs came off a short field following Pittsburgh interceptions and the other was off a fortunate tipped ball play where WR Reggie Wayne avoided two tacklers and raced 65 yards. Manning was hurt by some key drops by WR Marvin Harrison and overall his completion percentage was quite low for him, barely over 50%. On the plus side, he was able to avoid the turnovers and made Pittsburgh make long drives when forced to give up the ball.
| RB Joseph Addai, Rush: 12 - 34 - 0, Rec: 2 - 13 - 0 (4 targets) |
Addai was limited all day. The Colts' running game has been poor all season, averaging a league low 70 yards a game. The team's trademark stretch play sweep was well defended by the Steelers' rush defense, Addai had multiple tacklers in his face, saw no real cutback lanes and could not make anyone miss. He had only a limited role in the passing game.
| RB Dominic Rhodes, Rush: 7 - 28 - 0, Rec: 2 - 24 - 1 (2 targets) |
Dominic Rhodes proved again to be a factor as a replacement runner. He had a solid four yards per carry against the league's top run defense, and turned a broken pass coverage into a game winning touchdown catch. Rhodes owners have been used to seeing valuable performances this season and as long as Addai struggles, he is well worth a roster spot.
| WR Reggie Wayne, Rec: 6 - 114 - 1 (11 targets) |
Wayne produced for QB Peyton Manning for most of the game. His longest reception was 65 yards and he did show some run after the catch ability. He was used a few flanker screens and despite a nagging knee injury, was effective. The drawback in this game was high number of incomplete passes, but that was more a function of Manning's low accuracy than Wayne's hands. He remains after ten weeks a top flight WR.
| WR Anthony Gonzalez, Rec: 4 - 26 - 0 (7 targets) |
Gonzalez was able to work the middle of the field a few times from his slot receiver position. He also drew a pass interference penalty in the red zone that set up another score. He was unable to display any run after the catch. A key third down drop after a big hit stopped a Colts drive.
| WR Marvin Harrison, Rec: 3 - 37 - 0 (6 targets) |
Harrison was involved in the first half, making all three of his catches. His two major mistakes were dropped passes. In the first half, he beat single coverage on a deep post and would have scored. In the second half, he got down the sideline but the ball was off his hands. On the play he got a neck injury and spent some time on the bench and was unable to get anything going in the second half. The lack of another dynamic threat to Wayne is a contributor to the Colts' offensive decline this season.
| TE Dallas Clark, Rec: 3 - 24 - 1 (8 targets) |
Clark connected on a 2 yard TD catch right before the end of the first half. He was a major target for Manning for much the game despite low overall numbers. The Steelers were able to use their athletic linebackers and safeties to break up a number of plays to Clark. He seems to be regaining his role in the offense from last season.
| PK Adam Vinatieri 1 - 1 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 6 points |
Vinatieri connected on a 36 yard field goal and all three extra points. He had no other opportunities.
| IND Rush Defense |
The Steelers posted just over two yards rushing per play. Indianapolis was able to contain RB Mewelde Moore all day. A key goal line stand held Pittsburgh to a field goal and that was the difference in the final score. The Colts are unique in that they often play more than two safeties at the same time, but that does not show up in a weaker run defense. The return of S Bob Sanders made a big impact.
| IND Pass Defense |
The Colts' pass rush was ineffective early and the Steelers' passing game moved the ball in the first half. Things changed in the second half, especially after the Colts got the lead. DE Dwight Freeney registered the team's two sacks, but had more pressures and forced Pittsburgh into some dump off passes on the final drive. They ended up with three interceptions.
| QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pass: 30 - 42 - 284 - 0 TD / 3 INT, Rush: 1 - -1 - 0 |
Pittsburgh wanted to establish a short and intermediate passing game early due to a shoulder injury to Roethlisberger. He was able to move the ball effectively during the first quarter and was in a passing rhythm for most of the first half, getting ample time and able to spread the ball to his wideouts and tight end. The most significant play was a flea flicker pass where he was able to find WR Hines Ward down to the one yard line. The Colts took away Roethlisberger's deeper and outside passes, so he went to the tight ends and slot receivers underneath. His patience was tested and two of his interceptions were when he tried to force the ball in to tight coverage. On the positive side, he was able to avoid most of the sacks and serious hits that have been a constant for him this season.
| RB Mewelde Moore, Rush: 24 - 57 - 2, Rec: 6 - 48 - 0 (8 targets) |
Moore got another start after RB Willie Parker's shoulder was injured last game. Moore ended up with 105 total yards and two touchdowns, but the numbers were deceiving. He logged a significant number of carries but was mostly bottled up and had no gains over ten yards. The Colts defense is smaller and faster than most teams and they seemed to surprise the Pittsburgh back, denying him outside runs several times. Moore was involved in the passing game as usual. He could be the long term starter if Parker's injury is as serious as it seems. Moore had been effective on the ground this season up to this game.
| WR Hines Ward, Rec: 9 - 116 - 0 (13 targets) |
Hines Ward had several balls thrown his way and caught nine mostly short and intermediate passes across the middle, the exception being a 41 yard flea-flicker. He did not get any targets in the red zone. He made several catches in traffic and kept the chains moving most of the second half. Ward is still a solid play most weeks and remains the most consistent option in the passing game in Pittsburgh.
| WR Santonio Holmes, Rush: 1 - -1 - 0, Rec: 4 - 29 - 0 (9 targets) |
Holmes was the second most targeted player for Roethlisberger, but unlike Hines Ward, he is not totally in synch with his QB. Two of the three Pittsburgh interceptions came on passes to Holmes and he was outfought by Colt defensive backs for the ball. Despite impressive speed, he was limited to mostly short gains, outside a 23 yard pass in the first half. Holmes draws most of the defense's attention throughout of the game and has had uneven success beating that this season. Off-field issues have also been a problem.
| WR Nate Washington, Rec: 3 - 30 - 0 (4 targets) |
WR Nate Washington has done most of his damage on deep patterns this year, but not today. The Colts' secondary took Washington away for much of the game. He nearly reeled in a circus catch on the on the final drive Hail Mary, but the ball went off his fingertips.
| TE Matt Spaeth, Rec: 6 - 53 - 0 (6 targets) |
An ankle injury to starting TE Heath Miller made Matt Spaeth a major factor in the passing game. The Colts often vacated the middle of the field and Spaeth took advantage. Linebackers were unable to cover him and his catches some drives alive. His five catches eclipsed the three he had in the first eight games. The downside is his skills are more suited for blocking and his ability to gain significant yards in limited. If Miller missed more time, Spaeth is a decent play with limited upside
| PK Jeff Reed 2 - 2 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 8 points |
Reed hit a 42 yard field goal and another 24 yarder in and two XP's. He had no other FG opportunities. He is very reliable despite getting a new holder just this week.
| PIT Rush Defense |
The Steelers held the Colts rushers to about three yards a carry and 62 yards total. Some of that can be attributed to the struggles of the Indy offensive line this year, but the Steelers' run defense has been playing well all season, leading the league.
| PIT Pass Defense |
The Pittsburgh pass rush was a factor in the first half recording two sacks and several other QB pressures, mostly from OLB James Harrison. The absence of OLB Lamar Woodley to a lower leg injury was noticeable. The Colts did adjust and protected Manning much better in the second half. The weakness of the Steelers' pass defense was despite getting a hand on many balls, but did not generate any interceptions. Ironically the only Colt deep pass play all night came off a tipped ball.
