The Pittsburgh Steelers survived a topsy-turvy game in Indianapolis, nipping the Colts, 21-18. Indianapolis, who hadn’t played a meaningful game in almost a month, looked terribly out of synch for most of the first half, both offensively and defensively. After allowing two Pittsburgh pass touchdowns, they finally showed a pulse on a 96-yard drive – resulting in a field goal – and trailed 14-3 at halftime.
Pittsburgh extended its lead in the third quarter to 21-3 on a 1-yard touchdown run by Jerome Bettis. Ben Roethlisberger – who looks like Will Ferrell after a week-long bender in Las Vegas – was terrific for most of the game, finishing with 197 yards and two TD passes. But in the second half he took a hit on the elbow that may have affected his ability to throw the ball accurately. After the Colts scored on 50-yard pass from Peyton Manning to Dallas Clark, the Steelers sat on the lead and mustered an important 14-play drive that ate up eight minutes of the fourth quarter. After a very controversial reversal of what looked like a Troy Polamalu interception, the Colts scored quickly on a 3-yard Edgerrin James scamper, set up by a beautiful 24-yard catch by Reggie Wayne.
The Colts managed to stop the Steelers offense on their next possession and took over on their own 20, trailing 21-18. The Steelers blitzes forced the Colts into a fourth-and-16, and Manning was sacked on his own 2-yard line. With the game in hand, the Steelers took over and tried to punch it in with Bettis, but the Bus fumbled the ball and it was picked up by CB Nick Harper for a return of 35 yards. It looked from the replay that, had Harper angled to one of the sidelines, he may have been able to avoid Ben Roethlisberger, who ended up making the game saving tackle.
The Colts moved the ball down to the Pittsburgh 28-yard line, but failed to convert a third-and-2. On the ensuing play, Mike Vanderjagt missed a 46-yard field goal attempt that wasn’t even close. The Steelers survived the emotional and physical roller coaster and will travel to Denver next weekend for the AFC Championship.
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