Pittsburgh Steelers: Studs and duds vs. Colts in Week 9
By Samuel Teets
In a drama-filled final three minutes, the Indianapolis Colts missed an opportunity to take the lead, and the Pittsburgh Steelers won in Week 9.
The Pittsburgh Steelers held on to a late 26-24 lead against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 9. Indianapolis’s loss puts the Houston Texans in control of the AFC South while the Steelers advance to 4-4. Pittsburgh is now one game behind the final Wild Card spot, which is now held by the Colts.
Jacoby Brissett exited the game early for Indianapolis when Cameron Heyward drove Quenton Nelson back into the quarterback. Nelson stepped on Brissett’s lower leg and the quarterback went down after completing a pass. Brissett walked off the field under his own power, but he did not return. Journeyman, Brian Hoyer took over as Indy’s quarterback.
After a terrible pass interference call near the two-minute warning, the Colts went on a late-game drive. The team got into field goal range with time running down and it looked like Adam Vinatieri would hit his second game-winning field goal in as many weeks. However, the future Hall of Fame kicker shanked the ball wide left. Pittsburgh escaped with the win.
Overall, it was a positive game for the Steelers. However, there were still some aspects of the game that didn’t go as planned.
Stud: Chris Boswell, K
Two years ago, the Wizard of Bos couldn’t miss in clutch time. He made the Pro Bowl after nailing several game-winning kicks for the Steelers. He even joined the ranks of the triple B’s late in the season.
However, things came crumbling down for Boswell last season. Just a year removed from connecting on 35 of 38 field goal attempts (92.1 percent) and 37 of 39 extra point attempts (94.9 percent), he went 13 for 20 on field goals (65 percent) and 43 for 48 on extra points (89.6 percent) in 2018. It got to the point where the Steelers were going for it on fourth down rather than attempting field goals.
Boswell has turned things around in 2019 though. Through eight games, he’s 17 for 18 on field goal attempts (94.4%) and has made all 17 of his extra point attempts. With Pittsburgh unable to finish drives with touchdowns right now, Boswell’s success is essential.
Dud: Pittsburgh’s Pass Coverage
How in the world did Hoyer end up throwing three touchdowns? I know he also threw a pick-six, but there is no excuse for Pittsburgh’s defense letting him reach three touchdowns. With Brissett out of the game, it was a prime opportunity for the defense to dominate. Clearly, that didn’t happen.
Hoyer hasn’t thrown multiple touchdowns in a game since Week 5 of 2017 when he was a member of the San Francisco 49ers. Ironically, that game was against the Colts.
The Colts didn’t have T.Y. Hilton on Sunday either. So the Colts were without their top offensive target and their starting quarterback. The Steelers still gave up three passing touchdowns.