2024 Week 4: Steelers 24, Colts 27
There were many key injuries in this game, and it eventually came down to the Steelers driving late with a chance to win, but falling short. This was a great game that was played well and was fun to watch. When you think ‘Football’, this is the game you think of… even the score is a classic football score (27-24).
The Colts got a much-needed win, if they were to have fallen to (1-3) with injury concerns surrounding QB Anthony Richardson and RB Jonathon Taylor, they would be in a panic. Indy catches a break this week facing Jacksonville, the only winless team. If Taylor-Richardson are out, this is the team to face.
The Steelers fell to (3-1) on the season and played well, the Colts just played better. I imagine Joe Flacco coming in for the injured Anthony Richardson had something to do with it, but the Colts looked well on their way to crushing Pitt while AR was in.
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QB Report:
- I am so happy for Justin Fields (22/34 for 312 yards, 1 TD, 10 rushes for 55 - 2 TDs), I love that he got a second chance and is making the best of it. Without a shadow of a doubt, this is the best football he has ever played in the pros or college. It’s easy not to trust QBs like Fields and Darnold the same way it was hard to trust Geno, Josh Allen, Baker, and Goff. These were all players who were written off at one point but have worked their way back into being good+ quarterbacks. I’m going to keep riding the Fields/Darnold train until the wheels fall off if they ever do.
- What is Fields doing differently? The biggest thing for me is that he trusts himself to make plays through the air. When Fields was in Chicago he would usually look for his first read, if they weren’t open he would bail on the play and run and round in the backfield or just take off and run for a gain… now he’s playing controlled football, reading defenses, and using his legs as a last resort. Fields gaining trust in his arm talent has made him a legit NFL starter.
- Anthony Richardson (3/4 for 71 yards, 3 rushes for 24 yards) looked like he was on his way to a monster game before taking a hit to his hip that took him out for this game and possibly next week too. Joe Flacco (16/26 for 168 yards, 2 TDs) came in for relief and he lit up the Steelers defense… a top 3 NFL defense. Imagine what Flacco could do with a full week of practice against the Jaguars #31-ranked pass defense.
WR/TE Report:
- Josh Downs (8-82-1/9) and Michael Pittman (6-113-0/9) both had big games, Pittman was already playing well when Flacco came in, but Downs was the biggest winner. Downs is the slot and Pittman plays a more traditional WR than what AR looks for so they benefited the most. Alec Pierce (1-9-0/2), the deep threat, would be a random throw for Flacco just like he was here. Only 2 targets all game.
- This Fields to George Pickens (7-113-0/11) connection keeps getting better and better. Pickens is being targeted the exact way he should… like Tyreek Hill, Justin Jefferson, and Ceedee Lamb. He is as good if not better in some aspects as those players. People don’t like Pickens because he hasn’t scored a TD and it’s hurting public perception, but he’s had at least one maybe 2 touchdowns called back bc of the penalties on the O-line. This doesn’t include all of the DPI penalties Pickens draws as well.
- Pat Freiermuth (5-57-1/7) caught his first touchdown of the season, he’s becoming one of the more consistent TEs this season. Every time second-string TE Darnell Washington (2-31-0/2) gets the ball something electric happens.
RB Report:
- Jonathan Taylor (21-88-1, 3 catches for 20 yards) seems like he will miss some time, which will give Trey Sermon (5-8-0) more opportunities. Don’t be fooled by his stats in this game, he’s not as good as these numbers portray. I Imagine Tyler Goodson will get some snaps as well.
- Cordarelle Patterson (6-43-0, 2 catches for 19 yards) was killing it in this game, every time he touched the ball it was 5-10+ yards, except for one play he was tackled for a loss. Cordarelle was literally carrying the Steelers offense downfield for one drive, 5 touches for 60 yards, but he was hurt and carted off the field just before the half, ending his game. For my mental sanity, I hope there is an RB controversy in Pittsburgh soon. Browsing X live to get updates on Patterson’s injury, the average Steelers fan was able to see Patterson was giving life to that offense… now it’s up to the stubborn NFL coaches to see it and more importantly move to it.
D/ST Report:
- Payton Wilson (6 tackles) is being eased into a real NFL workload, which is smart given his injury history. Wilson had a career-high for tackles and once he starts seeing 80-90%+ of snaps like a real staring LB, he’s going to get tackles galore.
image source: John Mersits/CSM/Alamy Live News