Steelers hold off Colts: How Pittsburgh’s offense responded after Najee Harris’ exit

The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Indianapolis Colts 24-17 on Monday night. Here’s what you need to know:

After the Colts scored 14 unanswered points in the third quarter to take the lead, the Steelers responded in the fourth quarter, scoring the eventual game-winning touchdown courtesy of Benny Snell.
Down 24-17 with a chance to tie the game, Matt Ryan scrambled with 59 seconds remaining to set up a 3rd-and-3 situation. The Colts chose not to call a timeout after the play, losing about 25 seconds of game time, and hurried a run to Jonathan Taylor that resulted in a fourth down. The Colts then turned the ball over on downs, sealing the Steelers victory.
Steelers running back Najee Harris was declared out with an abdominal injury. He went to the locker room just prior to halftime and was later ruled out for the game.
Harris had 10 rushes for 35 yards and a score before exiting. He entered Monday with 550 rushing yards and five total touchdowns on the season.

Pickett, Steelers offense continue to take strides

The Steelers’ offense has a habit of creating momentum in the first half only to see any good feeling dissipate in the final 30 minutes. On Monday night, it appeared that script was about to repeat itself yet again. After building a 16-3 halftime lead, the Steelers went three-and-out on their first two series of the second half. This came just one week after the Steelers went three-and-out on their first four possessions of the second half last week.

But this time? Trailing 17-16, the offense responded. Kenny Pickett choreographed an 11-play, 75-yard drive to help the Steelers reclaim the lead. That moment represented another step in Pickett’s development and one of his first signature drives as a Steeler. He capped it with a two-point conversion throw to George Pickens. As the first-year signal caller continues to take strides, snapshots like this are worth remembering. — DeFabo

Evaluating the Steelers’ running backs

The Steelers were already hurting at running back coming into Monday night, as backup Jaylen Warren was ruled out with a hamstring injury. They took another blow late in the first half when Harris left with an abdominal injury. Somewhat unexpectedly, Snell picked up the baton and ran 12 times for 62 yards. He capped his day with the decisive go-ahead touchdown. Snell has been humbled by the league and relegated to a special teams role. But when opportunity presented itself, he scored his first touchdown since the 2020 season. — DeFabo

What losing Harris means for Pittsburgh

The injury comes at a tough moment for the Steelers, just as they had begun to build momentum on the ground. After enduring early-season inconsistencies, Harris had produced his two best rushing outputs of the season in his previous two games. Injuries were a factor in that slow start as well, as Harris didn’t appear 100 percent following a training camp foot injury. Time will tell how much this injury impacts the traction he had been gaining. — DeFabo

Give Flowers his flowers

Dallis Flowers deserves his flowers after jumpstarting the Colts on Monday night against the Steelers. The undrafted rookie caught the opening second-half kickoff deep in the end zone and returned it 89 yards to Pittsburgh’s 19-yard line. A few plays later, Jonathan Taylor scored the Colts’ first TD of the game on a 2-yard run as Indianapolis mounted a comeback after an abysmal first half. But it wasn’t enough to end a now eight-game losing streak against the Steelers, who came away with a 24-17 victory.

Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. scored his first touchdown since Week 1 on a 6-yard grab late in the third quarter to give Indianapolis a 17-16 lead. However, Pittsburgh immediately responded with an 11-play, 75-yard TD drive and 2-point conversion to retake the lead and hand Indianapolis its third straight home loss. — Boyd

Too little too late for the Colts

Indianapolis had five drives in the first half and managed just 22 plays for 71 yards. Matt Ryan started the game 0 of 5 passing, including his 10th interception of the season, and totaled 29 yards at the break before turning it in on the second half. The former league MVP finished 22-of-34 for 199 yards, but was unable to connect with Parris Campbell on a 4th-and-3 from Pittsburgh’s 26-yard line with 30 seconds left in the game.

Indianapolis’ playoff hopes are all but officially over with the Cowboys on tap for Week 13. — Boyd

Highlight of the Game

Kenny Pickett with the pinpoint accuracy 🎯

🎥 @NFL | @steelers pic.twitter.com/Hqg3fP1YYz

— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) November 29, 2022

Key stat

With the win, the Steelers are now 19-3 on Monday Night Football under coach Mike Tomlin (since 2007), according to ESPN Stats and Info. The Steelers have won eight straight games against the Colts.

What they’re saying

Colts coach Jeff Saturday addressed why he chose not to use his timeouts at the end of the game: “I didn’t feel like time was of the essence. I liked the play we had and we were within striking distance. We just didn’t execute it.”

Required reading

(Photo: Trevor Ruszkowski/USA Today)