5 Steelers surprises in Sunday’s loss against the Colts
Our SCU staff and contributors pick the “surprises” from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ latest matchup each week. Check out more below to see which plays and situations surprised us the most!
The Pittsburgh Steelers picked up their first loss of the 2024 season falling 27-24 to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Here are some surprises from that game.
Justin Fields
Fields struggled throughout the first half of the game but turned in a historic performance for Steelers quarterbacks before it was all said and done.
By completing 22 of his 34 passes for 312 yards, and rushing for a team-high 55 yards, Fields became the first Steelers quarterback to have over 300 yards passing, 50 yards rushing, and both a passing and rushing touchdown in the same game.
Fields took the team on his back, accomplishing something that neither Ben Roethlisberger or Kordell Stewart could do.
27 Points
Unfortunately, Fields’ second-most passing yards in his career were not enough to lift the Steelers past the Colts. If you had asked most casual observers is 24 points would’ve been enough for Pittsburgh to defeat Indy, the safe answer would be yes.
Heading into Sunday’s game, the Steelers defense allowed a combined 26 points total in their first three games. However, the Colts jumped out to an early 17-0 lead and never looked back as Pittsburgh’s defense looked helpless at times to stop backup QB Joe Flacco.
Steelers Run Game
Another surprise from Sunday, and not in the best of ways, was RB Najee Harris. Harris would rush for 19 yards on 13 carries, a paltry 1.5 yards-per-carry.
Cordarrelle Patterson would spell Harris, and carry the ball six times for 43 yards before leaving the game with an injury.
In total, Fields would be the team’s leading rusher. However, Harris would add three catches for 54 yards, a season-high in the passing game for fourth year back and his second-most in his career, dating back to his third game as a rookie in 2021 where he topped 100 yards receiving. (102 yards, September 2021 against the Bengals.)
Freiermuth TD
Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth scored on an eight-yard touchdown against the Colts, his first of the season.
The touchdown reception would be Freiermuth’s first since September 24, 2023 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Joe Flacco
Typically when a starting quarterback goes down early in a game, it doesn’t bode well for the team turning to their backup.
This wasn’t the case for the Colts, who sent former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco in for an injured Anthony Richardson into the game with about five minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Flacco would carve up the Steelers from the jump, extending the ongoing drive and finishing with a touchdown pass to WR Josh Downs that put the Colts up 14-0.
Indianapolis would never fall behind in the game as Flacco finished 16-of-26 for 168 yards and two touchdowns to cap off the Colts victory.
