Colts 34, Steelers 17

Two so far disappointing teams meet up in Indianapolis.  The Super Bowl champ 2008 Steelers come in with a 2-4 record and the nearly perfect 2009 Colts are 3-3.  Thus far in the season, Peyton Manning had thrown 15 interceptions in 6 games, just one less than he had in the entire 2009 campaign

Indianapolis was happy to get through the first quarter with Manning having only thrown one pick, to Troy Polamalu.  In fact Indy was outrageously happy to leave the first quarter with a 3-0 lead on a Matt Stover 23 yard field goal.  However, the second quarter was not the happy fest the first was.  Manning was picked twice, once by Ike Taylor and a second interception for Polamalu.  In between, the Steelers mounted a scoring drive of their own with Ben Roethislsberger hitting Willie Parker  on a one yard flare pass for a touchdown.  After the second Polamalu interception, the Steelers were unable to gain any headway and had to punt.  But Manning came back and threw his fourth interception of the game, this time to Lawrence Timmons.  Timmons nearly took it to the house, being pushed out on the 2 after a 43 yard return.  On the next play Parker (16-52, 1 td) carried the ball over and the Steelers had a 14-3 lead.  Manning got the ball back on his own 32 with 2:10 left in the half.  Perhaps having had a dad who was not unfamiliar with interceptions helped his psyche as Manning called nine straight pass plays, missing two times, being sacked once and hitting five, including the last one to Dallas Clark for a 27 yard touchdown.  The extra point made it 14-10 at halftime.

On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, the Steelers lost Michigan alum Lamar Woodley for the game.  This seemed to take a little steam out of the Steelers and gave the Colts added zest.  The two teams traded punts and then Manning went to work again.  A 68 yard drive consisting of 4 passes and a draw to Joseph Addai put the Colts on the Steelers 3.  With three wideouts in the game, the Steelers expected pass, but Addai took the ball instead, scooted around end and the Colts were back in font 17-14.  The teams traded punts the remainder of the third quarter and the fourth quarter opened with Jeff Reed hitting a 39 yard field goal to tie the game.

With the Steelers looking to defend the pass, Addai had one of his better series of the season, carrying the ball 3 times for 18 yards (this is the Colts, remember) and helping his team down to the Steeler 6.  There Manning found Dallas Clark for a touchdown and a 7 point lead. Now Roethisberger (14-31, 167 yds, 1 td, 1 int, 5 sacks)did a Manning impersonation, the bad Manning, not the good.  Antoine Bethea intercepted an errant throw and returned it to the Pittsburgh 29.  A pass to Austin Collie (3-22).  Another to Dallas Clark (11-169, 2 tds) and the Colts were on the one.  After Addai (18-61, 1 td) failed to punch the ball over, Manning went play action and flipped the ball to Addai (4-18, 1 yd) in the end zone and the Colts were up 14. The Steelers were unable to make a first down and punted.  With 7:06 remaining, Manning (28-41, 377 yards, 4 ints, 3 tds, 2 sacks) went to work on the clock.  A 7 play drive featured only two passes and the Stover added another field goal to make the final score 34-17.

--submitted by Tom “Crash” Davis--