Labriola on the loss to the Colts

Sometimes the numbers speak for themselves. No explanation needed.

The numbers painted an ugly picture for the Steelers on Saturday inside Lucas Oil Stadium, starting with a 30-13 lead, which happened to be the final score, their third straight loss, one that dropped their record to 7-7. In addition to 30-13, there were other numbers that told the story of that score — first downs (19-13), total yards (372-216), rushing yards (170-74), penalties (8-101; 2)-10. ), Turnover Percentage (minus-3), Time of Possession (33:20-26:40).

Week 15 of the 2023 NFL Regular Season began with 5 teams in the AFC having 7-6 records, and since none of those teams were at the top of their respective divisions, they were all eyeing the three available Wild Card berths as a way to qualify for the playoffs . But after watching the details of the Steelers’ defeat in Indianapolis — plus those back-to-back home losses to the 2-10 Cardinals and 2-10 Patriots — any suggestion of a playoff run for them right now seems illusory.

The details of 30-13 of these colts were final, because they could not be attributed to a slow start in a hostile environment, or any of the other common factors that have been found in the losses that led to this loss.

The Steelers built a 13-0 lead through the first 16 minutes of the game. Likely an attempt to show confidence in an offense that has struggled all season and will play with a backup quarterback on Saturday, coach Mike Tomlin opted to receive the opener rather than postpone. The offense repaid that confidence with a three-and-out, then a disappointing 31-yard field goal kick was the special teams contribution.

Indianapolis’ entry into the “battle of the backups” was Gardner Minshew, and he converted a couple of third downs to allow the Colts to move 32 yards to the Steelers 37-yard line. But then TJ Watt made a play, turning his first two sacks on second-and-7 into third-and-13, and Matt Gay missed a 56-yard field goal attempt.

The Steelers took advantage of field position, and then with backup Mitch Trubisky converting — it was a 5-yard hookup with Pat Freiermuth on third-and-3, a 15-yard strike to George Pickens on third-and-6, and then another 15-yarder to Pickens on second-and-9 — it became first-and-goal. In the 7th minute. Tomlin showed confidence in his offense for the second time in the game by scoring on fourth-and-goal from the 1, and Trubisky broke it down on an offside that became a touchdown after further review. But before the relief even had a chance to settle, Chris Boswell fumbled an extra-point attempt from the right post, and a score of 6-0 doesn’t inspire confidence like 7-0.

But hey, the Steelers responded with a flurry of complementary football. The defense scored three times, and a Larry Ogunjobi sack on third down had Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez standing inside the 15-yard line. Connor Heyward broke through and got a touchback, and replays eventually determined Nick Herbig was downed by contact inside the 1-yard line after recovering the block.

Before the ugliness of having Najee Harris stuffed for a 3-yard loss on a running back up the middle and what that portended in the second half could spoil the atmosphere, Trubisky threw a perfectly placed pass to Deontae Johnson, who was open on an Allen Robinson pass well, and this This time Boswell converted the PAT to make it 13-0 just 15 minutes into the game.

Then, the switch was flipped, and remained flipped until the NFL Network broadcast team signed off and sent viewers to the Lions vs. Lions game. Broncos that served as the finale of a three-game Saturday night of NFL Football.

Michael Pittman entered the game as the Colts’ No. 1 wide receiver, but he climbed that ladder on the strength of a voice rather than a splash. That has changed dramatically. A 21-yarder to Pittman on second-and-10 plus a 42-yarder on third-and-5 created a first-and-goal at the 7. Watt got his second sack of the game and forced a right on the rookie. Blake Freeland handled a false start on the next snap to set up second-and-goal from the 16, but then Zack Moss took advantage of running back Mychal Walker in coverage for a 16-yard catch and run for a touchdown.

In the back-and-forth clashes that occurred over the next few possessions, the middle of the Steelers’ defense was decimated over the course of consecutive plays when Damontae Kazee was ejected for a hit on Pittman and Minkah Fitzpatrick suffered a knee injury. Defending a deep pass to wide receiver Alec Pierce. Kazee isn’t the type of player who had malicious intent on the play that gave Pittman the concussion, but the NFL is determined to get these types of hits out of the game and isn’t afraid to make an example of someone in the process. Field officials are in immediate contact with the NFL’s law enforcement arm, which tracks every game from league headquarters. The reality is that players will have to adapt or risk a fortune of good money.

The immediate tactical effect of losing Kazee and Fitzpatrick was that the Steelers defense was suddenly looking at important snaps for Trent Thompson at safety to pair with Walker or Mark Robinson alongside Elandon Roberts at inside linebacker. By the end of the first half, Minshew had completed 67 percent for 185 yards, with 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, and a rating of 126.1 (158.3 perfect). A game that started with the Steelers leading 13-0 reached the halfway point with the Colts leading 14-13.

The Steelers’ play to open the second half showed they were not down. The defense forced a three-and-out after the restart, but a Najee Harris fumble on the first play after the punt put the Colts in prime position to extend their lead. And that’s exactly what happened when Mo Alie-Cox outpaced Robinson on the next play and caught an 18-yard pass for a touchdown that put the pin in the balloon. Pop, 21-13.

Penalties then became an issue: Three of the Steelers’ starting offensive linemen were flagged for carries in addition to four sacks, highlighting the way Indianapolis’ defensive front had success in those games. But that turned out to be minor compared to what the Colts offensive line did during an 8-minute, 57-second possession that ended with a field goal and an Indianapolis lead 27-13.

That drive covered 70 yards in 15 plays, the first 13 of which were drives. Twelve had positive yardage. The other attempt was lost by 1 yard. By this time, Moss, the starter, was injured and out of the game, but Trey Sermon (No. 3 on the depth chart Saturday) and practice squad call-up Tyler Goodson combined for 28 carries for 157 yards behind the Colts’ offensive line. That was winning battles all over the front.

“Well, let’s be honest,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “We’re a fundamentally poor football group at the moment. We’re playing losing football. And I take responsibility for that. By losing football, I mean we’re not doing the basic things well enough. We’re not. We’re turning the ball over. We’re getting penalties.” “Extreme. We don’t play well in situations. And so, I’m just admitting it. I don’t necessarily have the answers as we sit here. If I had the answers, we would have played differently today.”

“But I will admit that it’s not going to continue like this. We’re not going to keep doing the same things we’re doing and expect or hope for a different outcome. And so we got seven—one day, and we’ll see what those seven days have in store for us.” But I admit now that we are playing losing football, and I own that. Not a good day.”