It looks like Ben Roethlisberger is going to start for the Steelers in this game having passed concussion protocol and that’s good news for Pittsburgh because Roethlisberger has a career record of 109-55 as a starting NFL QB.
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After a crushing loss in Week 12, the Pittsburgh Steelers are faced with a near must-win situation on Sunday night as they welcome the Indianapolis Colts to Heinz Field.
Indianapolis Colts running back Frank Gore (23) celebrates his touchdown with teammates during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015, in Pittsburgh.
TOUGH MATCHUP: Pagano tried a little bit of everything to slow down Pittsburgh’s wide receivers or confuse Roethlisberger. Instead, he slipped down and landed on his rear with a harmless thud.
Yes, the Steelers could do no wrong on this night. The Steelers got a scare of their own at quarterback when Ben Roethlisberger was knocked out of last weekend’s loss at Seattle with a concussion, but he received medical clearance this week. Hasselbeck completed 16 of 26 passes for 169 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions while also losing a fumble. We’ll do things, just like we do with everybody, to try to feature their strengths and try to highlight their strengths.
Imagine how the Colts felt after letting Roethlisberger expertly pick them apart once again. And while Hasselbeck’s dealt with the same patchwork fronline as Luck, taking 8.0 sacks and 30 additional hits over his four previous starts, the Colts can ill afford another injured quarterback as they cling to first in the AFC South. So, the Steelers defense should be expected to bring the pressure and challenge Hasselbeck to beat them with his arm as they will continually hassle him.
Guard Hugh Thornton (elbow) joined tackle Anthony Castonzo (knee) on the inactive list, forcing another change in the offensive line.
“Each and every one of us takes pride in the game”, Brown said, “and we’re doing a great job of getting better each and every week as a team”. So just maybe we’ll see the Cowboys most talented player start to show his true colours. Martavis Bryant caught four passes for 114 yards and a touchdown. Although the Colts fell to 6-6, they remain tied with Houston atop the AFC South Division. The Steelers are also diverse in the passing phase, where No. 2 WR Markus Wheaton can scorch secondaries that are overly concerned with shutting down superstar Antonio Brown. Beating the Colts is huge because the Colts have the advantage over the Steelers for an AFC wild-card spot.
Meanwhile, the Colts continue to wait for the return of starter Andrew Luck, who’s missed five games this season, including the past three with a lacerated kidney and partially-torn abdomen.
Whatever magic Hasselbeck possessed disappeared quickly in a stadium where he has never won.
Matt Ryan set a season high with three touchdown passes, but he also threw three interceptions. The Colts squandered several early opportunities to do damage as Pittsburgh’s Jacoby Jones fumbled away the opening kickoff (rookie D’Joun Smith recovered) and DeAngelo Williams lost a fumble (end Kendall Langford recovered) on the Steelers’ first possession.
Steelers fans got exactly what they wanted when Mike Tomlin put Brandon Boykin in for struggling cornerback Antwon Blake in the first quarter.
“We knew it was coming and we didn’t handle it well”, Hasselbeck said. “There’s really no excuse”. At this point, there’s not a ton of information but we assume Hasselbeck will be able to go, but it’s a situation worth watching. The Steelers allow 283.6 passing yards per game, 30th in the NFL. Three plays later, again on third down, Roethlisberger rifled a pass to Brown for the quarterback’s fourth touchdown pass of the game and a 35-10 lead. Roethlisberger found Will Johnson for the team’s NFL-leading seventh 2-point conversion to make it 14-10.
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“I tried to stick it at the end with the goal post and it wasn’t something that went very well”, he said with a laugh.
