Colts vs. Steelers score, takeaways: Gardner Minshew, defense lead Indianapolis over Pittsburgh

Indy now has a leg up in the AFC wild card race after Saturday's win

The Indianapolis Colts captured one of their best wins of the season on Saturday night, coming back from a 13-point deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers by a score of 30-13. The win gives Indy at least temporary playoff position heading into the stretch run of the season -- something that would have been nearly unthinkable when the Colts lost starting quarterback Anthony Richardson two months ago, let alone when Jonathan Taylor went down again a few weeks ago. 

The Colts fought back from a dreadful start and scored 30 consecutive points, holding the Steelers scoreless over the final 44 minutes and 4 seconds of the game. Gardner Minshew was fantastic throughout the evening, completing 18 of 28 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns -- each to a different pass-catcher, with Zack Moss, D.J. Montgomery, and Mo Alie-Cox finding the end zone. And Minshew did it despite losing both Moss and star wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to injuries in the second quarter. (Pittman was concussed on a dirty hit by Steelers safety Damontae Kazee, who was ejected from the contest.)

Journeyman Trey Sermon and practice-squad call-up Tyler Goodson combined to rush for 157 yards on 28 carries in relief of Moss, with 70 of them coming on a 15-play, 70-yard drive that took 8 minutes and 57 seconds off the clock spanning the third and fourth quarters and essentially put the game away. Indy's defense was both stout and opportunistic, holding Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren to just 3.3 yards per carry, forcing Harris to cough up a fumble, and intercepting Mitchell Trubisky twice. (The Steelers eventually benched him in favor of Mason Rudolph for their final drive.) 

Indianapolis showed incredibly resilience in overcoming both a sizable deficit and meaningful injuries, while Pittsburgh crumbled when presented with an opportunity to put its foot down when an opponent was wobbling on the brink of a disastrous defeat. In the end, that's why the Colts were able to come back and score themselves a massive win. 

Here are a few more things to know about this game. 

Why the Colts won

They overcame a ton of adversity and put together a quality performance against a good defense while working seriously short-handed. The Colts came into this game without both running back Jonathan Taylor and right tackle Braden Smith. They lost Zack Moss early in the second quarter and Michael Pittman minutes later. 

But Gardner Minshew, running backs Tyler Goodson and Trey Sermon, and pass-catchers like Mo Alie-Cox, D.J. Montgomery, Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce stepped up. Indy averaged 6.0 yards per play against Pittsburgh, and scored on six of its final nine drives after starting the game with a missed field goal and a blocked punt. Meanwhile, the defense totally shut down Pittsburgh's attempts to do anything offensively, strangling the run game, pressuring Mitchell Trubisky, and forcing three turnovers.

Why the Steelers lost

With the exception of one drive, they got absolutely nothing going offensively, and even when they got near or over midfield, they undermined themselves with mistakes. Pittsburgh's first touchdown drive went 54 yards on 12 plays. Its second touchdown drive was 1 yard long. On their nine other possessions, the Steelers ran 37 plays, gained 148 yards, did not score, turned it over three times, and curiously declined an opportunity for a field goal that would have cut Indianapolis' lead to one possession and which led to the Colts taking more than 8 minutes off the clock on their next drive. 

Turning point

With their backs against the wall, down 13-0 and having just given up two touchdowns in 2 minutes and 2 seconds sandwiched around a blocked punt, the Colts marched 75 yards on 7 plays and found the end zone from 16 yards out, with Gardner Minshew swinging a pass into the flat for Zack Moss, who dragged a defender across the goal line despite being horse-collar tackled at the end of the play.

That score cut into Pittsburgh's lead and kept the Colts in the game, which seemed like it was in danger of spiraling out of control. That possession also appeared to get Minshew into a rhythm, which he maintained throughout most of the rest of the evening as he led the Colts to their comeback victory. 

Highlight play

If that possession was the turning point, this was the biggest play of the night. Facing third-and-5 from just across the 50-yard line, the Colts desperately needed to keep their drive alive. Minshew scrambled away from pressure and rolled out to his right, buying as much time as possible before spotting Michael Pittman in open space, directing him down the field, and lofting a pass over the top of the defense.

Two plays later, Moss found the end zone, and the Colts were off to the races on their comeback attempt. 

What's next

The Colts are now 8-6 and at least temporarily hold one of the AFC wild card spots. They travel to Atlanta (6-7) next week, then play home games against the Raiders (6-8) and Texans (7-6) in the final two weeks of the season.

The Steelers are 7-7 and at least temporarily on the outside of the AFC playoff picture, looking in. They host the Bengals (8-6) in a monumental game next week, then travel to Seattle (6-7) and Baltimore (10-3) for their final two games of the year.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 7:33 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

The Steelers have lost three in a row and drop to 7-7. The Colts are 8-6.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 7:27 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Last gasp for the Steelers falls embarrassingly short as Rudolph gets dropped for a sack deep in the backfield. That'll do it. 

[Dec 16, 2023 at 7:22 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

The Steelers are so confident in their decision to turn to Rudolph that they went right back to the same screen pass they've thrown 10 times already tonight.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 7:19 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Doink! The Steelers technically have life, but they have not been able to move the ball at all tonight. Rudolph coming in for Trubisky.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 7:14 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Mason Rudolph is warming up. Seems like he will come in for Trubisky if the Steelers get the ball back.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 7:13 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Goodnight, Pittsburgh. 

[Dec 16, 2023 at 7:12 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Why on earth the Steelers ran the ball on the first play of that drive, I have no idea. They are not operating with nearly enough urgency.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 7:06 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

It only ended in three points, but that was a massive drive for the Colts. They took 8:57 off the clock and now lead by two touchdowns on a night where the Steelers have put together exactly one meaningful drive.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 7:02 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

11 consecutive runs. 66 yards. 7 minutes and counting off the clock. 

[Dec 16, 2023 at 6:59 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

The Colts are just running the ball right down the Steelers' throats. Bullying them.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 6:54 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

It took the Colts all of three plays to gain the punt yardage (and more) back.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 6:51 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Not even close from Trubisky on that "fade" ball to Pickens. Steelers were initially gonna send Boswell out for a long field goal, but instead are punting. Curious decision.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 6:47 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Zack Moss has officially been ruled OUT for the game.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 6:45 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Best throw of the night for Mitch. On the move in the pocket and hit his man in between the corner and safety. Huge conversion for Pittsburgh.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 6:37 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

This is a pretty surprising field-goal call from the Colts here. It gives them a two-score lead but they only needed about a half-yard for a first down.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 6:35 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Trenton Thompson, filling in for the injured Minkah Fitzpatrick, just banged his head against the turf and is now hurt as well. Pittsburgh is hemorrhaging defensive backs.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 6:32 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Yikes. Steelers are in trouble here. Colts have been driving right down the field. By the time Pittsburgh gets the ball back, it could be down by two scores.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 6:28 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Clear fumble, clear recovery by Julian Blackmon, Colts in business and score on the first play. Mo Alie-Cox into the end zone. Wow.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 6:25 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Sure looks like Najee Harris fumbled on that play. This game has taken an absolutely crazy turn.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 6:19 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Zack Moss is still in the locker room but officially QUESTIONABLE to return. Minkah Fitzpatrick is OUT.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 6:05 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Wild action, and we head into the half with a very normal 14-13 lead for the home team. Colts get the ball to begin the third quarter.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 6:00 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

And Montgomery...  TOTALLY REDEEMS HIMSELF!

[Dec 16, 2023 at 5:59 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Joey Porter Jr. gets a little handsy with Alec Pierce and the Colts are right back in the red zone. The end of this half has been WILD.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 5:56 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Michael Pittman has been ruled OUT with a concussion.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 5:56 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Trubisky had two different open receivers, chose the more difficult throw, and faded away as he let go of the ball to result in an incomplete pass.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 5:54 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Big conversion for Pittsburgh. If the Steelers had to punt it back to the Colts from their own end zone, with Indy having all three timeouts left, that would have been less than ideal.

[Dec 16, 2023 at 5:47 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Oh wow. Minshew stepped through pressure and found D.J. Montgomery in the back of the end zone, but Montgomery just dropped the ball. Brutal sequence for Indy.