PITTSBURGH, Penn. — The Indianapolis Colts (7-2) saved their ugliest performance of the season for the road on Sunday, getting clobbered by the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3) at Acrisure Stadium by a score of 27-20.

The Colts' offense had been on a historic pace coming into the game, but was completely overwhelmed and outmatched by the Steelers' defense, which ranked among the NFL's worst this season.

Pittsburgh's defensive front was relentless, consistently harassing Colts quarterback Daniel Jones, sacking him five times (six hits) and forcing a season-high six turnovers for Indy, including five from Jones (three interceptions, two fumbles).

FIRST QUARTER

The Colts' defense made quick work on the opening drive, forcing a Steelers three-and-out.

On the ensuing drive, Alec Pierce put a major footprint on the game, catching three balls for 64 yards (10 yards, 18, and 36). The Colts converted on 4th-and-1 twice en route to a short Jones plunge into the end zone from the goal line. Michael Badgley's extra point made it 7-0, Colts.

The Colts' defense technically forced a second consecutive three-and-out. However, on Pittsburgh's punt, the ball bounced and hit Colts returner Josh Downs, and it was recovered by the Steelers' Brandin Echols at the Indy 11-yard line. Four plays later, however, and the Colts forced a turnover on downs at their own 4-yard line.

SECOND QUARTER

On the following drive, the Colts got into Pittsburgh territory at the 38-yard line. Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt beat Colts right tackle Braden Smith off the edge and swatted the ball out of Jones' hand, recovering the ball right away. The Steelers took over at their 44-yard line with 11:@1 remaining in the second quarter.

After a 12-play, 56-yard drive, Steelers running back Jaylen Warren punched it into the end zone from a yard out to tie the game at 7 with 6:09 remaining.

Just two plays later, Jones gifted the Steelers an interception as he through it right to linebacker Payton Wilson, who returned the ball 17 yards to the Colts' 14-yard line. The Steelers scored two plays later as Aaron Rodgers found Pat Freiermuth from 12 yards out as Pittsburgh took the lead, 14-7, with 4:22 remaining in the first half.

The Colts' offense then had a three-and-out, allowing Pittsburgh to string together another 12-play drive for a 25-yard field goal, putting them up 17-7 going into the half.

THIRD QUARTER

The Colts and Steelers traded punts to begin the second half before the Colts got the ball back. The Colts were putting together a great drive, highlighted by a 16-yard completion from Jones to Michael Pittman Jr. on 4th-and-3 from their own 40-yard line. On 2nd-and-1 from the Pittsburgh 35-yard line, Jones' pass was batted by Wilson and was grabbed out of the air by Steelers defender Jack Saweyer for the interception.

FOURTH QUARTER

As the Steelers had been doing throughout the game, their offense drove down and scored a touchdown on each of Jones' three turnovers (two interceptions, one fumble). Warren got into the end zone again from a yard out to put the Steelers up 24-7 with 14:16 remaining in the game.

The Colts finally ended their scoring drought, going 42 yards in eight plays, cashing in on a 52-yard field goal from Badgley to cut the lead to 24-10 with 10:45 remaining.

After Jones' fourth turnover of the day (another sack-fumble), the Steelers added a field goal six plays later to extend the lead to 27-10.

The Colts were able to make something out of the next drive, whether you'd prefer to call it "garbage time" or not. They went 76 yards in nine plays as Jones found Downs in the front right corner of the end zone from four yards out to cut the Steelers' lead to 27-17 with 4:30 remaining in the game.

On the ensuing drive, the Colts forced a fumble as Steelers receiver Roman Wilson tried to leap ahead of a tackle attempt to gain extra yardage. Kenny Moore II poked the ball out, and it was recovered by safety Cam Bynum.

Three plays into the next drive, Jones threw his fourth interception of the day, this time to Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. 

The Colts would get one more score on the board, a 53-yard kick from Badgley.

Jake Arthur has been covering the Indianapolis Colts for over a dozen years and is a member of the PFWA. He's one half of the Locked On Colts podcast and has worked for the Colts' official website, On SI, and more. You can follow him on X @JakeArthurNFL. 

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