INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts raced out to an early lead, then held on for a 27-24 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday after veteran back-up quarterback Joe Flacco replaced an injured Anthony Richardson.
Richardson was hit by Pittsburgh safeties Deshon Elliott and Minkah Fitzpatrick on a 14-yard run midway through the first quarter. The second-year quarterback immediately grabbed his hip.
He sat out two plays before returning and pulling up on another run. He left the field to be evaluated in the locker room and was later ruled out for the rest of the game with a hip injury.
Flacco, the 2023 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, finished 16-for-26 for 168 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Colts got off to a terrific start, putting together one of their best drives of the season on their first possession. Richardson found wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. for a 32-yard gain on their first play from scrimmage.
Running back Jonathan Taylor capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run behind a key block from rookie offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini, who started at center. Veteran Ryan Kelly missed the game with a neck injury.
Two plays after Flacco replaced Richardson for good, he threw a 4-yard touchdown to wide receiver Josh Downs to put the Colts ahead, 14-0.
The Colts’ defense continued to show improvement from a slow start to the season, stopping Steelers’ quarterback Justin Fields on a fourth-and-1 from their own 39-yard line. The offense turned the short field into a 33-yard Matt Gay field goal for a 17-0 lead.
The teams exchanged punts before Pittsburgh appeared poised to score, but wide receiver George Pickens fumbled at the Indianapolis 5-yard line. Defensive back Julian Blackmon recovered the ball to end the Steelers’ scoring threat.
Pittsburgh finally scored right before the break as kicker Chris Boswell booted a 50-yard field goal as time expired to make the game 17-3 at halftime.
The teams swapped punts to start the second half, then the Colts’ defense recovered another fumble. They failed to take advantage of the takeaway as Gay missed a 54-yard field goal.
The Steelers cut into the Colts’ lead with a 5-yard Fields touchdown run.
The Colts answered right back as Flacco converted three third downs with the last being a 15-yard touchdown to tight end Drew Ogletree to put the Colts ahead, 24-10.
Pittsburgh cut the deficit back to seven as Fields hit Najee Harris for 32 yards, then scored his second touchdown of the game on a 2-yard run.
Gay added a 35-yard field goal to make it 27-17, but the Steelers had yet another response as Fields found tight end Pat Freiermuth for an 8-yard score to make it a three-point game.
Taylor left the game with ankle injury in the fourth quarter. Cornerback Kenny Moore II (hip) and defensive end Kwity Paye (quadricep) did not play.
The Colts even their record at 2-2 before heading to Jacksonville next week, a place they have not won since the 2014 season. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. next Sunday on CBS4.
