Following each video game in the 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers season, I will highlight the occasion, or string of occasions, in the video game that was the turning point. Not all turning points will be earth-shattering however are implied to offer a special take a look at how we came to the result of the video game, one that might be difficult to see throughout the live watch.
The Steelers’ 27-24 loss was chock-full of missed out on chances and single plays that eventually doomed the group to their very first loss of the season versus the Indianapolis Colts. You can indicate any variety of plays, and had any of them broken the other method, we are most likely speaking about the Steelers being 4-0 for simply the 2nd time because 1979.
There was the George Pickens fumble inside the red zone, Justin Fields’ fumble after Calvin Austin III’s huge punt return, the a number of 3rd and long chances that the defense permitted a conversion, and numerous others. I have 3 plays circled around that might have avoided the video game from getting out of hand in the very first location.
On each of the Colts’ very first 3 scoring drives, they almost turned the ball over. Joey Porter Jr. might have had 2 interceptions and Patrick Queen might have scooped a fumble right in front of him. Had the Steelers not been up to 17-0 early in the video game, the video game circulation would have been much various and far more workable. There would have been no return needed.
The very first offensive play of the video game, QB Anthony Richardson finished a deep pass to WR Michael Pittman Jr. for 32 backyards. Porter damaged the path and had a chance, however he can be found in with excessive speed and the ball lofted simply over him. He mistimed his dive. This one was the least frustrating of the 3, however at the minimum Porter might have knocked the ball to avoid a huge declaration play at the start of the video game.
This drive resulted in a goal to have the Colts up 7-0.
On the 2nd drive, DeShon Elliott made a stunning play to punch the ball out after a long scramble for Richardson. Patrick Queen didn’t acknowledge the ball was on the ground fast enough. By the time he dove for the fumble, it was a 50-50 tossup with Tanor Bortolini likewise in position to recuperate. Even still, he in some way got pressed out of the stack and didn’t even have an opportunity for the Steelers to recuperate. Queen had actually a missed out on interception chance recently, and now this huge missed out on fumble healing.
On the 3rd drive, where the Colts ended with a basket, Flacco offered a present to Porter with a lot easier interception chance in the end zone. It bounced straight off his hands. Thinking about the Steelers lost by 3, this was another substantial missed out on chance.
If any of these 3 plays ended in a different way,