Overall, the Pittsburgh Steelers are 28-8 versus the Indianapolis Colts. In Pittsburgh they are 18-2 and have won the last four contests played there against the Colts.
In 2014, the Steelers were coming off another disappointing 8-8 season. They drafted well taking Ryan Shazier with their first pick. They followed with Stephon Tuitt in the second and Martavis Bryant as their fourth-round choice.
In the week before the new season began, James Harrison announced his retirement. The 2008 Defensive Player of the Year signed with Pittsburgh for a day so he could retire as a Steeler.
For Ben Roethlisberger, it would be his eleventh season in the NFL. He ensured the season started well with a 30-27 win over the Browns.
After that success, the Steelers would lose their next and continue to alternate between wins and losses building a 4-3 record before their Colts game.
Two-year veteran Andrew Luck was the Colts quarterback and had led Indianapolis to back-to-back 11-5 seasons. After losing their first two games of the new season, Luck led his team on a winning a streak of five.
The (4-3) Steelers vs the (5-2) Colts; October 26, 2014
The game’s first series ended when Colts Adam Vinatieri kicked a 31-yard field goal.
Steelers fans watched Ben Roehtlisberger warm up with a 9-play drive of 80 yards, finishing with his 18-yard touchdown pass to Markus Wheaton. Shaun Suisham kicked the extra point.
On the Steelers’ next possession, Roethlisberger took a little longer before taking the game into an explosive second quarter. Pittsburgh went 76 yards on 12 plays, finishing with Roethlisberger’s 5-yard touchdown pass to Martavis Bryant.
William Gay extended the Steelers lead with a 33-yard interception he returned for a touchdown. The Colts replied with a 52-yard touchdown pass to Dwayne Allen from Andrew Luck.
The Steelers next drive stalled on the Colts 13-yard line. Suisham kicked a successful field goal, but an offside penalty extended the Steelers possession. Roethlisberger took full advantage and threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Brown extending the team’s lead to 28-10.
After the Colts went three and out, the Steelers began a drive on their own 23. Four plays later, Roethlisberger found Brown again with a touchdown pass of 47 yards.
The Colts replied with a scoring drive of their own that finished with Luck’s 28-yard touchdown pass to T.Y. Hilton.
As the Steelers next drive fizzled out, Roethlisberger’s punt was blocked. The Colts took over with 35 seconds in the half remaining. They were content to see Vinatieri kick a field goal from 23 yards which saw the Steelers lead 35-20 at the half.
Roethlisberger continued his fiery form in the third quarter. He completed five passes, combined with short runs from Le’Veon Bell, before throwing a 2-yard touchdown pass to Bryant.
Facing a points deficit of 22, the Colts fought back. Ahmad Bradshaw’s 12-yard touchdown run was followed by a 31-yard touchdown pass from Luck to Donte Moncrief.
When the game entered the final period, the Steelers held an eight-point lead. After Luck tripped over his center on the goal line as he attempted a pass, the officials awarded Pittsburgh a safety for intentional grounding.
Roethlisberger hadn’t left the office just yet and led his team on a drive of 56 yards. Facing a fourth-and-1 at the 11, Roethlisberger faked a handoff, moved to his right and found Heath Miller in the back of the end zone with a touchdown pass of 11 yards.
On the Colts’ ensuing drive, Anton Blake’s interception ended any thoughts Indianapolis furnished of a fightback.
The Pittsburgh Steelers 51 vs the Indianapolis Colts 34
Ben Roethlisberger set these new team records:
Six touchdown passes
40 completions in 49 attempts; Roethlisberger broke the record three years later against Baltimore with 44 completed passes.
522 yards passing that still stands.
Roethlisberger’s message to his team after the game was very apt, “Why does it have to stop here? Why can’t we keep doing this?” One week later, against the Ravens, he threw another 6 touchdown passes to set another NFL record.
The Steelers finished the season 11-5. They hosted the wildcard game against Baltimore. This time, without an injured Le’Veon Bell, the Steelers lost 17-30.
The Ravens would lose to New England in the divisional game. The Patriots would beat the Colts in the AFC Conference game and the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX.
