PITTSBURGH —
Game recap
The Pittsburgh Steelers are AFC North champions.
Ben Roethlisberger overcame a month-long malaise to throw for 342 yards and three second-half touchdowns as the Steelers locked up the division title with a stunningly improbable 28-24 victory.
Listless and lifeless for weeks thanks to a three-game losing streak that followed an 11-0 start, Pittsburgh (12-3) somehow got it together over the final 25 minutes against the Colts (10-5).
Indianapolis missed a chance to inch closer to a playoff berth when it let a 17-point third-quarter lead slip away.
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4:13 p.m. - Colts fall to the Steelers in a brutal second half. Final score: 28-24.
The Colts are now 10-5 and need to win next week to make it to the playoffs.
3:50 p.m. - Steelers score again, taking the lead over Colts 28-24 with 7 minutes left in the game.
3:30 p.m. - Eric Ebron scores a touchdown against his former team. It's now a 3-point game with Colts 24-21.
3:21 p.m. - Colts remain in the lead 24-14 at the end of the third quarter.
3:13 p.m. - Steelers come back to life as Diontae Johnson catches a 39-yard bomb right after the timeout making it a 10-point game. Colts still lead 24-14.
2:50 p.m. - Blankenship hits a 28-yard field goal bringing the Colts up 24-7.
FIRST HALF
2:25 p.m. - Colts lead the Steelers 21-7 at the end of the first half.
2:05 p.m. - Rivers to Pascal 42 yard pass is good for touchdown. Extra point is good, Colts extend the lead to 21-7.
2 p.m. - Colts hold on third and 9, Pittsburgh has to punt. After a penalty, the Colts take over at the IND 47.
1:54 p.m. - Taylor 2-yard run for touchdown. Extra point is good. Colts lead 14-7.
1:46 p.m. - Rivers to Hilton pass is good for 25 yards to the PIT 42. Hilton moves past Raymond Berry to third spot on the Colts all-time receiving list.
1:44 p.m. - Doyle 17-yard catch puts the ball at the IND 33.
1:41 p.m. - Conner 3 yard touchdown run. Extra point is good. We're tied at 7.
1:37 p.m. - Rivers is sacked, fumbles. PIT take it to the IND 3.
1:36 p.m. - Berry 49 yard punt is returned by Hines to the IND 32.
1:32 p.m. - End of first quarter. Colts maintain 7-0 lead.
1:28 p.m. - A third-and-3 pass to Hilton was just out of his reach. Colts punt, Steelers take over at the PIT 41.
1:26 p.m. - A Jacoby Brissett sighting: A 1-yard sneak for the first down.
1:20 p.m. - Steelers can't convert a third-and-3 around midfield. Berry punts to the IND 9. A penalty on IND moves it back an additional 4 yards.
1:11 p.m. - Taylor runs 6 yards for the first score of the game. Blankenship extra point is good, and the Colts lead, 7-0.
1:08 p.m. - Rivers to Pittman pass is good for 26 yards to the PIT 42.
1:05 p.m. - Three consecutive incomplete passes leads to a first series 3-and-out for Pittsburgh. 59 yard punt ensues and the Colts start at the IND 30.
1:02 p.m. - The Colts start the game on defense. The opening kickoff is returned to the 24 yard line.
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The Indianapolis Colts are surging. The Pittsburgh Steelers are reeling.
Still, both teams will have plenty at stake when they meet Sunday at Heinz Field.
The Colts have won five of six games.
The Steelers have lost three in a row since an 11-0 start. The Steelers are averaging just 16 points a game during their current skid.
Indianapolis can clinch a playoff berth with a win and losses by either Baltimore or Miami.
Pittsburgh can lock up the AFC North with a victory but will need its offense to get going.
About an hour before kickoff, the Colts announced the following inactives: Anthony Castonzo, Jacob Eason, Marcus Johnson, Dezmon Patmon and Isaiah Rodgers.
