The idiom “a knee jerk reaction” means that you respond to something in an equally unthinking way. That’s something as sports fans that we typically do, and if it’s in an unthinking way then I definitely qualify. Knee jerks apply especially if you are a full blood Yinzer, or even just a part Yinzer, who am I fooling it’s more like if you are a Steeler fan in general. As is the custom, I compile my knee-jerk thoughts and publish them immediately after each Steelers game (my son Kyle might have a few things to say as well). It’s my version of running my mouth first and apologizing later (if at all). So with that being said, it’s time to react to the Steelers Week 4 against the Colts. Let’s get this going, HERE……WE……GO!!!

1st Quarter

• Here we go! Steelers will start on defense.
• That was a really nice catch by the Colts. Not sure who that was for the Steelers but they almost got to that ball.
• And now a run for a first down. Not the start you’d want to see from the defense.
• Third down and six and the Steelers give up a quarterback draw for a first down. That kind of thing can’t happen.
• Colts are now inside the 10.
• Jonathan Taylor runs it in for the touchdown. The Steelers start the way we’d like to with the defense on the field, but if they’re going to be that porous this is going to be a long day. Colts 7, Steelers 0.
• Beautiful first play for the Steelers as Fields gets stepped on, falls, fumbles the ball, picks it up hands it to Najee who bobbles it, and loses two yards.
• On third down and nine Fields get sacked. But the Steelers get lucky as Fields was lifted and driven to the ground and that drew a flag.
• This Colts team is playing energized football, and the Steelers are looking like they just expected to roll into Indianapolis and the Colts would roll over for them.
• Third down at nine again for the Steelers. Calvin Austin III picks up the first down.
• And on first down the Steelers run right into the blitz for a loss of 3 yards.
• Spencer Anderson and Broderick Jones with a late hit will cost the Steelers 15. Can’t implode like this.
• The Steelers pin the Colts around the 10, but one play and they are right back to where their Steelers would have been had they tried and missed the field goal.
• The Steelers had five guys around the fumble and somehow the Colts come up with it.
• This Steelers defense right now look more like they’re a wet paper bag. They can’t stop anything.
• And the defense continues to have more holes in it than Swiss cheese. The Colts score touchdown, a throw from Joe Flacco of all people. Colts 14, Steelers 0.
• This is looking like the Mike Tomlin Week 3-4 curse is striking again.
• Right now the Steelers running game is looking like the running game last year. It’s like the Colts know exactly what the play is that’s coming.
• The Steelers run it on both second and third down, and together can’t gain three yards.
• Fields is in the shotgun on 4th down where they run the quarterback and he doesn’t pick it up. Terrible play call. Why would you give the ball to the guy so far away from the line when you only need a half a yard?
• This game is about to get way out of hand and it is only in the first quarter. This looks like a Steelers playoff game.
• Thank God this nightmare of a first quarter is finally over. Colts 14, Steelers 0.

2nd Quarter

• Steelers are throwing a challenge flag on the third down play. Initial look appears like this will be a lost challenge.
• And it is a lost challenge for the Steelers.
• The Steelers are just being manhandled on defense.
• Joey Porter Jr. had an interception that he dropped.
• The Steelers don’t get the interception, but they do hold the Colts to a field goal try. Colts 17, Steelers 0.
• The Steelers quickly get to third down, and the pass was batted down. Steelers will punt. The offense can’t start anything and the defense can’t stop anything.
• To quote Dave who is here watching the game with me, ” The defense just looks uninspired”.
• The secondary cannot stop anything.
• Finally Larry Ogunjobi bust through and the Steelers hold on a third down play.
• Steelers get nailed for a hold on the fair catch. Let’s go half the distance to the goal.
• A couple of Cordarrelle Patterson runs, followed by a shovel pass on a busted play to Patterson, and the Steelers are well out of the shadow of their own goal line.
• Love to see the toss to Najee that gets nothing. Nice to see we still dial up that play even though it’s not worked all season.
• Mt. Warshington!!!
• George Pickens, trying to get extra yards, fumbles inside the 10-yard line and it’s recovered by the Colts. That’s just carelessly holding the football by Pickens.
• Not only did the Colts complete that second down play, but I think they got a flag on Joey Porter as well.
• Jerry Porter Jr. has not played very well this game.
• The holes in the secondary are huge.
• How in the world did they not call interference on the wide receiver for the Colts. He tackles Donte Jackson to keep the interception from happening.
• Fields had absolutely no time when dropping back on first down in a sacked. The offensive line is not doing a great job today.
• Muuuth!!
• Fields holds the ball too long and is sacked.
• Boswell comes out to attempt the field goal on The last play of the half. It’s good. Colts 17, Steelers 3.
• I’m not talking that the Steelers need halftime adjustments here. They need to throw everything out on both sides of the ball and start over.

3rd Quarter

• Fields is holding the ball far too long. And takes another sack.
• The Steelers pick up the first down, but then can’t get the next snap off and take a delay of game penalty.
• And the Steelers then gain a half a yard on first and 15. This is just no way to be running an offense.
• Darnell Washington with his second catch of the game. This might be the first time he’s caught more than one pass in a game.
• The Steelers don’t come close to completing the pass on 3rd down. The Steelers will punt. The offense needed to come away with points, but the way this game is going I shouldn’t be surprised there were no points to be had.
• So really there was no adjustment to the offense at halftime.
• The defense does its job and holds to a three and out.
• Calvin Austin III with a big punt return. The Steelers start already in field goal range. How he kept his behind off the turf when he caught that ball I don’t know.
• Thank you Najee for dropping that ball. It would have been a huge loss.
• So on second down and 10 the Steelers go with a predictable running play and lose yardage.
• Justin Fields may have just handed his job back over to Russell Wilson on one play.
• The Steelers started with the ball already in field goal range and the offense goes the wrong direction and Fields eventually fumbles. That’s how the day has gone.
• The Colts weren’t even trying to get a first down there. With a 14-point lead they were just trying to hold on to field goal range to try to increase their lead.
• The Colts missed the field goal. Let’s see if the Steelers can take advantage.
• The Steelers handed off on first down for no yards. There’s a surprise. That’s been so predictable that the cut and paste component could become the cut and paste component.
• A long play to Pickens and a swing pass to Najee has the Steeler set up with first and goal.
• Funny the Steelers get flagged for a false start where the defensive player did the same thing Benton did last week and got flagged for defensive delay of game.
• Fields runs it in for the touchdown. Finally the offense does something. Colts 17, Steelers 10.
• A completion on 3rd and 10 and a bad call and a penalty on Minkah and the Colts are in business.
• When will the Steelers learn that when you have Joe Flacco at quarterback the last thing you should be doing is playing zone. If there’s one thing Flacco can do it is pick apart zones.
• Third down and seven the Steelers should have been bringing the house and playing man, but there is the Mike Tomlin Tampa two for the completion.
• End of 3. Colts 17, Steelers 10.

4th Quarter

• Hey look, more Mike Tomlin zone leads to a touchdown for the Colts on 3rd and 10 that was absolutely wide open and easy. Colts 24, Steelers 10.
• Big play for the Steelers on a screen play, and tack on a roughing the passer penalty. The offense finally coming to life.
• Fields runs it in again. Colts 24, Steelers 17.
• “Oh mama I’m in fear for my life from the long arm of the law”
• Needed a play from the defense and so far they have given up big plays instead of making them.
• The defense can’t come up with a play again. It’s pathetic.
• Colts to attempt a field goal to go up to scores. It’s good. Colts 27, Steelers 17.
• Did anyone think the Steelers would give up 27 points today on defense? And this was not the offense setting up Indy’s offense. This was the Steelers defense not stopping anything.
• The Steelers offense is taking way too long in between plays when they are down two scores.
• There’s George Pickens doing George Pickens things.
• Muuuth for the TD!!!!!! Colts 27, Steelers 24.
• Herbig and Heyward get to Flacco. Forces a third and long.
• The Colts try to throw it on 3rd and long. It’s not close to anybody and it saves the time out for the Steelers.
• That was a huge punt from the Colts. Steelers get it back but they are inside the 20.
• Two minute warning. Steelers out near the 40-yard line. They need to hurry and get into field goal range so they could have a couple of shots at winning the game.
• The ball was snapped and Fields was not ready for it. Big mistake from the offense probably just lost this game.
• Najee made a stupid mistake there by instead of going out of bounds easily he waited for the contact to hit him and they ruled it in bounds.
• Here’s a great idea Steelers… let’s hold on to that last time out and run a discombobulated play on 4th down. That is terrible clock management.
• The Steelers lose the game 27-24 that they had every chance to win but found every way to lose.

Once again, I just fired off what was going through my head at the time. All reactions were in real time. Basically, it is the equivalent of watching the game with a me and Kyle, you just don’t have to go to another room because of my screaming at the television (sometimes Kyle leaves the room). Now time to process it, some quick analyzing for the Scho Bro Show, and then put it behind me so I can ready myself for the Week 5 matchup at home against the Cowboys. Make sure you get your voice heard in the comments below.