The Pittsburgh Steelers suffered their first defeat in a 27-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, and it was a largely ugly game that featured few bright spots, and several disappointing performances.

Varsity

QB Justin Fields

This was the ultimate Justin Fields game. There were a lot of highs – putting the offense on his back and leading three consecutive scoring drives, all of which he either rushed for or threw for a touchdown. He also made a terrific sideline throw to George Pickens late in the game to set up a score. There were also multiple lows. It’s year four, man – you can’t run backwards 20 yards and eat a sack and fumble, no matter how many rushers are coming at you. The pre-snap stuff is also getting really old with the miscommunications that lead to fumbles and lost yardage. He wasn’t perfect, but that second half was spectacular. If not for a George Pickens fumble in the red zone earlier in the game, he probably completes the comeback and the Steelers are 4-0. But, shoulda-coulda-woulda. The Steelers are 3-1, and the play of Fields continues to be promising.

S DeShon Elliott

Elliott has been the Steelers’ best signing of the offseason. He is constantly flying from his safety spot up into the box to make tackles in the run game, he’s played well in pass coverage, and he forced a fumble yesterday that was unfortunately recovered by the Colts. He led the team in tackles with eight and was one of the few defenders who got off the bus.

RB Cordarrelle Patterson

When no one else could get yards in the run game, Patterson could. He had 43 yards and averaged over seven yards per carry before leaving the game with an ankle injury. His explosiveness is night and day when compared to Najee Harris, who we will get to shortly. If Jaylen Warren can’t go in Week 5, Patterson should start.

TE Pat Freiermuth

Freiermuth ended his cold streak of touchdown-less games and broke multiple tackles at the goal line to bring the Steelers within three. He has been a reliable safety blanket through the first month of the season, and he had five catches for 57 yards.

Junior-Varsity

LB Patrick Queen

It’s officially okay to be worried about Patrick Queen. He’s been far too inconsistent this season, and was a ghost yesterday. The Colts consistently targeted the middle of the field and made it a point to attack the Steelers’ linebackers. Queen and Payton Wilson both had rough outings.

CB Joey Porter Jr

Michael Pittman torched Porter for three hours. Porter allowed five catches for 81 yards and a touchdown in coverage, easily his worst game as a pro and it couldn’t have come at a worse time.

RB Najee Harris

After the game, Harris was asked about Justin Fields leading the team back, to which he took exception and got angry that no one else was given credit for the comeback. Well Najee, you had 19 yards on 13 carries. And I get the offensive line is banged up, but 33 year old Cordarrelle Patterson did just fine. The Steelers were smart to not pick up Harris’ option.

WR George Pickens

Pickens played a largely good game (7 catches, 113 yards) but you can’t fumble inside the red zone when the team is trying to come back. He was careless in the way he was carrying the ball and it cost the team points.

OT Broderick Jones

The entire offensive line was rough. Jones allowed three pressures, two hurries, and a sack. Fields was under pressure all game, and Jones allowed the most heat to get to the quarterback.

Defensive line

Against a Colts team that was playing a rookie center, the Steelers got no pressure on Anthony Richardson and Joe Flacco, and allowed Jonathan Taylor to run wild. The Colts had 133 yards on the ground on over four yards per carry. The defense gets paid too much money to have sloppy performances like this.

OC Arthur Smith

How many times on second and long are you going to run directly into a box with eight guys waiting to pounce? I’ll continue to be a defender of Smith – he’s largely done well – but yesterday was a poorly called game.

HC Mike Tomlin

The team came out extremely flat, got down 17-0 early, and a failed challenge on a call that shouldn’t have been challenged completed the trifecta. No, Tomlin shouldn’t be fired, but he isn’t above criticism, either.