Two costly fumbles, a botched snap and a red zone recovery from the Indianapolis Colts had Pittsburgh Steelers fans letting out a collective groan as the team’s short-lived undefeated season came to an end Sunday afternoon.

The Steelers hold a 3-1 record at the finish of Week 4, and the Colts now sit at 2-2.

Indianapolis fans and sports writers are giving the Colts some attaboys after the team played without three starters, were carried by their backup quarterback and saw players get back fresh from injuries. The team finished with a 27-24 home win.

For IndyStar, Joel A. Erickson said Joe Flacco proved why the Colts wanted him as backup quarterback.

“Flacco did not push the ball down the field much against Pittsburgh, and when he did he was often inaccurate,” Erickson said. “But the 39-year-old quarterback provided a professionalism and accuracy that has been lacking from the Indianapolis passing game, completing 16 of 26 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns, including a short touchdown throw to Josh Downs immediately after Richardson left.”

Colts put their better QB in, makes sense

— Michael Zdenek (@MichaelZdenek) September 29, 2024

The team’s starter, Anthony Richardson, left Sunday’s game after taking a hard hit from Pittsburgh safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to his right hip.

Joe Flacco. Elite.

— BET99 Ontario (@BET99ON) September 29, 2024

Angela Moryan for News 8, called Colts’ receiver Josh Downs “undeniable.”

“Indy’s second-year receiver went off in his second game back from injury,” Moryan wrote. “He tallied eight catches for 82 yards — his most productive day since last October where he had 125 yards in the loss to the Cleveland Browns.”

Downs suffered an ankle injury during training camp in August.

“Downs got his first touchdown of the season against one of the stingiest defenses in the NFL,” Moryan said. “Pittsburgh had only let one receiver in the end zone before Sunday.”

Akeem Glaspie, with the Indianapolis Star, noted how well Flacco did coming into the game on short notice.

“If Flacco’s heart was beating out his chest, he certainly appeared cool and collected to the naked eye,” Glaspie said. “In his first regular season action with the Colts, Flacco steadied the Colts passing attack.

“Without the benefit of practice reps, Flacco looked calm in the pocket, staring down the Steelers rush and firing a sidearm pass to Josh Downs with perfect timing just as he broke inside on his route for a touchdown. Flacco’s second touchdown pass iced the game.”

Flacco vs the Steelers

The more things change the more they stay the same pic.twitter.com/poGraa7ipk

— Jared Smith (@jaredleesmith) September 29, 2024

As expected, #Colts began the first 8 minutes of the game with basically flawless football.

— Jeremy Stevenson (@MyColtsAccount) September 29, 2024

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