Game recap: Colts beat Steelers 30-13 to help playoff chances

The Indianapolis Colts host the Pittsburgh Steelers in NFL Week 15 action with AFC playoff implications for both teams.

The Colts (7-6) are coming off a loss but won four in a row before that. Running back Jonathan Taylor and tackle Braden Smith remain out. The Steelers (7-6) are struggling offensively and have lost three of their past four games.

Joel A. Erickson, Nate Atkins and Gregg Doyel are your best Colts follows, and they will have thoughts throughout the game. We're going to have highlights and analysis, so stay here and remember to refresh.

More: 10 Colts thoughts on a huge bounce-back win

Insider: Colts keep playoff hopes alive, dominate Steelers, score game's final 30 points

Colts injuries: Pittman to locker room after Steelers' personal foul, Moss questionable

Final: Colts 30, Steelers 13

After a shaky first quarter and falling behind by 13 points, the Colts shut out the Steelers the rest of the way behind a balanced effort.

Gardner Minshew passes for 215 yards and 3 touchdowns, and the O-line keeps him clean in the second half while paving the way for 170 rushing yards. The Colts are +3 in turnover margin and take advantage of Pittsburgh's 100+ penalty yards.

Zack Moss, D.J. Montgomery and Mo Alie-Cox have the TD catches, but the Colts will be watching the injury status of receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (concussion) and Zack Moss (arm) for next week's game at Atlanta (6-7), which is in a three-way logjam atop the NFC South.

Pittsburgh's TD drives are 54 and 1 (after a blocked punt) yards, but it finishes with 216 total yards.

The Colts (8-6) help themselves in the AFC playoff race and hold the tiebreaker against Pittsburgh (7-7).

:48 left 4Q: Matt Gay connects on a field goal

He hits from 42 yards. Colts 30, Steelers 13

2:08 left: Matt Gay misses again

His 43-yard field goal bounces off the right upright. Mason Rudolph will be Pittsburgh's quarterback as it takes over at its 33.

5:57 left 4Q: Julian Blackmon gets an interception

That's his team-leading 4th of the season as Mitch Trubisky overthrows George Pickens. The Colts have it at the Steelers 45.

9:17 left 4Q: Colts run the damn ball

The Colts run on 13 consecutive plays and eat up nearly 9 minutes, then settle for Matt Gay's 31-yard field goal. Colts 27, Steelers 13

Trey Sermon has 70 rushing yards and Tyler Goodson 65. But you knew that's the Colts' rushing duo, right?

End 3Q: Colts are driving

Indianapolis faces 3rd-and-2 at its 42. The Colts, who have struggled rushing the ball in recent weeks, are over 100 yards for the game.

9:02 left 3Q: Colts add a field goal

Matt Gay hits from 29 yards. Tyler Goodson has a 33-yard run on a basic run off right tackle into the red zone. Colts 24, Steelers 13

13:16 left 3Q: Colts extend their lead

One play later, Gardner Minshew hits Mo Alie-Cox for a touchdown. Colts 21, Steelers 13

13:22 left 3Q: Colts force a turnover

After a Colts challenge, E.J. Speed forces Najee Harris' fumble, and the Colts have it at Pittsburgh's 18 after Julian Blackmon's recovery. The Colts are +12 in turnover margin, best in the NFL at the moment.

Halftime: Colts 14, Steelers 13

The Colts pass on a chip-shot field goal late in the first half and it costs them. They also give up a blocked punt that leads to a Pittsburgh touchdown.

Gardner Minshew is 14-of-21 for 185 yards and 2 touchdowns. He is sacked 3 times, twice by T.J. Watt.

Michael Pittman Jr. has 4 catches for 78 yards before being knocked out with a concussion. Zack Moss is questionable with an arm injury.

Mitch Trubisky is 9-of-14 for 83 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. He has also rushed for a TD.

Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick left the field with a knee injury.

:22 left 2Q: Colts take the lead

T.J. Montgomery hauls in a 14-yard score. Colts 14, Steelers 13

3:23 left 2Q: Colts fail on downs

T.J. Montgomery drops the touchdown on 4th-and goal from the 2. The Steelers take over. Colts covert a 4th-and-1 on the drive.

8:42 left 2Q: Michael Pittman Jr. gets leveled

Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. is crushed by Steelers defensive back Damonte Kazee, who is penalized and ejected. Pittman is able to walk off the field and heads to the locker room. Also, Zack Moss has a right arm injury. The Colts are losing key offensive players in bunches.

9:26 left 2Q: Nick Cross makes an interception

He leaps high over George Pickens to snag the long pass, and the Colts take over at their 29. That's 19 straight games with a Colts takeaway.

11:21 left 2Q: Colts cut into deficit

The screen to Zack Moss goes 16 yards for a touchdown. Steelers 13, Colts 7

A Gardner Minshew scramble results in a 42-yard completion to Michael Pittman Jr. inside the Steelers 10. Pittman has 4 catches for 78 yards, and is now over 100 receptions for the season.

14:07 left 2Q: Steelers are up big

Mitche Trubisky hits Diontae Johnson from 4 yards. Steelers 13, Colts 0

14:53 left 2Q: Steelers block a Colts punt

Connor Heyward gets a hand on the Rigoberto Sanchez punt and Nick Herbig recovers at the Colts 1.

1:09 left 1Q: Steelers score first

Mitch Trubisky gets over the goal line before he fumbles. Chris Boswell misses the PAT. Drive takes 12 plays. Steelers 6, Colts 0

7:30 left 1Q: Matt Gay is way off

Colts kicker pulls a 56-yard field goal try badly to the left. That's three straight missed kicks. Steelers take over at their 46.

12:52 left 1Q: Colts defense starts well

The Steelers win the coin flip and receive the opening kickoff. The Colts defense forces a 3-and-out with a stuffed run, a sack and a short screen. The Colts take over at their 32.

Take your pick: NFL Week 15 predictions for Colts vs. Steelers

Embedded content: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C07cRQlJA9N/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Colts inactives

DT Adetomiwa Adebawore, CB Tony Brown, DE Isaiah Land, WR Isaiah McKenzie, LB Segun Olubi, T Braden Smith, RB Jonathan Taylor.

Brown's absence means Nick Cross will have a larger role. The Colts' return game should be interesting as McKenzie sits.

Steelers inactives

QB Kenny Pickett, CB Darius Rush, RB Anthony McFarland, LB Blake Martinez, T Dylan Cook, DE Isaiahh Loudermilk.

AFC playoff standings

Seeds, records through Week 14, and Week 15 opponent

Colts start time vs. Steelers in NFL Week 15

4:30 p.m. ET Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

What channel is Colts vs. Steelers on?

TV: NFL Network and WTTV-4 in Indianapolis, with Rich Eisen (play by play), Kurt Warner (analysis) and Jamie Erdahl (sideline reporting)

Radio: 93.5, 97.1, 107.5 FM in Indianapolis, with Matt Taylor (play-by-play), Rick Venturi (analysis), Larra Overton (sideline reporting)

Streaming: SiriusXM Channels 225 and 813, ESPN+, Fubo, Paramount+, Sling, Dish, Amazon, NFL+

Colts vs. Steelers favorite, betting odds

via BetMGM

Favorite: Colts by 1 point (Colts are 8-5 against the spread; Steelers are 7-6 ATS, each matching the game result)

Over/under: 41.5 total points (9 Colts games have gone over, 4 under; 3 Steelers games have gone over, 10 under)

Moneyline: Colts -120, Steelers +100

ESPN's matchup predictor gives the Steelers a 56% chance of winning.

Colts vs. Steelers storylines

∎ In games against common opponents, the Colts are 5-5 while the Steelers are 5-4.

∎ In games against teams currently with a winning record, the Colts are 2-4 while the Steelers are 3-4.

∎ Pittsburgh is tied for committing the fewest turnovers in the NFL (11) and is tied at No. 2 in turnover margin (+10). The Colts are in the middle of the pack.

∎ Indianapolis is 29th in scoring defense (allowing 25.4 points), allowing at least 20 points each of the past three weeks. The Steelers are 27th in scoring (16.2 points per game) and last scored at least 20 points against Green Bay in Week 10.

∎ The Colts are No. 8 in scoring (24.2) and No. 14 in total offense (337.1 yards per game), but are 18th in red zone touchdowns (53.5%). Pittsburgh is No. 7 in scoring defense (19.2) despite ranking 21st in yards allowed (344.8). It is No. 8 in red zone defense, with opponents scoring touchdowns on 48.6% of their trips.

Colts final injury report

Colts who are out: RB Jonathan Taylor (thumb), T Braden Smith (knee); questionable: LB Segun Olubi (hip); did not practice Thursday: DT DeForest Buckner (back); full participation: CB Jaylon Jones (ankle), LB E.J. Speed (knee), CB JuJu Brents (quad), TE Will Mallory (rib), LB Zaire Franklin (illness).

Steelers final injury report

Steelers who are out: QB Kenny Pickett (ankle); questionable: G Isaac Seumalo (shoulder); full participation Thursday: LB Elandon Roberts (groin), S LB LB Alex Highsmith (concussion), DT Keeanu Benton (oblique), WR Diontae Johnson (knee), RB Najee Harris (knee), CB James Pierre (shoulder), T.J. Watt (concussion), DT Cam Heyward (groin), Damontae Kazee (ankle).

Colts stats leaders

Gardner Minshew (63.2% completions, 2,524 yards, 11 TDs, 8 INTs, 3 rushing TDs); Zack Moss (751 rushing yards, 4.3 per carry, 5 TDs); Michael Pittman Jr. (95 catches, 10.4 yards per, 4 TDs); Josh Downs (54 catches, 11.3 yards per, 2 TDs); Zaire Franklin (144 tackles); Julian Blackmon (85 tackles, 3 INTs); Kenny Moore II (81 tackles, 3 INTs)

Steelers stats leaders

Mitch Trubisky (60.7% completions, 463 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs); Najee Harris (690 rushing yards, 4.0 per carry, 4 TDs); Jaylen Warren (612 rushing yards, 5.6 per carry, 3 TDs, 42 catches); George Pickens (49 catches, 15.7 yards per, 3 TDs); Diontae Johnson (37 catches, 12.8 yards per, 3 TDs); Elandon Roberts (86 tackles, 10 for loss); T.J. Watt (14 sacks, 7 passes defended)

Colts news from IndyStar

The search for Hurricane Dayo: How Odeyingbo found fury and became an international force

Not so special: Colts special teams coordinator Brian Mason on muffed punt, leverage penalty

'I just have to be better': Colts' Matt Gay kicking himself for missing twice vs. Bengals

Insider: Lack of Colts run game is handing Minshew more weight than he can handle

'We opened Pandora's Box today': Why the Colts pass rush failed vs. the Bengals

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts vs. Steelers in NFL Week 15 score updates, highlights, analysis