PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – After a couple of weeks without any splash, the Steelers provided it in bunches on Sunday in a 27-20 win over the AFC leading Colts. Here are some notes as the Steelers improve to 5-3.
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6 turnovers
It started with TJ Watt and snowballed from there. The Steelers forced three fumbles and picked off three Daniel Jones passes Sunday at home.
“We know that whenever we are creating turnovers, our culture comes alive,” said linebacker Alex Highsmith. “Everybody feeds off that. I think these last couple of weeks, we hadn’t got any turnovers. We weren’t really feeding off of each other. We know to be a great defense, you’ve got to be a defense that plays to energy, plays with passion. We did that today.”
Highsmith forced a fumble, had a pair of sacks and three tackles for loss. The 28-year-old missed three games with a groin injury and said he tweaked it again in the first quarter, but played through it. He hadn’t had a sack or a tackle for loss since opening week.
“It brings a lot of confidence,” Highsmith said. “I continue to still believe in who I am as a player, who I am as a rusher. Just knowing that my identity is in the Lord and him along. So I’m just continuing to know who I am week in and week out.”
Highsmith said he thinks he will be good, but will have to see what happens this week.
Sawyer first
Highsmith’s injury may in part have given opportunities for rookie outside linebacker Jack Sawyer, he took advantage with his first NFL turnover. It was something he was known for in college.
“I just came off the edge and by the time I picked my head up and I heard the crowd and as soon as I picked it up the ball was in my face,” Sawyer said. “Fortunate enough to make the play, thankfully Payton got a hand on it.”
“Man, the sun’s always shining on Jack Sawyer,” said head coach Mike Tomlin with a smile. “He’s a five star.”
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Huge win
Sitting at 4-3 with the Ravens suddenly on a winning streak and with quarterback Lamar Jackson back, Aaron Rodgers said Sunday was big.
“This was a really important win for us, though, to not lose three in a row, to not go to 1-3 at home,” Rodgers said. “And to kind of get that big elephant that was starting to try and jump on the backs of the defense, which is made up of media and, you know, outside conversation about them. I think those guys felt pretty upset about what was going on. I’m proud of them, the way they came back and responded.”
Uncles in town
Joey Porter, Junior was a little kid when the Steelers won Super Bowl XL, but he knew all about it and the impact his father had on that season. Sunday the team honored those players for a 20-year reunion and the pressure was on the son.
“My dad has been in my ear all week about his boys coming in town,” Porter, Junior said. “He said you got to make your dad proud. I’m glad I got that pick for him and did what I did. Shout out to all my uncles that came today.”
Opening drive oddity
There were two times the Colts didn’t convert a third down on its opening drive, but converted a pair of fourth downs including the Daniel Jones one-yard TD run. Indy had eight plays on the opening drive that netted a yard or less, yet scored a touchdown. Chunk plays to Alec Pierre of 10 yards, 18 yards and 36 yards keyed an early lead that appeared at times like it was heading for a Colts rout, until it wasn’t
Love for the kicker
He compared it to not talking to a pitcher throwing a no-hitter, it’s why Aaron Rodgers hasn’t congratulated Chris Boswell much after a kick.
“He made a comment last week that I don’t say anything to him when I run off the field,” Rodgers said. “I’m just mad that we’re kicking. I said, the only time I’d be happy is going from two scores to three late in a game. So I think that may have been on the kick where it went to 27-10.”
Rodgers said instead of running off to the sideline Sunday, he made a point to come over and dap him up.