PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It might be the play that changes a season or at least got the momentum back. The Colts were starting to put together a drive like their TD march in the first quarter, but then TJ Watt stepped in as the Steelers beat Indianapolis 27-20.
After another successful money down conversion, Daniel Jones dropped back from the Steelers 38-yard-line early in the second quarter and around the edge comes Watt. The Steelers defensive captain not only got to the Indy quarterback for the first time in the game, but he knocked the ball out and recovered it.
It turned boos from the home crowd in the previous drive into an eruption and from that point the Steelers took control.
“It was everything,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “We were running on the beach offensively. We needed a short field. Like all great players, he provided it when we needed it most.”
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“It was the turning point in the game, for sure, 7-0, they were driving, we turned that into seven,” said quarterback Aaron Rodgers. “From that point forward, I thought the pass rush was outstanding.”
Watt said those opportunities have been there the last couple of games, they just haven’t capitalized. Co-captain Cam Heyward said he felt they were competitive for much of the first drive even though the Colts eventually scored. He said Watt’s turnover really stabilized the team and change the game from there on out.
“I think we always say they come in bunches,” said linebacker Alex Highsmith. “Usually I feel like if we have a turnover in the game, we have multiple. His started it off, and we kept feeding off of that. Kept feeding on the energy. We’ve got to continue to do that week in and week out.”
It was Watt’s 35th career forced fumble, which moved him past James Harrison and Charles Woodson into 18th place on the NFL all-time list. It also was his 113th career sack, which moved him past Lyle Alzado and within 1.5 sacks of his brother, JJ.
“Start with smashing the run, first and foremost,” Watt said. “Getting them one dimensional and just pinning our ears back and going. Playing fast, playing physical football, playing simplified football allowed us to make more plays.”
Steelers finished with three forced fumbles and three interceptions.
“It was a tough week (last week), but we certainly deserved it based on the last performance,” Tomlin said. “I like the way the guys absorbed it, smiled in the face of it, and prepared.”
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And it started with one of the all-time greats as they honored an all-time great team Sunday.