INDIANAPOLIS -- Before the eight-minute mark in the second quarter of Saturday's Steelers-Colts matchup, Indianapolis found itself without its top wide receiver and best remaining running back. Meanwhile, a rookie backup offensive tackle was matched up with devastating pass rusher T.J. Watt.
But remarkably, each of the reserve players called upon because of those absences played a central role in the Colts' biggest win of the season, a 30-13 blowout of the Steelers that took the Colts to 8-6 and boosted their odds of making the AFC playoff field to 63%.
With star running back Jonathan Taylor (thumb) and right tackle Braden Smith (knee) ruled out earlier in the week, and with 1,000-yard receiver Michael Pittman Jr.