Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Indianapolis Colts: 2024 Week 4 Recap

Game story

In Week 4 of the 2024 NFL season on 2024-09-29, the Indianapolis Colts took care of business against the Pittsburgh Steelers, pulling away with a 27–24 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 27 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Fields (Pittsburgh Steelers) paced the passing game, with +4.60 total EPA, and +1.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Downs (Indianapolis Colts) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.55 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-9.3% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Pittsburgh Steelers changed the game: (1:07) (Shotgun) 2-J.Fields pass short left to 22-N.Harris to PIT 41 for 11 yards (45-E.Speed).

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 J. Downs · Indianapolis Colts · Receiving · +9.55 total EPA · 9 snaps · +1.06 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Flacco · Indianapolis Colts · Passing · +9.23 total EPA · 31 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Pittman · Indianapolis Colts · Receiving · +5.39 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.60 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Fields · Pittsburgh Steelers · Passing · +4.60 total EPA · 43 snaps · +0.11 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Richardson · Indianapolis Colts · Passing · +4.28 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.07 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Ogletree · Indianapolis Colts · Receiving · +3.08 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.08 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Austin · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +2.62 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.62 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Washington · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +2.43 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.22 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Indianapolis Colts — J. Taylor (Q1 57:09)
• Indianapolis Colts — J. Downs (J. Flacco pass) (Q1 47:38)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — J. Fields (Q3 17:59)
• Indianapolis Colts — A. Ogletree (J. Flacco pass) (Q4 14:50)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — J. Fields (Q4 11:29)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — P. Freiermuth (J. Fields pass) (Q4 3:45)

Field goals

• Indianapolis Colts — M. Gay (Q2 42:34)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — C. Boswell (Q2 30:03)
• Indianapolis Colts — M. Gay (Q4 6:06)
• Indianapolis Colts — M. Gay (Q4 6:03)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Indianapolis Colts won the period 14–0. Indianapolis Colts found the end zone from the PIT 2 (Q1 57:09) — (12:09) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 28-J.Taylor up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Indianapolis Colts added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q1 57:01) — 7-M.Gay extra point is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-8-R.Sanchez.; Indianapolis Colts found the end zone from the PIT 4 (Q1 47:38) — (2:38) (Shotgun) 15-J.Flacco pass short right to 1-J.Downs for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Indianapolis Colts added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q1 47:34) — 7-M.Gay extra point is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-8-R.Sanchez..

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Indianapolis Colts connected on a field goal from the PIT 14 (Q2 42:34) — (12:34) 7-M.Gay 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-8-R.Sanchez.; Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the IND 31 (Q2 30:03) — (:03) 9-C.Boswell 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-8-C.Waitman..

The third quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 7–0. Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the IND 5 (Q3 17:59) — (2:59) (Shotgun) 2-J.Fields scrambles right end for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the IND 15 (Q3 17:53) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-8-C.Waitman..

The fourth quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 14–13. Indianapolis Colts found the end zone from the PIT 15 (Q4 14:50) — (14:50) (Shotgun) 15-J.Flacco pass short middle to 85-A.Ogletree for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Indianapolis Colts added 1 points from the PIT 15 (Q4 14:43) — 7-M.Gay extra point is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-8-R.Sanchez.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the IND 2 (Q4 11:29) — (11:29) (Shotgun) 2-J.Fields scrambles left end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the IND 15 (Q4 11:23) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-8-C.Waitman.; Indianapolis Colts connected on a field goal from the PIT 16 (Q4 6:06) — (6:06) 7-M.Gay 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-8-R.Sanchez.; Indianapolis Colts connected on a field goal from the IND 35 (Q4 6:03) — 7-M.Gay kicks 65 yards from IND 35 to end zone, Touchback to the PIT 30.; Pittsburgh Steelers found the end zone from the IND 8 (Q4 3:45) — (3:45) (Shotgun) 2-J.Fields pass short left to 88-P.Freiermuth for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Pittsburgh Steelers added 1 points from the IND 15 (Q4 3:40) — 9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-8-C.Waitman..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 1:07) — (1:07) (Shotgun) 2-J.Fields pass short left to 22-N.Harris to PIT 41 for 11 yards (45-E.Speed). [WPA -9.3% · EPA -0.18]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 0:37) — (:37) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 2-J.Fields pass incomplete deep right to 11-V.Jefferson [95-A.Adebawore]. [WPA -9.0% · EPA -2.27]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q1 60:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 5-A.Richardson pass deep left to 11-M.Pittman pushed ob at PIT 38 for 32 yards (39-M.Fitzpatrick). [WPA +8.0% · EPA +1.92]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 3:45) — (3:45) (Shotgun) 2-J.Fields pass short left to 88-P.Freiermuth for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.5% · EPA +2.71]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q4 2:52) — (2:52) (Shotgun) 15-J.Flacco pass incomplete deep right to 10-A.Mitchell. [WPA -7.3% · EPA -0.85]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q3 22:59) — (7:59) (Shotgun) 2-J.Fields sacked at PIT 47 for -20 yards (35-C.Lammons). FUMBLES (35-C.Lammons) [35-C.Lammons], RECOVERED by IND-35-C.Lammons at PIT 45. 35-C.Lammons to PIT 42 for 3 yards (77-B.Jone [WPA -4.8% · EPA -6.19]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q2 33:13) — (3:13) (Shotgun) 2-J.Fields pass short left to 14-G.Pickens to IND 5 for 10 yards (20-N.Cross). FUMBLES (20-N.Cross), RECOVERED by IND-32-J.Blackmon at IND 3. [WPA -3.7% · EPA -5.01]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 45:33) — (:33) (Shotgun) 62-R.McCollum reported in as eligible. 2-J.Fields left guard to PIT 39 for no gain (44-Z.Franklin). [WPA -4.4% · EPA -3.38]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q3 20:17) — (5:17) (Shotgun) 2-J.Fields pass deep left to 14-G.Pickens to IND 17 for 38 yards (32-J.Blackmon). [WPA +4.5% · EPA +3.27]

Quarterback report card

J.Fields led all passers in efficiency for Pittsburgh Steelers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Fields (Pittsburgh Steelers) · 43 dropbacks · 51.2% completion · +1.2% CPOE · +0.11 EPA/play · +4.60 total EPA
• J.Flacco (Indianapolis Colts) · 31 dropbacks · 51.6% completion · +5.1% CPOE · +0.30 EPA/play · +9.23 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Pittsburgh Steelers -0.02, Indianapolis Colts +0.02) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Indianapolis Colts: 11 drives, +1.99 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 11 drives, -1.57 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Indianapolis Colts leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• J. Downs (Indianapolis Colts) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Flacco (IND) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Indianapolis Colts TD (+6) — Q1 57:09 · PIT 2 · Score 0-6
   (12:09) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 28-J.Taylor up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Indianapolis Colts XP (+1) — Q1 57:01 · PIT 15 · Score 0-7
   7-M.Gay extra point is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-8-R.Sanchez.
3. Indianapolis Colts TD (+6) — Q1 47:38 · PIT 4 · Score 0-13
   (2:38) (Shotgun) 15-J.Flacco pass short right to 1-J.Downs for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Indianapolis Colts XP (+1) — Q1 47:34 · PIT 15 · Score 0-14
   7-M.Gay extra point is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-8-R.Sanchez.
5. Indianapolis Colts FG (+3) — Q2 42:34 · PIT 14 · Score 0-17
   (12:34) 7-M.Gay 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-8-R.Sanchez.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q2 30:03 · IND 31 · Score 3-17
   (:03) 9-C.Boswell 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-8-C.Waitman.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q3 17:59 · IND 5 · Score 9-17
   (2:59) (Shotgun) 2-J.Fields scrambles right end for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q3 17:53 · IND 15 · Score 10-17
   9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-8-C.Waitman.
9. Indianapolis Colts TD (+6) — Q4 14:50 · PIT 15 · Score 10-23
   (14:50) (Shotgun) 15-J.Flacco pass short middle to 85-A.Ogletree for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Indianapolis Colts XP (+1) — Q4 14:43 · PIT 15 · Score 10-24
    7-M.Gay extra point is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-8-R.Sanchez.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q4 11:29 · IND 2 · Score 16-24
    (11:29) (Shotgun) 2-J.Fields scrambles left end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q4 11:23 · IND 15 · Score 17-24
    9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-8-C.Waitman.
13. Indianapolis Colts FG (+3) — Q4 6:06 · PIT 16 · Score 17-27
    (6:06) 7-M.Gay 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-8-R.Sanchez.
14. Indianapolis Colts FG (+3) — Q4 6:03 · IND 35 · Score 17-27
    7-M.Gay kicks 65 yards from IND 35 to end zone, Touchback to the PIT 30.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers TD (+6) — Q4 3:45 · IND 8 · Score 23-27
    (3:45) (Shotgun) 2-J.Fields pass short left to 88-P.Freiermuth for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
16. Pittsburgh Steelers XP (+1) — Q4 3:40 · IND 15 · Score 24-27
    9-C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Kuntz, Holder-8-C.Waitman.