The fourth quarter opened with Shaun Suisham hitting a game tying 44 yard field goal, which had the Steelers breathing new life.
Colts starting quarterback Kerry Collins left the game after a big James Farrior hit with a concussion. Curtis Painter replaced him. Painter showed why the Colts signed Collins when he badly overthrew a wide open Pierre Garcon on a play that almost certainly would have resulted in a touchdown.
On the ensuing Steelers possession, which saw them drive deep into Indianapolis territory before miscues again sank the Steelers as a penalty and a costly sack pushed them from field goal range.
The Steeler defense turned in the play of the game with five minutes remaining, when James Harrison sacked Painter from behind causing a fumble which was easily scooped up by Troy Polamalu and returned 16 yards for the score. It was a textbook Steelers defensive effort as Polamalu leaped over his blocker to recover the fumble.
It wouldn’t be enough however, as gassed defense then let the Colts drive 80 yards, much of it on the ground, to even the game at 20-20 on a 6 yard Joseph Addai touchdown. Polamalu was in the backfield and almost broke up the third down play before it started, but couldn’t finish the deal.
Big Ben got the ball back with 2:00 left in the game, a situation he’s been quite successful at in his career and he was again tonight. In 9 plays, he drove the offense down to the 20 yard behind the legs of Mewelde Moore to set up a 38 yard game winning field goal from Shaun Suisham with :05 seconds remaining.
It wasn’t the prettiest Steelers victory, but it sure was exciting.