Indianapolis expects Hasselbeck to play with fractured rib

He needs 203 yards in the next four games to have his first 1,000 yard season since 2009 when he was a member of the Carolina Panthers.

“We got our asses kicked, ” he said. “If we don’t turn the ball over, that’s us and that’s been us”.

Also, Hasselbeck does not possess the ability to overcome his own mistakes.

Jones was benched following his second fumble of the game, and is likely done for good as a returner in the NFL. “We have a great offensive line and running back”. “Today we showed that”. “He’s been a young guy whose arrow has been consistently pointing up”. “We had some opportunities early in that ballgame, and we did not capitalize on those”. But, that’s what the team is about, that’s what this journey is about.

The Steelers came in smarting following a sloppy loss in Seattle last weekend that dropped them out of the AFC’s top wild-card spot, while the Colts had been surging under the seemingly ageless Hasselbeck. Lance Louis made his first start of the season at right guard, joining Joe Reitz (left tackle) and Denzelle Good (right tackle), who were both making their second career starts at their respective positions. Antwon Blake, Ross Cockrell and Brandon Boykin rotated in and out. “One happened in the first quarter and one happened on the play where I was down for a little bit”, Hasselbeck said.

Just when the Colts thought the night couldn’t get any worse, it did.

Then he received help from his receivers (more on them later) and running back DeAngelo Williams. “It’s huge. We don’t ever give up”.

Jason Gildon holds the franchise record with 77. Jacoby Jones had it dislodged by Colts linebacker Jonathan Newsome, and when D’Joun Smith came out of a pile with it, Indianapolis had the ball at the Pittsburgh 11-yard line.

Roethlisberger provided the exclamation point with a 48-yard pass to Brown, three plays before the wide receiver hauled in his second touchdown catch. Hines Ward also did it from 2001-03. There was no update on his status on Monday.

If the Steelers continue to perform on offense like they are now, their defense only has to be slightly better than mediocre for the team to win a championship. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 364 yards and four touchdowns. The Colts defense was gouged last week as the Colts were slaughtered by the Steelers.

Pittsburgh wide receivers Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant each turned in 100-yard performances as Roethlisberger distributed 24 completions to six receivers.

Tight end Dwayne Allen noted how the Colts are in somewhat uncharted territory with so much uncertainty heading into the final four games of the season.

Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano stands on the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015, in Pittsburgh.

Three quarters of the way into the season, not one player on the team has surpassed five sacks on the year, but 12 different players have managed to record at least one sack.

-RUSHING OFFENSE: C-minus. Gore had 45 yards rushing in 13 carries and averaged 3.5 yards per carry.

Previous year when Brown did a somersault after a 71-yard punt return score against the Bengals, Tomlin said: “It’s amusing to me sometimes that people think I can stop a grown man from doing something like that”. The normal returner, Jacoby Jones, was having a rough day with fumbling issues.

“What did you see in regard to the poor play by the defensive backs?” he was asked.

Roethlisberger led Pittsburgh into the red zone, and kicker Chris Boswell tied the game with a 29-yard field goal.