Steelers standout single-handedly flips recurrent script with big night
Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith took it upon himself to end the game as the Indianapolis Colts tried to pull of a comeback with less than two minutes left in the clock. With 1:35 in the clock on first down at the Steelers' 33-yard line, Highsmith sped past rookie left tackle Bernhard Raimann to […]
Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith took it upon himself to end the game as the Indianapolis Colts tried to pull of a comeback with less than two minutes left in the clock.
With 1:35 in the clock on first down at the Steelers' 33-yard line, Highsmith sped past rookie left tackle Bernhard Raimann to sack Matt Ryan. He was barely touched on his way to a strip sack that could've ended the game but the Colts recovered to set up second and seventeen.
Highsmith wouldn't let that be the end of it as one play later in third and three and the Colts in no-huddle mode, it seemed as if the Steelers' edge rusher had sat in Jeff Saturday's meeting room during the week and knew exactly what was coming.
With everyone thinking pass as the clock winded down, Highsmith shot inside through the C-gap to tackle Jonathan Taylor for no gain.
"I felt like they kind of hurried up to the ball and (having) watched the field and kind of knowing the position the tight end wwas in, I could kind of tell that he was going to try to cut me off and it was going to be a run play," Highsmith told reporters postgame.
While everyone wondered why Saturday didn't call a timeout, the Steelers defender's comment probably reveals why. Wrong or not, the Colts wanted to catch the defense by surprise with a run on third down. Highsmith sniffed it all out, though.
"I just trusted my instincts and shot it."
The outside linebacker single-handedly flipped the script of one of the biggest narratives surrounding the Steelers.
After all, everyone keeps talking about Matt Canada's offense is predictabe (which is indeed a concern as Colts players yelled about the Steelers running the same plays) you've got to feel good about the defense knowing what's coming in big moments.
"Alex (Highsmith) is legit," said Steelers HC Mike Tomlin postgame. "I think everybody knows that."
For the season, the Steelers edge rusher is up to 10 sacks, four forced fumbles, and eight tackles for loss. But by taking over in the last drive on Monday Night, Highsmith was one of the highlights of the game.
Featured image via Jenna Watson/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK
