By Katie Mayock, Journalism Intern
Steelers Drop First Game of Season to Colts, 27-24
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ undefeated start to the season came to an end on Sunday, Sept. 29 with a 27-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The Steelers fell behind early and their comeback bid fell just short.
The Colts scored two touchdowns in the first quarter en route to a 14-0 lead after one, then added a field goal just over two minutes into the second to extend their lead to 17-0. Pittsburgh finally got on the board with a 50-yard field goal on the last play of the first half to cut their halftime deficit to 17-3.
In the third quarter, Pittsburgh QB Justin Fields, making his fourth-straight start, ran for a touchdown and the Pittsburgh defense kept the Colts off the board to cut the Colts’ lead to a touchdown, 17-10, entering the final quarter.
But Indianapolis restored their two-possession lead with a touchdown just 17 seconds into the fourth quarter. On Pittsburgh’s ensuing possession, Fields ran for another touchdown to again reduce the deficit to seven, 24-17. Indianapolis connected on a field goal with six minutes left in the game to stretch their lead to 10 and Fields found TE Pat Freiermuth for an eight-yard touchdown with 3:40 to go, but that was as close as the Steelers would get.
Fields finished the game completing 22 of 34 passes for 312 yards and one touchdown and rushed 10 times for 55 yards and two touchdowns. Fields and WR George Pickens both lost fumbles in the game.
With the loss, the Steelers dropped to 3-1 on the season but remain in first place in the AFC North. Up next, Pittsburgh returns home to face the Dallas Cowboys (2-2) on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 8:20 PM.
Pirates Close out 2024 Season with Series Win Over the Yankees
The Pittsburgh Pirates closed out the 2024 season with a 2-1 series win in New York over the AL East champion Yankees. Pittsburgh won the first two games of the series before dropping the season finale.
In game one, Pittsburgh LF Bryan Reynolds hit two home runs, the first to tie the game and the second to take the lead, in a 4-2 win. Reliever Carmen Mlodzinski recorded the win and closer Aroldis Chapman pitched a scoreless ninth to secure the save.
The Pirates hit five home runs in a 9-4 win in game two and SP Paul Skenes pitched two perfect innings to lower his season ERA to 1.96.
Pittsburgh dropped the final game of the series and of the season, 6-4. It was a back-and-forth game, with the Yankees coming out on top thanks to two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Pittsburgh finishes the season in last place in the NL Central with a 76-86 record (.469). The Pirates have the second-longest active postseason drought at nine seasons, last making the playoffs in 2015.
