Commentary
Maddox’s game was Impeccable PITTSBURGH – The Steelers honored Terry Bradshaw at halftime of Monday night’s 28-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Tommy Maddox paid his own little tribute.
He played like Bradshaw.
Maddox completed 12 of 16 first-half passes for 151 yards and a touchdown to stake Pittsburgh a 21-3 halftime lead.
But numbers don’t tell the whole story. Maddox was much better than 12 of 16 could ever say. More than just completing passes, Maddox directed the offense like a maestro.
Even though he finished the game with very modest passing statistics (15 of 23 for 188 yards and two TDs), Maddox’s game management was impeccable.
Quick slant to Plaxico Burress here, Jerome Bettis up the middle there. Direct snap to Antwaan Randle El here, pass to Hines Ward here, there and everywhere.
This was supposed to be Kendrell Bell’s triumphant return to the Steelers lineup from a lingering high ankle sprain. While Bell returned and got out of the game unscathed, he was far from the dominating force he became as a rookie last season.
No, the star on this night reserved for Terry Bradshaw was the latest in a long line of Bradshaw’s successors. Suffice to say, Maddox was up to the challenge.
Maddox was just what the Steelers defense needed. He staked his teammates a lead, allowing them to tee off on Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.
By the time Maddox finally made a mistake, an interception thrown on a second-and-1 play 36 seconds before halftime, the defense already was into its game enough to keep the Colts off the scoreboard. Better yet, they returned the favor with a Brent Alexander interception as the half expired.
Maddox also helped the Steelers running game average 4.5 yards per carry in the first half. His sharp passing opened lanes for Jerome Bettis, who ran for two touchdowns before intermission.
Maddox was so effective, the Steelers converted their only two third downs in the first half. Yes, so effective they only faced two third downs in the first 30 minutes. So effective, Steelers punter Josh Miller took the first half off.
Even after Miller’s first punt, which was followed by Meaning’s 41-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Pollard that cut Pittsburgh’s lead to 21-10, Maddox was not flustered, not pressured.
He was as comfy as … well, as Bradshaw. No panic, just time to go back to work. Not even the loss of Bettis, who suffered a sprained knee on Pittsburgh’s first second-half possession, could fluster Maddox.
Oh, there was adversity. Manning and the high-octane Colts offense made sure of that. After Miller’s second consecutive punt, the Colts were driving into Steelers’ territory, a defensive hero stepped up and gave Maddox another chance at glory.
Much like Bradshaw often depended on an interception by Donnie Shell, Maddox benefited from a pick by the modern day No. 31, Mike Logan, who leaped in front of a Manning pass and pulled it in.
It took Maddox only three plays to make the Colts pay. He lofted a perfectly thrown pass to Ward in the end zone for his second TD pass of the game, both to Ward, and the Steelers were back in control, 28-10.
Ironically, Logan’s pick came on the play right after Alexander, the starting free safety, was forced off the field with a leg injury.
Just to show he’s not a glory hog, Maddox let Amos Zereoue be a hero near the end of the third quarter. After Randle El muffed a punt return and Zereoue was decked for a 4-yard loss to his own 2-yard line, Zereoue ran for 42 yards for a first down.
Then, Maddox went back to work, hitting Burress for 18. Add on some adversity because Maddox lost his center, Jeff Hartings on the play. Not to worry, the Steelers ran Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala off left tackle for 9 more yards to end the third quarter.
It was no small coincidence that, although the Colts owned almost a 4-minute time of possession edge in the quarter, each team scored seven points. That’s another win for Maddox.
Then, it was Zereoue again, ripping off a 17-yard run on a cutback play. Ward made a third-and-goal catch that carried to the 1-yard line, but there was not even a thought of settling for a chip-shot field goal.
Maddox wisely and, yes, calmly, called a timeout when reserve tight end and long snapper Dan O’Leary failed to go in motion on the fourth-down play. Zereoue was stopped, but the Colts were backed against their own goal line down by 18 points with 11:37 remaining.
He’d rather have had the touchdown, but the exchange was like a handoff from Maddox to the defense. Manning moved the Colts past midfield, but after converting a fourth down, he was intercepted by Alexander. In the end, all Manning accomplished was taking four second shy of five minutes off the clock.
From there, it was back to the ground for Maddox and the Steelers. And why not? The Colts only recourse was using their three timeouts, but the more the Steelers ran, the less it mattered.
The Steelers won an important game Monday night. But bigger even than this victory, the Steelers showed the nation that, yes, they have a starting quarterback. A qualified starting quarterback. One who would make Bradshaw proud.
Sports editor Mike Ciarochi may be reached at mciarochi@heraldstandard.com.