Steelers 17, Colts 14

Notes and observations:

-- The Steelers' flea flicker looked like something a youth football team drew up in the dirt and it almost blew up two different ways. Ben Roethlisberger had to sidestep onrushing Colts LB Clint Sessions, and S Bob Sanders nearly sliced in a picked off his deep pass. But the net result was a catch by Hines Ward to the Colts' 1, setting up a TD on the next play. As Coach Machiavelli says, the end justifies the means.

-- Ike Taylor is working on making up for tipping that touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne. Taylor made nice plays to break up two passes to Wayne on the Colts' first drive of the second quarter.

-- That bakery truck that leveled Dallas Clark was driven by Ryan Clark. But Dallas Clark appears to be okay.

-- Can't help thinking that as recently as two years ago Marvin Harrison has no trouble running down those two long passes from Peyton Manning, instead of having them go off his outstretched hands. The second was definitely a touchdown.

-- Jeff Reed moved into second place on the Steelers' all-time field goals list with his 147th, putting him ahead of Roy Gerela.

-- Manning, who asked by reporters in Indianapolis earlier this week if he is slumping, definitely appears to be pressing a little. He has thrown into double coverage a few times, and Troy Polamalu almost picked off his pass for Dallas Clark late in the second quarter for what probably would have been a touchdown.

-- Definitely a gamble by Tony Dungy, opting to have Manning throw into the end zone with nine seconds left in the half instead of taking the sure field goal. The Colts had just taken their last time out, and a sack probably would have ended the half. None of this matters if Roethlisberger, who has thrown six interceptions in his last 62 pass attempts, doesn't give the Colts new life with a bad pick to Keiwan Ratliff at the Steelers' 30, changing the momentum. Could Santonio Holmes have made an effort to break up the interception? He seemed to stay back once it was clear the ball was underthrown.

-- John Dudley