Mike Tomlin explains decision to let clock run late in 1st half of Steelers' win against Colts

With the Pittsburgh Steelers trailing by 14 points late in the first half Sunday, Mike Tomlin was shaken when his defense gave up a 68-yard screen pass that could have set up the Indianapolis Colts for another score.

No matter that the big gain was called back because of a penalty, Tomlin was wary of a repeat performance.

And that is why Tomlin elected not to call his first timeout until 22 seconds remained in the half. It was a decision he was criticized for at the time even though it didn’t factor into the Steelers’ 28-24 come-from-behind victory.

Tomlin explained his rationale Tuesday at his weekly press conference.

“Really, I was taken aback by the screen we gave up just prior to that,” Tomlin said. “I was more concerned about getting that unit off the field without getting any more splash plays. It’s really unsettling when you give up a field-flipping play such as that.”

The 68-yard gain by Nyheim Hines put the ball on the Steelers 8 until the play was called back because of an illegal block above the waist. That backed up the Colts to their 14 while facing a second-and-20.

With 1 minute, 10 seconds remaining, Hines ran for two yards, but Tomlin elected to let the clock keep running rather than call timeout. Only after the Colts, armed with a 21-7 lead, ran again on third down in an attempt to run out the clock did Tomlin call his first timeout with 22 seconds left.

“Our execution was poor,” Tomlin said, “and it really kind of changed my whole mentality about how the end of the half was unfolding.”

The Steelers got the ball back with 14 seconds left at their 43. The half ended three plays later with Diontae Johnson recovering a fumbled lateral by JuJu Smith-Schuster at the Colts 16 as time expired.