PITTSBURGH — The flurry of touchdowns was nice. Antonio Brown’s gleeful punt return too.

Still, the defining moments of Sunday night’s 45-10 win over Indianapolis came long before quarterback Ben Roethlisberger got going or Brown turned the goal post stanchion into an amusement park ride.

Twice in the first quarter, the Colts had the ball inside the Pittsburgh 30 following a turnover. Twice, the Steelers’ erratic defense responded. Linebacker Jarvis Jones ended Indianapolis’ first possession with a leaping interception at the goal line. The Colts went nowhere the next time they had the ball, settling for a field goal.

“Our ability to get off the field with a total of three points really set the stage and really provided a platform that the team sprung off of,” Tomlin said Tuesday.

A leap he felt was necessary if the Steelers (7-5) wanted to be considered a legitimate threat to make the postseason. Coach Mike Tomlin tweaked his secondary and challenged his front seven to get back to work after Seattle’s Russell Wilson toyed with Pittsburgh’s defense following a 39-30 loss, a game in which Wilson threw five touchdowns and rallied his team at will.

The defense responded by collecting five sacks — three from 38-year-old linebacker James Harrison — and shutting out the Colts over the final 38 minutes.

“Hopefully that performance can be a catalyst for the challenges that await us,” Tomlin said.

It certainly provided plenty of evidence that the collaboration between Tomlin and defensive coordinator Keith Butler can produce immediate results. Tomlin demoted cornerback Antwon Blake following a series of miscues against the Seahawks, giving Brandon Boykin his first extended playing time this season.