INDIANAPOLIS -- There couldn’t have been a more perfect example of the Indianapolis Colts’ catching problems than their Thanksgiving game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Backup quarterback Scott Tolzien needed all the help he could get from his skill-position players to have a chance against the Steelers without starter Andrew Luck.

Those players let Tolzien down, for the most part.

T.Y. Hilton had a key drop. So did Donte Moncrief. Phillip Dorsett did it on fourth down in the end zone when the Colts needed a touchdown.

Those were three drops by the Colts’ top three receivers on plays that would have been touchdowns or put them in position to possibly score a touchdown.

Those three plays make it easy to understand why the Colts are second in the NFL in dropped passes, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Their 23 drops are tied with Philadelphia and just one behind the leader, Detroit.

Hilton, who has 60 receptions for 942 yards, is tied for third in the league with six drops. Running back Josh Ferguson and tight end Jack Doyle both have three and fellow tight end Dwayne Allen has two, as do Dorsett and Devin Street.

Dropped passes are huge momentum-busters.

Hilton dropped what would have been a catch-and-run touchdown along Pittsburgh’s sideline late in the first half last Thursday. The Colts didn't score on the drive.

Allen had a key drop on third down that killed a drive when the Colts could have possibly put the Tennessee Titans away in their Nov. 20 game. Adam Vinatieri missed the field goal and the Titans turned the miscues into a touchdown late in the first half to swing momentum their way.

The Colts are in the stretch run of the season and they're playing catch-up in the AFC South. The last thing Luck needs is for his receivers to fail him by dropping what should be easy catches on a regular basis.

"It's obviously something you don't want to happen," Allen said. "But you prepare and work at it as much as you can. It's all about keeping that concentration and that energy level up. You have to remind yourself that you're the best at what you do and move on to the next play."