INDIANAPOLIS -- At some point during the bye, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett will likely sit back and think about what the past nine weeks have been like for him.

From being acquired from New England the week before the start of the regular season, to becoming the starter two weeks later, to becoming the starter the rest of the season when Andrew Luck was put on season-ending injured reserve on Nov. 2.

As solid as Brissett has played while enduring something a lot of second-year players probably couldn't shoulder, it'll likely be four plays that will sting more than the others for the 23-year-old.

Brissett threw his fourth interception in the fourth quarter or overtime this season to take away what could have been an impressive victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Instead, the Colts head into their bye week with a 20-17 loss and a 3-7 record.

These final weeks of the season are an audition for a number of Colts on the roster, including Brissett. It's not a matter of whether the Colts will re-sign him in the offseason because he's under contract for another two years. It's a matter of Brissett continuing to show that he's major commodity because of the uncertainty surrounding Andrew Luck's health.

Luck, as ESPN reported on Saturday, is in Europe looking at more treatment options for his surgically repaired right shoulder. Brissett, up to this point, has proven that he can start in the NFL.

It's just those interceptions at the wrong time continue to hurt him.

Brissett's late interception Sunday wasn't necessarily his fault. The quarterback tried to check down to Jack Doyle, but the ball went through the tight end's hands and into the hands of Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier inside Indianapolis' 15-yard line. The Steelers tied the score at 17-17 several plays later.

"Jacoby is doing the right thing," Colts coach Chuck Pagano said. "He's under duress -- going to hit his check-down and it didn't work out."

Brissett had to go to the concussion tent on the Colts sideline after he took a shot in the back of the head by Steelers defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt on a third-down scramble play on the series prior to throwing the interception. Backup quarterback Scott Tolzien went on the field on the Colts' next series, only to have Brissett run on at the last second. Brissett went into the concussion protocol after the game.

The late interception added to the one Brissett threw on the first play of overtime against Arizona in Week 2, the one he threw in the end zone during overtime against San Francisco in Week 3, and the one that was returned for a touchdown by Cincinnati's Carlos Dunlap in Week 8. The Colts are 1-3 in those games.

“No, it's all of the -- playing the position he plays, obviously, it comes with -- we all know what it comes with," Pagano said. "But it's everybody working together. It takes all 11 [players]. It doesn't fall on one guy. We've got to play better. We've got to coach better. It's on all of us.”

Brissett's afternoon against Pittsburgh ended with him finishing 14-of-24 for 222 yards and a touchdown. His day also featured him becoming the first Colts quarterback to have four touchdown passes of at least 60 yards in a season since Johnny Unitas did it in 1966.

Things changed for Brissett and the offense late in the game. They gained a total of 24 yards on 20 plays on their final five possessions. The Steelers blitzed on seven of Brissett's eight dropbacks of the game.

When it was all said and done, all that Brissett will likely be thinking about is another late-game interception.