EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (WISH) — Just call him Big Play Pierce.

“When there’s a big play that needs to be made, you can count on (Alec Pierce) to come down with that ball, and that’s the level of play that we all need to have,” Colts All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor said.

It was a bittersweet kind of game for Pierce in New Jersey Sunday. His six catches went for 122 yards and a touchdown – one of his most productive days of the season. But the Colts lost to the Giants, 45-33, and were eliminated from the playoff chase.

“I think as a whole I think the receiver room, we did a good job making plays,” Pierce said postgame. “Joe (Flacco) gave us a lot of good opportunities down the field. I think we could’ve made more plays, but we just try to make the play any time we get the opportunity.”

Pierce’s production constantly impresses his coaches.

“The big play ability that he brings to our offense was huge,” head coach Shane Steichen said. “Obviously, he had the big one down the field down the middle, made some big time clutch catches. I mean, he’s had a hell of a year for us.”

“He just made play after play after play, and that’s really just what Alec does,” fellow receiver Michael Pittman Jr. said postgame. “If you give him the shot, he’s going to make the play, so yeah, he had a big game today.”

Pierce has hit the century mark now three times this season. Against the Titans, Pierce missed his first game in two years due to a concussion. He said having to sit on the sidelines motivated him even more to have a big game against the Giants.

“I was just happy to be back out there,” Pierce said. “I was frustrated I couldn’t play last week. So it was just good to be back out there.”

“I’m proud of him, and I’m excited to see him hit his stride like that,” Taylor said. “AP has been showing that game in and game out every single week this year, and to be able to see him do that is something special.”

Pierce continues to show his versatility as he caps off his third season in the NFL.

“His ability to go downfield and really go up and get the ball,” center Ryan Kelly said on what’s most impressive about Pierce’s talents. “I think if you see his deep threat ability, and that’s what Shane told him in the beginning of the year – that he’s got a very hard standard for each person in the room. Here’s your roll. Here’s what I need you to be. He told him, ‘I need you to be the deep threat guy that I know you can be.’ And he’s been that all year, and super impressed with him.”

Pierce gets one more chance to show off this season when the Jaguars come to Indy Sunday at 1 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — An umbrella can block the rain from hitting you this New Year’s Eve, but it can’t stop bullets from raining down on you. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department warns people to not celebrate 2025 by shooting guns into the air.

It is incredibly dangerous, in part, because you just don’t know where they’ll come down, IMPD said. “Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve we often hear gunshots and those are typically fired into the air,” IMPD officer Tommy Thompson said.

No matter if it’s a small caliber bullet, or a larger caliber, gravity will bring it down at a speed fast enough to get through your skull.

“We’ve had incidents where individuals in past years have been struck by bullets that have come down,” Thompson said.

Even if someone doesn’t get hit, you can cause serious damage.

In 2019, Indianapolis saw broken car windows and several homes that had holes in their roofs because people shot a gun into the air.

“What goes up must come down and we ask that you please not celebrate in a fashion that requires firing firearms into the air,” Thompson said.

If you’re caught firing a gun into the air you can be charged with a level 6 felony with the possibility of spending six months up to two and a half years years in prison.

IMPD said they’ll also be on the lookout for anyone who over indulges in alcohol and decides to get behind the wheel to drive.

“We will have an increase in patrols doing traffic and enforcement. That will include OWI and DUI enforcement,” Thompson said.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — As 2024 draws to a close, some Hoosiers are spreading goodwill to brighten the community. Buca di Beppo, a restaurant known for its family-style Italian meals, is marking the occasion with a special initiative designed to give back.

The restaurant is preparing 75 meals for the Wheeler Mission Shelter in Indianapolis, ensuring individuals in need will have a warm, comforting meal on New Year’s Eve. The meals will feature Buca di Beppo’s signature Italian dishes, served family-style to create a sense of togetherness for those facing hardship.

Wheeler Mission is a non-denominational, Christian organization that provides emergency care, recovery services, and Christ-centered transformation for individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty throughout central and south central Indiana, regardless of race, creed, or religion.

Buca di Beppo says its donation aims to support local efforts to assist those in need, offering a comforting family-style meal during a time when many face challenges. This initiative highlights the restaurant’s commitment to spreading hope and fostering community connections during the holiday season.

The meal delivery will take place on Tuesday evening at the Wheeler Mission Shelter’s Men’s Residential Center, located at 245 N. Delaware St. in Indianapolis.

This act of kindness on New Year’s Eve serves as a reminder of the impact that small gestures of community support can have, bringing people together as the year comes to a close.

How you can help

Wheeler Mission is looking for volunteers to purchase, assemble, and deliver sack lunches to supplement hot meals. The lunches should be prepared off-site following the organization’s safety guidelines and can be dropped off at the Men’s Residential Center. Click here to learn more.