PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – So many stats would tell you the Steelers shouldn’t have won the game Sunday. Only 168 total yards of offense, outrushed by 166 yards and converting 2 of 11 third downs.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged some of their issues, especially in the first half starting his post-game remarks. Then Tomlin added.
“In spite of those things I thought the guys continued to fight,” Tomlin said. “The turnovers leveled the playing field in the second half and provided the short fields for us. And that was the catalyst for us to go ahead and secure victory.”
“We were getting turnovers on consecutive drives,” said linebacker Joe Schobert. “You could feel the overall momentum in the whole stadium, the atmosphere change. It was huge for us and we rode that wave to the end.”
Steelers would get four turnovers in all compared to none for Tennessee.
It was a similar script to the previous four games (except for the turnovers), Steelers fall behind, with little going for it in the first half. No third down conversions, Najee Harris rushed for six yards, trailing 13-3 at half.
After three punts combined by both teams to open the second half, Steelers converted their first third down of the game, a five-yard reception by Pat Freiermuth. An unnecessary roughness penalty on the hit, which knocked Freiermuth out of the game & into concussion protocol, put the Steelers at the Tennessee 17.
Titans would commit a pass interference penalty on Chase Claypool in the end zone. On his second sneak attempt from the one-yard line, Ben Roethlisberger crossed the goal line for his first rushing touchdown in three seasons to cut the lead to 13-10.
Cam Sutton would force a fumble by the Titans Racey McMath, recovered by Joe Haden to set up the Steelers at the Tennessee 39. Chris Boswell would hit the first of three fourth quarter field goals to tie the game.
Former Dallas first round pick Taco Charlton tipped a Ryan Tannehill pass, picked off by Joe Schobert and returned to the Titans 31 on the next Tennessee possession.
“I was in the A-gap blitzing, I just remember Taco came off the edge, I remember him jumping really high and tipping the ball,” Schobert said. “I tried to high point it and get to it. I started for looking for someone to pitch it to because I wanted a fast guy to run it and I was going to lead block him. I only saw a Tennessee guy back there, so I turned back around and tried to get what I could.”
Boswell would hit a 46-yard field goal, Steelers first lead, 16-13.
TJ Watt recovered a fumbled snap at the Tennessee 35 with 6:36 to play and then Boswell drilled a 48-yard field goal for the final score.
“Was it perfect, nope,” said defensive captain Cam Heyward. “Gave up too much in the run game, but we kept it in reach. The offense got a touchdown. We got some big turnovers in their side of the field, really shortened the field. We were able to get a W because of it.”
“We are in it to the very end every game,” Boswell said. “Never count us out, we fight and claw to the very end. It just shows the grit that this team has, look forward to the rest of the season.”
“We won this one,” Tomlin said. “We’re getting singularly focused for the next one. We’re not diagnosing big pictures. We take care of business in stadium, we don’t need to look around. We have three AFC games left, two of which are AFC North games, so all we have to do is focus on the stadiums that we’re in.”
