Steelers offense comes alive, defense seals win vs. Titans

A game that had an uncharacteristic fast start for the Pittsburgh Steelers featured another of Kenny Pickett’s signature fourth-quarter finishes.

With offensive coordinator Matt Canada calling plays from the sideline for the first time, Pickett helped pull out a 20-16 victory against the Tennessee Titans when he threw a go-ahead 3-yard touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson with about four minutes remaining.

The touchdown — Johnson’s first since late in the 2021 season — enabled the Steelers to overcome a 16-13 deficit and improve to 5-3 on the season. Tennessee dropped to 3-5.

The win, however, wasn’t solidified until Kwon Alexander intercepted rookie quarterback Will Levis in the end zone with six seconds left.

The TD pass to Johnson marked the third fourth-quarter comeback win engineered by Pickett this season — all coming in the past three Steelers victories.

“We’ve been there plenty of times,” Johnson said. “It’s how you respond in the moment.”

This one came with Pickett nursing a rib injury that forced him out of the Steelers’ game Sunday against Jacksonville shortly before halftime.

As he has done several times this season, Pickett made a big throw on the 11-play, 92-yard drive. He had a 32-yard completion down the right sideline to Johnson on a third-down throw that gave the Steelers a first down at the Tennessee 23. Then, he ended it by finding Johnson in the right side of the end zone.

“Nothing he does from an intangible perspective or toughness perspective surprises me,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “We’re all really comfortable about those qualities in him and his desire to rise up big for us in moments and be significant down the stretch.”

Pickett completed 19 of 30 passes for 160 yards. Johnson finished with seven catches for 90 yards.

The touchdown was set up by Jaylen Warren’s 22-yard run to the Titans’ 1. Warren was part of a resurgent running game that totaled a season-high 166 yards. Warren finished with 88 yards on 11 carries, and Najee Harris added 69 yards on 16 attempts and scored on a 10-yard run on the Steelers’ opening possession.

The success running the ball came on a day when right tackle Chuks Okorafor was benched in favor of first-round pick Broderick Jones, who started his first game on the right side. The line provided plenty of protection for Pickett, who was not sacked and hit just twice.

“The O-line deserves a lot more credit than anything for tonight,” Harris said. “I thought they won the game for us.”

Derrick Henry rushed for 75 yards and scored a touchdown for the Titans, who also held 10-7 and 13-10 leads in the first half. Levis, in his second career start, passed for 262 yards but did not throw a touchdown pass after firing four in his NFL debut.

Levis completed 12 of 17 passes for 153 yards in the first half to help the Titans take a 13-10 lead into the locker room.

The Steelers tied the score on their first drive of the second half, but for a brief moment, it looked like they had nearly regained the lead.

On third-and-3 from the 12, George Pickens, who finished with two catches for minus-1 yard, caught a pass as he crossed through the right side of the end zone that initially was called a touchdown. Officials conferred and correctly ruled that Pickens didn’t get his second foot inbounds.

Chris Boswell then kicked a 30-yard field goal to make it 13-13.

An illegal contact call on Patrick Peterson gave the Titans a first down when it seemed like they would have to punt. Given renewed life, Levis unleashed a pass into the flat as he was hit by Alex Highsmith. The ball fluttered into Henry’s arms, and he gained 25 yards.

Nick Folk kicked his third field goal, from 48 yards, to push the Titans back on top, 16-13, with 19 seconds left in the third.

The Steelers were penalized 10 times overall, including four on the Titans’ initial drive of the game, which resulted in a field goal. On the Titans’ final drive, rookie corner Joey Porter Jr. was called for holding on a fourth-down incompletion that would have ended the game.

“Penalties were catastrophic to our defensive effort,” Tomlin said.

A 29-yard pass to Chris Moore put the Titans at the Steelers 36 with 26 ticks left, and Tennessee had the ball on the 19 with 11 seconds remaining.

Levis threw toward the goal line, and Alexander intercepted the pass to end the drama.

The Steelers sacked Levis four times, with Highsmith dropping him twice. Cam Heyward, activated from injured reserve and playing for the first time since the opener, had six tackles.

“I just thought we competed,” Heyward said. “Was it perfect? No. We had a lot of penalties that we’ve got to clean up. I love the way we just attacked the day.”

Coincidence or not, Canada’s first game calling plays from the sideline instead of the coaching box resulted in the Steelers getting points on their opening drive for the first time this season. It was a touchdown, to boot, as Harris ran up the middle 10 yards for the score to cap a 10-play, 78-yard march.

“Big ups to the O-line,” Harris said. “I can’t talk about it enough. Just their mentality and the way they were finishing and just creating movement up front. They did a really good job.”

It was the first time since last December against Carolina that the Steelers scored on their opening possession, and it happened for just the seventh time in 42 games with Canada as offensive coordinator.

“We’re making moves with the intentions of being better,” Tomlin said.