Steelers 2023
In Pittsburgh The Tennessee Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers traded field goals for the majority of the Thursday night game that marked the start of Week 9, which was heralded by much fanfare following Tennessee Titans rookie Will Levis’ four-touchdown debut the previous week. Pittsburgh eventually managed to score late and hold off a last-ditch effort by the Titans, winning 20-16.
The Steelers’ wide receiver Diontae Johnson was found by quarterback Kenny Pickett for a 3-yard touchdown with 4:02 left in the fourth quarter. While Levis dropped to 1-1 as a starter, replacing the injured Ryan Tannehill, the victory enables the Steelers to stay in touch with the Baltimore Ravens, who are leading the AFC North (6-2).
Linebacker Kwon Alexander was able to seal the win when Levis threw his first interception of his young NFL career on third-and-5 from the Pittsburgh 19-yard line with six seconds remaining.
Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3)
Call him Kenny Comeback. The Steelers’ second-year quarterback was able to deliver the game-winner to Johnson, the wide receiver’s first touchdown in 22 games.
It’s never easy for this year’s Steelers team — even on a night where the run game recorded a season-high 167 yards, and the defense held Derrick Henry to fewer than 100 rushing yards. With the win, the Steelers have an NFL-leading four wins when trailing after three quarters. The four comeback wins are also tied for Pittsburgh’s second-most in a season during the Super Bowl era.
QB breakdown: Pickett, who had only played four days prior, had a rough start to the game and only completed 53% of his passes in the first half due to a rib ailment. Though it was just the Steelers’ fourth first-drive touchdown in the previous three seasons and only their second with Pickett starting, the offense did manage to score a touchdown with Pickett leading the way. Pickett recovered with a far stronger second half following two three-and-outs, mostly because of the development of the run game. With no turnovers, Pickett completed 19 of 30 passes for 160 yards, including a 32-yard pass to Johnson during the touchdown drive.
Buy on a breakout performance: Broderick Jones is the Steelers’ starting right tackle. Jones, who unseated Chukwuma Okorafor, was a surprise start on a short week — especially considering he’s taken most of his reps at left tackle in games and in practice. Okorafor is the Steelers’ highest-paid offensive lineman with a $13 million cap hit this season. Jones, though, was a big part of the run game’s success Thursday. He helped pave a path for Najee Harris on the first score of the game, and he aided Harris to a 25-yard run in the second half — his longest of the season. The run game also averaged a season-best 5.5 yards per carry — well over its 3.6 average.
Troubling trend: In each of the last three games, wide receiver George Pickens has made an incredible catch — only to have it ruled incomplete because he didn’t get a second foot down. While the first two had more to do with the ball placement on the throw, the one on Thursday cost his team a touchdown. Pickett perfectly placed the ball in the end zone where only Pickens could get it, but Pickens’ second foot hit the sideline before touching down in the end zone. There was space to drag his toe, but Pickens didn’t have the awareness to get his toe down. Instead of taking a four-point lead, the Steelers settled for a field goal and a 13-13 tie late in the third quarter. Pickens entered the night with 11 receptions within 2 yards of a boundary the last two seasons, most in the league according to NFL Next Gen Stats. — Brooke Pryor
Tennessee Titans (3-5)
Tennessee Titans (3-5)The Titans suffered their fourth road defeat of the season and their eighth consecutive loss away from home after dropping a heartbreaker. The Steelers’ running game, spearheaded by Jaylen Warren (10 carries for 85 yards) and Harris (15 carries for 72 yards and a touchdown), was too much for the Titans to stop.
Levis made a case to start the remainder of the season even if it was a defeat. Levis gave the Titans a shot to win but was just unable to hold off a fierce pass rush.
QB Breakdown: Despite the pass pressure constantly bearing down on Levis, he was able to throw to his receivers. He demonstrated his exceptional, effortless arm strength, particularly on his greatest throw, a multilayer pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine off.
Biggest hole in the game plan: The Titans took over at their 38-yard line down four. Wide receiver Treylon Burks picked up five yards on an end-around and Derrick Henry‘s 1-yard run made it third-and-4. Kelly decided to call an inside run to Tyjae Spears, and it went for no gain to set up a fourth down. Despite the fact Pittsburgh’s pass rushers were able to harass Levis all game, the next playcall employed long-developing routes and a deep incompletion to Burks.
Promising trend: The Levis to DeAndre Hopkins combination has been money for the Titans. Hopkins, who finished with 60 yards on four receptions, played 12 halves without Levis this season. He had at least 50 receiving yards in just one of them. In only four halves with Levis, Hopkins has had at least 50 receiving yards in three of them. Hopkins didn’t catch a touchdown in six games before Levis started, but he now has three.
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