https://www.espn.in/nfl/story/_/id/38804709/steelers-shut-door-fourth-quarter-continue-titans-road-skid
In a Thursday night matchup, the Pittsburgh Steelers secured a hard-fought 20-16 victory against the Tennessee Titans. The game featured rookie quarterback Will Levis making his second start for the Titans after a four-touchdown debut the previous week.
The Steelers and Titans traded field goals for most of the game before Pittsburgh managed to score a late touchdown and thwart a last-ditch effort by the Titans.
With just over four minutes left in the fourth quarter, Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett connected with wide receiver Diontae Johnson for a crucial 3-yard touchdown.
This win keeps the Steelers in contention with the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens, who currently have a 6-2 record. Will Levis, filling in for the injured Ryan Tannehill, saw his record as a starter drop to 1-1 with the loss.
The victory was sealed when the Steelers’ linebacker Kwon Alexander intercepted a pass from Will Levis in the final seconds of the game.
The Steelers, with a record of 5-3, managed to secure the win in a game where their run game excelled, accumulating a season-high 167 rushing yards. The defense also held Derrick Henry to fewer than 100 rushing yards. The Steelers are now tied for the second-most comeback wins in a season during the Super Bowl era.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett, playing with a rib injury sustained just four days earlier, had a challenging start, completing only 53% of his passes in the first half. However, he rebounded in the second half, thanks in part to the strong performance of the run game. Pickett finished the game with 160 passing yards and no turnovers.
A noteworthy development was the surprise start of Broderick Jones at right tackle for the Steelers. Despite most of his reps coming at left tackle, Jones played a pivotal role in the team’s successful run game, which averaged a season-best 5.5 yards per carry.
For the Titans, it was a heartbreaker as they suffered their eighth consecutive road loss and their fourth loss of the season. They struggled to contain the Steelers’ run game, led by Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.
Despite the loss, rookie quarterback Will Levis made a strong case to remain the starter for the rest of the season. He demonstrated his exceptional arm strength and poise under pressure, keeping the Titans in the game.
The Levis to DeAndre Hopkins connection showed promise for the Titans, with Hopkins having a more productive game with Levis at the helm.
Looking ahead, there is optimism that Will Levis will have his first 300-yard passing performance in the next game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have struggled against the pass this season. This prediction is based on Levis’s ability to execute deep passes effectively.