In a thrilling Thursday night matchup, the Pittsburgh Steelers emerged victorious, beating the visiting Tennessee Titans with a final score of 20-16. Kenny Pickett orchestrated a late-game go-ahead touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson, while Kwon Alexander sealed the victory with an interception of Tennessee’s Will Levis in the end zone, extending Pittsburgh’s winning streak against the Titans to five consecutive games.
Pickett was 19-of-30 in passing, covering 160 yards, as the Steelers (5-3) secured their third win in four games. Johnson played a crucial role, catching seven passes for 90 yards. Jaylen Warren was instrumental, contributing 113 total yards (88 rushing and 25 receiving), and Najee Harris rushed for 69 yards and scored a touchdown.
Derrick Henry played a significant role for the Titans (3-5), rushing for a touchdown and accumulating 102 yards (75 rushing and 27 receiving). Will Levis, in his second NFL start, completed 22 of 39 passes for 262 yards and an interception while filling in for the injured Ryan Tannehill.
Nick Folk contributed with three field goals for the Titans.
The pivotal moment in the game came when Kenny Pickett connected with Diontae Johnson on a 3-yard touchdown pass, capping off a 92-yard drive that spanned 11 plays. Notable plays during this drive included Pickett’s 32-yard pass to Johnson on a crucial third-and-6 situation and Jaylen Warren’s subsequent 22-yard run that brought the ball to the Titans’ 1-yard line. The touchdown pass was the turning point in the game, with penalties on both teams resulting in the ball eventually being placed at the 3-yard line.
In the closing moments of the game, Tennessee’s hopes were dashed when Will Levis threw an incomplete pass deep downfield to Treylon Burks on fourth-and-4, giving Pittsburgh the ball with just 2:06 left on the clock. Unfortunately, the game was marred by an injury to Burks, who had to be taken off on a cart but reportedly had movement in all extremities.
The Titans had one final opportunity to mount a comeback, but their drive ended in disappointment as Levis was intercepted by Kwon Alexander.
The game also saw Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb being carted off the field with a left knee injury during the first quarter. Despite his rib injury from a recent game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Kenny Pickett played a crucial role in leading the Steelers to victory.
The Titans’ Nick Folk kicked a 48-yard field goal with 19 seconds left in the third quarter, giving Tennessee a brief 16-13 lead. In the first half, Levis passed for 153 yards, and the Titans held a narrow 13-10 lead at halftime.
The game featured several lead changes and an electrifying finish, with both teams displaying their resilience and determination throughout the matchup.
