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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Tennessee's plan was to use quarterback Steve
McNair only in an emergency.
|  | | Steve McNair spent much of Sunday's game on the sidelines, but would eventually lead the Titans to the winning touchdown. |
When a bloody Neil O'Donnell staggered off the field in the
fourth quarter, sirens were going off.
McNair, who had limited practice time all week and didn't start
because of a bruised sternum, replaced O'Donnell and threw an
18-yard TD pass with 1:25 left Sunday, rallying the Titans to a
23-20 victory over winless Pittsburgh.
"Steve's a hero," running back Eddie George said. "He's done
this numerous times. When our backs are to the wall, he comes out
and makes plays. That's why he's Steve McNair."
McNair came in with 2:35 left after O'Donnell, making his first
start at Three Rivers Stadium since leaving Pittsburgh, had his
lower lip split open on a sack. He wobbled to the sideline,
assisted by George.
"He couldn't stay in there," George said. "I looked in his
eyes and he was gone. He had blood coming from his mouth and he was
dazed. I didn't want the defense to see that."
After one of Tennessee's equipment managers scrambled to get his
helmet, McNair took just a few warmup tosses before entering with
the Titans down 20-16.
On third-and-11 at his own 36, McNair completed a 22-yard pass
to Chris Sanders on his first attempt and then ran for 9 more
yards, taking a shot as he hit the turf.
Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher said he held his breath as McNair
scrambled and yelled, "Slide! Go down! But that's how Steve is."
McNair then hit Derek Mason for 15 yards to the 18 before
finding tight end Erron Kinney wide open on a blown coverage for
the go-ahead TD.
"I couldn't believe the configuration of the defense," McNair
said. "I just didn't want to overthrow him."
In five plays, McNair went 3-for-3 for 51 yards, ran for 9 more
and then took a knee to run out the clock.
McNair said it was a good thing that during his limited time
practicing this week, he worked on the 2-minute offense.
"It was the same stuff," McNair said. "It paid off. I
prepared all week like I was going to start. I stayed focused and
when I went in there it was just a matter of how quickly I could
get into a rhythm."
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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This is a big rivalry -- a game that both teams get up for -- so I'm not surprised that the Steelers gave the Titans a good game. The Steelers really deserved to win the game, but Tennessee found a way to win in crunch time.
The Steelers, for the second week in a row, had a chance to tie the game in the closing seconds. But a 50-yard field goal attempt fell short. After a rocky start, Pittsburgh's defense settled down and gave Tennesee's offense more than they wanted.
Titans backup (and former Steelers QB) Neil O'Donnell was not especially effective. Give the credit to Steelers cornerbacks Chad Scott and Dewayne Washington, who had excellent games. The Steelers' defensive front made Titans RB Eddie George earn every yard he gained.
Late in the game O'Donnell took a hard hit and Steve McNair came in. McNair completed three straight passes, including the game-winning TD. It was an impressive relief performance by Steve McNair and keeps Tennessee in the hunt in the AFC Central.
For the Steelers, it's a disappointing third loss this season. The Steelers haven't started 0-3 since 1986. |
Kordell Stewart made a gallant try to bring the Steelers (0-3)
back. Stewart, who earlier scored on a 1-yard plunge, was forced in
when starter Kent Graham injured his right hip with 1:10 remaining.
Stewart moved the Steelers to the Titans 32, and for the second
straight week, Pittsburgh didn't convert a last-second field goal.
But Kris Brown's 50-yard field-goal attempt with 18 seconds
remaining was short, and the Steelers lost by the same 23-20 score
they did a week ago when they failed to get the field-goal unit in
the game in time.
"That two weeks in a row that it's heartbreaking," Graham
said.
Al Del Greco kicked three field goals for the Titans (2-1), who
won their sixth straight over the Steelers.
Tennessee, which lost wide receiver Kevin Dyson during the week
for the season, came away hurting, though.
Defensive lineman Joe Salave'a was taken to the hospital as a
precautionary measure after injuring his neck in the first half.
Tight end Frank Wycheck suffered a concussion while making a catch
in the first half and didn't return, and Jevon Kearse has a hip
flexor.
Chad Scott had two interceptions for Pittsburgh, which has lost
10 of 11 and is 0-3 for the first time since 1986.
"We gave up too many big plays," Scott said. "We can't be
giving up 300-yard passing games."
O'Donnell finished 13-of-27 for 237 yards and two interceptions
while replacing McNair. Graham was 18-of-33 for 254 yards.
DeWayne Washington's interception -- Pittsburgh's third off
O'Donnell -- helped set up the Steelers' go-ahead score, a 5-yard
run by Jerome Bettis that made it 20-16 with 7:50 to play.
Stewart, benched in favor of Graham as Pittsburgh's starting QB,
scored on a 1-yard dive on the first play of the fourth quarter,
tying it 13-13.
Pittsburgh's defense has been giving up big plays all season,
and the Titans burned the Steelers on a 67-yard pass play on their
opening drive when O'Donnell hit Carl Pickens.
Tennessee went up 7-0 on the next play on George's 20-yard
scoring run.
Game
notes
Bettis gained 77 yards and moved past Hall of Famer Jim
Taylor into 15th place on the career rushing list. ... Tennessee
improved to 17-2 vs. the AFC Central since 1998. ... Kearse's NFL
record of getting at least one-half sack ended at 13 games. ...
Pickens had his first 100-yard receiving game with the Titans and
the 20th of his career.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
Tennessee Clubhouse
Pittsburgh Clubhouse
Steelers get another NFL apology ... for what it's worth
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Steve McNair does what it takes to win.
wav: 151 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Eddie George says Steve McNair is at his best when the game is on the line.
wav: 120 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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