Tennessee Titans vs Pittsburgh Steelers Match Player Stats On Sep 08, 2013

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 8, 2013

Titans 16, Steelers 9: Jackie Battle scored on a 3-yard run and Tennessee used a stellar defensive effort to halt Pittsburgh's streak of 10 consecutive home-opening wins.

Jake Locker threw for only 125 yards and Chris Johnson rushed for 70 but the Titans (1-0) sacked Ben Roethlisberger five times, forced two turnovers and did not allow the Steelers to score on offense until the final two minutes - a stunning performance for a unit that surrendered a league-high 471 points last season. Rob Bironas booted three second-half field goals and Tennessee limited Pittsburgh to 32 yards on the ground and 195 overall.

Roethlisberger finished 21-of-33 for 191 yards with one touchdown and one interception, but he managed only one first down in the second half until capping a 75-yard scoring drive with a 4-yard pass to Jerricho Cotchery to pull Pittsburgh (0-1) within 16-9 with 1:23 to play. Tennessee recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock to drop Steelers coach Mike Tomlin to 6-1 in home openers.

The Titans overcome a huge gaffe when Darius Reynaud fielded the opening kickoff just in front of the the goal line and kneeled in the end zone for a safety after being in the field of play. Pittsburgh appeared poised to turn that mistake into more points on the ensuing punt, driving right downfield before Isaac Redman fumbled and Moise Fokou pounced on it in the end zone for a touchback.

Another mistake by Pittsburgh allowed the Titans to head into the locker room at halftime with the lead when Alterraun Verner picked off Roethlisberger at midfield and Battle capped a 12-yard drive with a 3-yard burst up the middle for a 7-2 edge.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Reynaud's early miscue was the first opening-game safety in 25 years - the last occurring in 1988 in a contest between Dallas and the New York Giants - and marked Pittsburgh's quickest score ever in a regular-season game. Two other safeties were scored in other NFL games on Sunday. ... Steelers three-time Pro Bowl C Maurkice Pouncey tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his right knee in the first quarter. LB Larry Foote suffered a ruptured biceps and could also be done for the season. ... Titans RB Shonn Greene and Steelers RB LaRod Stephens-Howling also suffered right knee injuries and did not return.