The Steelers and Titans both attempted game-winning field goals in the final minute on Thursday night. Steelers kicker Shaun Suisham came up a yard short. Titans kicker Rob Bironas was perfect.
Bironas’s kick as time expired gave the Titans a 26-23 win over the Steelers, in a good Thursday night game that may help the Titans turn around their season, and may prove to be costly for the Steelers.
It will be costly not only because it drops the Steelers to 2-3, but also because the injuries piled up for Pittsburgh. Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey and tackle Marcus Gilbert both suffered leg injuries, while running back Rashard Mendenhall suffered an apparent Achilles injury, and running back Isaac Redman, who was having a great game catching passes out of the backfield, left with an ankle injury.
Despite facing a lot of pressure, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had a strong night, completing 24 of 40 passes for 363 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was also effective, completing 25 of 44 passes for 290 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
And when Suisham’s field goal was short with 49 seconds left to play, Hasselbeck maneuvered the Titans into position for Bironas’s game winner. This was a win the Titans needed, and a loss the Steelers could ill afford.