FG lifts Titans past Steelers

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Even on a night when Ben Roethlisberger became Pittsburgh's career passing leader, he couldn't solve the Steelers' road woes.

Rob Bironas' 40-yard field goal as time expired Thursday gave the Tennessee Titans a 26-23 victory over the Steelers, who have lost their first three road games this season. Pittsburgh (2-3) has dropped five of its last six road contests in a stretch that dates to last season.

"We're not doing enough things to finish games in hostile environments," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "That's just the reality right now. Hopefully, it's just right now. We didn't do the job tonight. We defeated ourselves in some areas. We'll go back to work. Needless to say, it's disappointing."

Roethlisberger went 24 of 40 for 363 yards with a touchdown and an interception to give him a franchise-record 28,066 yards passing. Terry Bradshaw had 27,989 from 1970-83.

Roethlisberger also put Shaun Suisham in position to deliver a winning kick for the second straight week. Only this time, Suisham's job was much tougher.

Suisham had made a 34-yard field goal as time expired Sunday in the Steelers' 16-14 victory over Philadelphia that gave Roethlisberger his 25th career fourth-quarter comeback. The score was tied 23-23 with 49 seconds remaining Thursday when Suisham was short on a 54-yard field-goal attempt. His miss allowed the Titans to start their winning drive at their own 45.

Tomlin said he debated whether to go for the field goal in that situation. Suisham had made his three previous attempts, including a 52-yarder.

"He banged the other one before that pretty clean, so I decided to give him a shot at it," Tomlin said. "I take the responsibility for the miss."

The Steelers had scored 13 straight points to take a 23-16 lead before Matt Hasselbeck threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Britt with 4:19 left to tie the score.

Tennessee (2-4) held its first opponent below 30 points this season. The Titans had given up more points than any other team in the NFL.

"It's only one win, we know that," Titans coach Mike Munchak said. "But it's a great win for us at this point in the season when we needed a win to show people what we're all about."

Chris Johnson ran for 91 yards on 19 carries, and Hasselbeck finished with 290 yards passing.

"It feels good to win against a good opponent," said Hasselbeck, who started his second straight game in place of injured Jake Locker. "It feels good to win a close game."

The Steelers were up 20-16 when Lawrence Timmons picked off Hasselbeck's pass, but they had to settle for Suisham's third field goal after moving the ball only 14 yards. That field goal put Pittsburgh up 23-16, and the NFL's fifth-ranked defense couldn't make that stand up.

"We're not scoring enough points, and we're not making the play when we need to," Roethlisberger said.

After the Titans tied the game, Tomlin tried to ice Bironas with a timeout before the game-winning field goal. Bironas waited it out, and then kicked the ball through to give the Titans a rare chance to celebrate this season.

"It's kind of like Kevin Costner in 'For The Love of the Game,' where he clears the mechanism," Bironas said. "You go out there, and you're in the zone."

The Steelers, who played without safety Troy Polamalu and linebacker LaMarr Woodley, head home with a much longer injury report.

Running back Ike Redman caught four passes for 105 yards for the Steelers before injuring his right ankle in the third quarter and never returned. Running back Rashard Mendenhall also went down with an Achilles injury.

Center Maurkice Pouncey injured his right leg on Pittsburgh's first play from scrimmage and was ruled out for the rest of the game. Right tackle Marcus Gilbert hurt his right ankle in the second quarter. Doug Legursky stepped in for Pouncey, while rookie Mike Adams replaced Gilbert. A Steelers drive stalled when Derrick Morgan got around Adams and sacked Roethlisberger.

Tennessee capitalized on a blocked punt to take the lead early in the second quarter.

On the final play of the first quarter, Tim Shaw broke through the middle of the line and blocked Drew Butler's punt. Jason McCourty recovered at the 1 to give the Titans first-and-goal. That set up a 1-yard burst from Jamie Harper that gave the Titans a 13-10 lead.

Bironas added a 47-yard field goal on the final play of the second quarter as Tennessee took a 16-10 lead into halftime..

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Steelers, Raiders waiting for running games to bear fruit

OAKLAND, California — The Oakland Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers spent the offseason implementing new offenses designed to rely heavily on running games that could take a little pressure off their passers.

Two weeks into the season, neither running game has gotten off the ground.

Despite having a healthy Darren McFadden for a change, the Raiders (0-2) go into Sunday's game against the Steelers (1-1) with the league's second-worst rushing attack.

"You don't let it frustrate you. The saving grace is, you know McFadden is back there," Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer said. "He's one arm tackle away from breaking off a 40-, 50-yarder. He's got that potential, he's got that ability, he's done it before. We're going to stick with it. We're not frustrated. We're disappointed in ourselves for not executing it better but we're not going to let it frustrate us, we're not going to let it deter it from our goal."

The Steelers haven't had much better luck running the ball so far this season in new coordinator Todd Haley's offense.

Pittsburgh has rushed for just 141 yards the first two weeks and averaged a paltry 2.6 yards per carry, putting more pressure on Ben Roethlisberger and the passing game to get things going.

"It's obviously been a little frustrating because that was the emphasis of the offseason, getting a new coordinator, is running the ball and being able to pound it," Roethlisberger said. "But it's not working quite this minute and things aren't going well."

The Raiders have been much worse with just 68 yards rushing per game in losses to San Diego and Miami. For a team that has stressed being a run-first offense under coordinator Greg Knapp, it's not hard to figure why the offense has sputtered so much with a running game that can't get going.

McFadden, who missed the final nine games last season with a foot injury, is healthy but not productive. He has 54 yards on 26 carries as he once again has struggled while playing in a zone blocking system.

Knapp brought back the system the Raiders used in McFadden's first two seasons, which were filled with disappointments. McFadden emerged as one of the league's top backs once Hue Jackson brought his offense to Oakland that stressed more power running.

McFadden averaged 5.3 yards per carry under Jackson, compared to 3.7 in the other systems. The main difference has been the lack of big plays. He has also gone from having one of every 15 runs go for at least 20 yards to one of every 49.

"I just feel like going with the zone system is one of those situations where you're going to have to keep hitting it until you get going," McFadden said. "It's going to be 1 yard here or 2 yards there, but eventually it's going to start popping."

The Steelers hope it's not this week.

"We know he's an explosive back and can go off at any time," defensive lineman Casey Hampton said. "We know that. We're very aware. We're not taking it for granted."

Facing the Steelers stout defense has not usually been the tonic to cure struggling running games over the years. Pittsburgh has allowed the fewest yards rushing per game over the past 10 seasons because of its physical front and sure-tackling secondary.

In two games against the Steelers, McFadden has 39 yards on 19 carries.

"It's going to be a rough, tough fist fight out there," he said. "They are going to come in here with a hard-nose defense, and you know that's something you expect from the Steelers. We just have to go out there and play our game, and stay on schedule."

Roethlisberger has made up for the deficiencies in Pittsburgh's running game with sterling play on third downs. He has completed 19 of 25 passes for 251 yards, three touchdowns and a passer rating of 146.8 on third down, allowing Pittsburgh to overcome the long yardage situations created by the lack of a running game.

"It's obviously been a little frustrating because that was the emphasis of the offseason, getting a new coordinator, running the ball and being able to pound it," Roethlisberger said. "But it's not working quite this minute and things aren't going well. You got to find ways to keep holding on to the ball, possessing it, and we've been able to do that."

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Jets' Revis to miss Steelers game with concussion

FLORHAM PARK, New Jersey — The New York Jets will face the Pittsburgh Steelers' speedy receivers without Darrelle Revis.

Ready to take off: The Jets will attempt to improve to 2-0 when they take on the Steelers this weekend. AP

The All-Pro cornerback was ruled out Friday for the team's game at Pittsburgh on Sunday with a concussion that left Revis "in a fog" after the injury occurred in the season opener against Buffalo.

Coach Rex Ryan said Revis was cleared for non-contact practice for the first time Friday, but will not travel to Pittsburgh with the team Saturday.

"We followed NFL protocol this week," Ryan said, "and we'll always follow NFL protocol when it comes to concussions, but Darrelle is ruled out for the game."

Revis needed to be cleared by the team physician and an independent neurological consultant in order to first practice and then play. He was injured when he made a diving tackle attempt on C.J. Spiller and teammate Bart Scott accidentally kicked him in the head.

The Jets will also be without tight end Dustin Keller and linebacker Bryan Thomas, both because of hamstring issues. To make up for the loss of Keller, one of quarterback Mark Sanchez's favorite targets, New York signed tight end Dedrick Epps — who was in training camp with the Jets — off Chicago's practice squad.

Pittsburgh might be without a few key defensive players, too, as safety Troy Polamalu (strained right calf) and linebacker James Harrison (left knee) didn't practice Friday and were questionable for the game.

Revis has missed just three games in his career, all in 2010. Now, the Jets will head to Pittsburgh with a tough matchup coming up with the Steelers' trio of Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders.

Kyle Wilson, a first-round draft pick in 2010, will start in Revis' place opposite Antonio Cromartie. Ellis Lankster will move in Wilson's usual nickelback spot.

Safety Eric Smith is also expected to make his season debut after being hobbled since the preseason with hip and knee injuries.

"With Darrelle not playing, we have a lot of confidence in Kyle Wilson," Ryan said. "Obviously, he has to step up in a starter role, which he's ready for. Ellis Lankster and Isaiah Trufant will share some nickel and dime responsibilities.

"It'll be good to get Eric Smith back, and we think he's ready to roll. The guys that are stepping up in this case, I always believe, the guys who step up and replace that guy, have to maintain that level — or maybe even a little better.

"In this case, we'll take a little less with the Darrelle Revis deal."

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Tebow, Broncos stun Steelers

DENVER — One of the most storied NFL playoff teams ran into a rejuvenated Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos.

Sorry, Pittsburgh Steelers.

The magic is back.

Tebow connected with Demaryius Thomas on an electrifying 80-yard touchdown pass on the first play of overtime and the Broncos defeated the stunned Steelers 29-23 in the AFC wild-card game on Sunday. Wild doesn't begin to describe it. The play took 11 seconds and was the quickest ending to an overtime in NFL history.

Thomas hauled in a high play-action pass at the Denver 38, stiff-armed Ike Taylor and then outraced Ryan Mundy to the end zone. Tebow, who looked as startled as everyone else, chased down Thomas and knelt on one knee — a gesture known far and wide these days as Tebowing. Then he pounded a fist in triumph and took a victory lap.

"When I saw him scoring, first of all, I just thought, 'Thank you, Lord,' " Tebow said. "Then, I was running pretty fast, chasing him — Like I can catch up to D.T.! Then I just jumped into the stands, first time I've done that. That was fun. Then, got on a knee and thanked the Lord again and tried to celebrate with my teammates and the fans."

Prodded by John Elway to let the ball fly, Tebow acted as if the last three weeks never happened, lifting the Broncos to their first playoff win in six years.

Behind Tebow's 316 yards passing, the Broncos (9-8) are heading to New England for a second-round game against the top-seeded Patriots on Saturday night. And, unlike Elway, who lost his first postseason start — to the Steelers at home in 1984 — Tebow is 1-0 in the playoffs.

"We're just a fighting team. A lot of resilience," Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey said. "In any adverse situation, we'll find a way to get out of it. Everybody says we backed into the playoffs, we're in. We did something right along the way. We're in it. We won a game. Now, we've got to go try to win another one."

The Steelers (12-5) lost despite Ben Roethlisberger rallying injury-depleted Pittsburgh from a two-touchdown halftime deficit with 10 points in the final 10 minutes.

Pittsburgh called tails for the overtime coin toss, and it came up heads.

Tebow, who engineered five fourth-quarter comebacks and three OT wins in the regular season, wasted no time in finding Thomas to end the game. Mundy was playing in place of Ryan Clark, the Steelers' leading tackler who sat this one out because of a blood condition that's exacerbated at altitude.

Clark was one of several Steelers sidelined or injured. Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey was out, replaced by Doug Legursky, who had a bad snap right before halftime that moved Pittsburgh out of field goal range.

Thomas raced down the Broncos sideline, sending the crowd, including Elway, the Broncos executive vice president, into a frenzy at Sports Authority Field, which was rocking like the old Mile High Stadium back in the 1990s.

And Elway, the architect of so many those magical moments at the old place, jumped for joy on the field like he used to when he was the one throwing the winning pass.

The Patriots walloped the Broncos 41-23 last month, sending Tebow into a funk that included seven turnovers and a 40 percent completion clip — and prompting Elway to implore him to "pull the trigger" in the playoffs.

Did he ever.

Tebow completed 10 of 21 passes but Thomas hauled in four of them for 204 yards after his top target, Eric Decker, was lost to a left knee injury on the first play of the second quarter when he was hit by linebacker James Harrison.

Tebow also ran 10 times for 50 yards.

"I think we executed a little bit better. We tried to step up," Tebow said. "We knew it was win or go home. This team wanted to fight. We wanted to play another game."

EAST RUTHERFORD, New jersey — All the missing pieces — defense and a running game — are aligning at the right time for Eli Manning and the New York Giants. And just in time to play the Packers.

After routing the Atlanta Falcons 24-2 Sunday in the NFC wild-card game, the Giants head to Green Bay next weekend, a place where they will need all the help they can muster.

Manning carried the Giants (10-7) for much of the season, hoping the defense would get stingy, the pass rush would materialize and the running game would get on track. Now, all of that is happening.

"A great mix of run and pass and these guys have a great understanding of what our offense is," Manning said of the help he's receiving. "If we can get that run game going like we did in the second half, that opens up a lot of windows."

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Banged-up Roethlisberger set to rest as Steelers host Rams

PITTSBURGH — The choice is never really much of a choice for Ben Roethlisberger.

Given the option to play or rest his badly sprained left ankle on Saturday against struggling St. Louis, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback would rather take the field regardless of the pain or the risk.

"I'm in the here and now," Roethlisberger said. "That's where we are coaches and players and a team."

Then again, Roethlisberger allowed, it's never his call.

"That's a coach's decision, as always," he said.

And coach Mike Tomlin decided to go with veteran backup Charlie Batch.

A playoff spot already clinched, the Steelers (10-4) will try to keep their hopes for an AFC North title alive with Batch, who is 4-2 as a spot starter over the last six seasons.

Yet they allow they'll approach the game differently if Batch is under center. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians typically comes up with two game plans, one for Roethlisberger and another for the 37-year-old Batch, just in case Roethlisberger can't play.

On Saturday, it's time for Plan B.

Though he lacks Roethlisberger's big-time arm, Batch can still get it done. He went 1-1 last season while filling in as Roethlisberger served a four-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

"We can still make big plays with (Batch)," wide receiver Mike Wallace said. "But instead of catching the ball 50 yards down the field, maybe we do it 15 yards down the field and do stuff after the catch."

And with Roethlisberger's ankle limiting his ability to get out of the pocket, Batch gives the Steelers more flexibility in playcalling.

Though he passed for 330 yards in a 20-3 loss to San Francisco, Roethlisberger acknowledged the 49ers quickly figured out what was coming depending on how the team lined up. If he was under center, it was a run. If he was in the shotgun, he was going to sling it.

"I honestly think that's probably why they deferred when they won the toss," Roethlisberger said. "They were going to come after me."

St. Louis certainly figured to do the same with defensive end Chris Long and his 13 sacks leading the way. Instead Long will chase down Batch or third quarterback Dennis Dixon.

"(Batch and Dixons) are certainly more mobile," St. Louis defensive coordinator Ken Flajole said. "They have a little bit more scrambling ability. Ben does a great job of getting away from pressure, but that ankle I'm sure has been a problem for him."

Roethlisberger doesn't necessarily agree. Despite throwing the ball 44 times in San Francisco and taking a handful of shots in the process, the two-time Super Bowl winner wanted to play against the Rams even if he was "five percent" even if it adversely affected his team's postseason chances.

"I don't go out there worrying about playing with an injury," he said. "I don't go out there worrying about getting hurt worse."

Now he won't have to, making Saturday a battle of the backups.

St. Louis quarterback Sam Bradford, didn't practice this week and appears likely to miss his fifth game of the season with a sprained ankle of his own.

Still, like Roethlisberger, Bradford would prefer to be on the field. It's why he refused to be placed on season-ending injured reserve even if the Rams are putting the finishing touches on an eighth consecutive non-winning season.

"It's my job, that's why I'm here," Bradford said. "I'm here to play football, I'm not here to ride the bike, I'm not here to sit on the sideline."

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Big Ben guts it out as Steelers stick it to Browns once more

PITTSBURGH — Ben Roethlisberger laid on the Heinz Field turf, convinced his left leg was broken. The Pittsburgh Steelers huddled around their franchise quarterback, concerned their promising season was in jeopardy.

Fortitude: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is helped off the field after injuring his left ankle in the second quarter against Cleveland. The Steelers won 14-3. AP

Not quite.

Same old Big Ben. And same old Cleveland Browns.

Roethlisberger added to his burgeoning reputation as one of the toughest players in the game by returning from a gruesome second-quarter sack to pass for 280 yards and two scores — including a 79-yard strike to Antonio Brown with 2:52 remaining — to lift the Steelers to a 14-3 victory Thursday night.

"You can't say enough about our quarterback," Brown said. "It's amazing to play with a guy like that who exemplifies that type of toughness."

Not that Roethlisberger felt particularly tough after getting his left leg caught underneath Cleveland's Scott Paxson midway through the second quarter.

"It was one of the most painful things I ever felt," Roethlisberger said. "It felt like the middle of my leg was just, cracked . . . it felt like my foot was outside of my leg."

He went to the locker room for X-rays while veteran Charlie Batch tried to fill in. The X-rays showed no break and Roethlisberger returned.

"Doctors said 'Just keep moving,' " Roethlisberger said. "As we kept going they said, 'Just keep moving' because it literally felt like it was about to explode."

Roethlisberger received a rousing ovation when he walked back onto the field to start the second half, though it was obvious he was in serious pain. He hobbled to the line of scrimmage, he tip-toed while handing the ball off and he grimaced while stepping up to throw.

Yet he somehow completed 8 of 12 passes for 178 yards after the break, including the sealing touchdown to Brown, who caught the ball near midfield then beat Cleveland's Mike Adams to the end zone.

"I'm proud of him and glad he scored because I wouldn't have been able to make it down there if we had to run another play," Roethlisberger said, laughing.

Roethlisberger will have an MRI exam Friday to determine the extent of the damage. Pittsburgh has 10 days off before a game in San Francisco.

Brown finished with five receptions for 151 yards and a score as the Steelers (10-3) won for the eighth time in their last nine games to move a half-game in front of Baltimore for the AFC North lead.

Yet the night won't be remembered for Brown's spectacular catch-and-run but Roethlisberger's John Wayne impersonation and Cleveland's typical meltdown against its biggest rival.

The Browns (4-9) lost for the 15th time in their last 16 games with the Steelers, though they had plenty of chances to pick up their first victory at Heinz in eight years.

Colt McCoy passed for 209 yards but also threw two interceptions for Cleveland (4-9).

McCoy left briefly in the fourth quarter after taking a crashing helmet-to-helmet hit from Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison.

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