NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A few thoughts on the Pittsburgh Steelers' 27-24 win over the Tennessee Titans on Monday night at LP Field.
What it means: The Steelers overcame an 11-point deficit to improve to 7-4 and save their season. Another loss to one of the NFL's bottom feeders would have dropped the Steelers to 6-5 heading into their bye week and left them in a bunched-up group hanging around playoff contention in the AFC. Running back Le'Veon Bell refused to let the Steelers lose as he rushed for 204 yards and a touchdown on 33 carries. This team remains as enigmatic as ever, falling behind by 11 points after building an early 10-point lead. But it has elite players in Bell and wide receiver Antonio Brown. Those two starred and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger made enough plays for the Steelers to rally and avert what would have been a disastrous loss.
Stock watch: The defense allowed rookie Zach Mettenberger to get way too comfortable in the pocket. The Steelers did not sack Mettenberger, who was making his third career start, and they couldn't rattle the LSU product even after intercepting him on Tennessee's first play from scrimmage and returning it for a touchdown. Mettenberger responded by leading a five-play, 67-yard drive that fellow rookie Bishop Sankey capped with a 9-yard touchdown run. The Steelers improved to 19-2 against rookie quarterbacks since 2004, but it was not because their defense overwhelmed Mettenberger. The rookie finished 15-of-24 for 263 yards and two touchdowns.
Up and down: William Gay's first half epitomized the erratic play of the Steelers in the first 30 minutes of the game. Gay gave the Steelers an early 10-0 lead when he intercepted a Mettenberger pass and returned it 28 yards for a touchdown, his second pick-six in less than a month. Gay, however, gave the points back near the end of the second quarter when he inexplicably allowed wide receiver Nate Washington to race past him with less than a minute to play in the half. Gay bit on a short route, perhaps expecting safety help. There was none and Mettenberger and Washington hooked up for an 80-yard touchdown that is about as easy as they come in the NFL.
Game ball: Bell needed only the opening drive to surpass the 36 rushing yards he mustered last week in a 20-13 loss to the New York Jets. The second-year running back gashed the Titans, especially in the second half when the Steelers rallied from a double-digit deficit. Fifty-two of Bell's yards came on a Steelers touchdown drive that pulled them to within four points of the Titans early in the fourth quarter.
What's next: The Steelers get a week off before hosting the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 30. The Saints (4-6) will be coming off a "Monday Night Football" game against the visiting Baltimore Ravens.