Steelers vs Titans: Winners and losers in gritty Week 15 win

Steelers winners: defensive splash plays

While it wasn’t all pretty for the Steelers’ defense, their big plays single-handedly kept them in this game. Their run defense was putrid, their offense was ineffective, and even their special teams were struggling to aid the team. The only thing that worked was their splash plays on defense, as that allowed them to get back into the game and come back from an early deficit.

The sacks throughout the game were refreshing to see, as the Steelers still know how to get after the quarterback. T.J. Watt now owns the team’s sack record after yet another elite performance. Meanwhile, Chris Wormely continues his good season with another sack. Add in the regular pressures from the front seven and this pass rush was still effective.

What really kept this team in the game was their turnovers though. From fumbles to interceptions, without the turnovers favoring the Steelers, this game would have looked vastly different. Again, the team failed to capitalize off these turnovers, but without them, there would have never been a chance to come back. The defense had its struggles, but they kept the chances of winning alive this week.

It was a tough and gritty game, but the Steelers ultimately did enough to win this game. Quite frankly, without the splash plays of this defense and the consistency of Boswell, this week would have been a train wreck. That said, the team pulled out a win with their season on the line, and now the focus has to be on stopping the Chiefs next week.