Titans rout Steelers to grab top AFC seed

Source: Agencies  |   2008-12-22  |     ONLINE EDITION

THE Tennessee Titans defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-14 to take the number one AFC seed in a meeting of playoff-bound teams yesterday.

AFC South winner Tennessee (13-2) scored three consecutive touchdowns and the Titans' defense sacked Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger five times and intercepted him twice to help wrap up the best record in the AFC and home-field advantage in the playoffs.

"This is the best game we have played thus far," Titans coach Jeff Fisher told reporters.

Roethlisberger passed for two touchdowns for AFC North champion Pittsburgh (11-4). But mistakes hurt the Steelers.

"The story of the game for us really was just missed opportunities," Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin told reporters. "When you don't take care of the football verses good people, in a hostile environment, it bites you."

Rookie Jason Jones led the Titans' defense, forcing three fumbles by Roethlisberger and receiving credit for 3-? sacks while starting for injured Titans Pro Bowl defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth.

"Our backup defensive linemen, Jason Jones and the effort we got out of that group was nothing less than spectacular," Fisher said. "Coming into this game without Albert and Kyle (Vanden Bosch) there was some concern, but ...they really stepped up."

PREPARED HIM

Jones said film work prepared him for his big game.

"He (Roethlisberger) is a scrambler," Jones told reporters. "That's what we saw on film. We tried to keep him in the pocket. A couple of times he got out, but we kept rushing up the field."

Michael Griffin raced 83 yards after intercepting Roethlisberger with 16 seconds left for Tennessee's final touchdown.

Roethlisberger had brought Pittsburgh back from a 10-0 deficit to lead 14-10 on touchdown passes to Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward.

Chris Johnson then scored on a 21-yard run to put Tennessee back in front 17-14 and LenDale White's one-yard run early in the fourth quarter made it 24-14.

Kerry Collins passed 34 yards to Justin Gage for the Titans' other touchdown.

Both teams complete their regular season with games next week then have first-round playoff byes before beginning post season play on Jan. 10 or 11.