Titans Lose Lead, and Game, in 19-13 Loss to…

PITTSBURGH – In the Steel City, the Titans had a second half meltdown.

The Titans lost 19-13 to the Steelers, as a first half lead slipped away because of turnovers and mistakes.

As a result, the Titans fell to 9-5.

Titans running back D’Onta Foreman had 109 on 22 carries in the contest.

The Titans jumped out to a nice start, thanks in part, to a swarming defense.

A 55-yard punt return by Chester Rogers gave the team an early spark, and six plays later, quarterback Ryan Tannehill scored on a one-yard touchdown run to give the Titans a 7-0 lead.

After a stop on defense, the Titans extended their lead to 10-0 on a 26-yard field goal by kicker Randy Bullock, which capped an 11-play, 45-yard drive.

A fumble by Titans tight end Anthon Firkser gave the Steelers good field position, and the Steelers cashed it in for three points on a Chris Boswell field goal to make it 10-3 with 10:35 left in the second quarter.

The Titans defense forced a pair of three-and-outs in the first quarter, when the Steelers managed just one first down. The Steelers punted on their first four possessions, and the Titans defense rose up to hold Pittsburgh to a field goal after the Firkser fumble.

The Titans led 13-3 at the half, as Bullock’s 32-yard field goal capped a 19-play, 64-yard scoring drive that took 10 minutes and 17 seconds off the clock.

The Titans outgained the Steelers 159 to 103 in the first half while holding the ball 21:19 of the game’s first 30 minutes.

The Steelers cut the lead to 13-10 on a one-yard sneak with 3:08 left in the third quarter.

The Steelers then tied it up at 13-13 with a 28-yard by Boswell with 13:24 left in the contest.

Minutes later, the Steelers took a 16-13 lead on a 46-yard field goal by Boswell, which followed a Tannehill interception on a tipped pass. The Steelers extended the lead to 19-13 on another Boswell field goal, which followed another Titans turnover, with 4:29 left.

Titans outside linebacker Bud Dupree recorded a sack in his return to Pittsburgh, on a day when inside linebacker Zach Cunningham made his Titans debut.

The Titans lost receiver Julio Jones in the first half with a hamstring injury, and he didn’t return.

The Titans return to action on Thursday night against the San Francisco 49ers at Nissan Stadium.