The Pittsburgh Steelers moved to 5-3 for the season with a hard-fought 20-16 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Thursday night.
The two teams traded field goals for most of the night at the Acrisure Stadium, but it was the Steelers that did enough to win.
Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson with 4:02 remaining and Tomlin's team held on to improve their playoff chances.
Pickett digs in for the Steelers
Steelers QB Pickett has seen plenty of ups and downs this season, but he has refused to give up, and he did the same again in front of his own fans on Thursday.
Pickett finished the night with 19/30 passing for just 160 yards, but he came up with the touchdown pass that won the Steelers the game.
Pittsburgh have struggled to dominate many of their games this season. Still, they have now won three of their last four to boost their playoff hopes and put pressure on the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North.
Pickett led the Steelers to an opening drive touchdown, with running back Najee Harris punching the ball home.
But Pittsburgh's struggles soon followed and they trailed 13-10 at the break. However, Pickett continued to protect the football all night, and while he was inaccurate at times, he refused to throw the towel in.
Pickett stayed strong in the pocket and picked out Johnson for the winning touchdown, as the Steelers wideout scored his first touchdown since January 2022.
Tomlin's team are now +125 to reach the playoffs, but they are as big as +500 to win the AFC North.
Levis impresses even in defeat
Most of the pregame talk focused on Titans quarterback Will Levis, and he was praised despite his team's defeat on Thursday.
Levis threw his first pick in the dying moments of Thursday's game when trying to win the Titans the game, but most of his work before that was impressive.
The second-round draft pick showed how strong his arm was and continued to make some off-balance throws after being pressured by the Steelers pass rush.
Levis completed 22 of his 39 passes for 262 yards, and while he needs to work on some areas of his game, he has started well in the NFL. But the Titans loss means rookie QB's are now 1-13 against Tomlin in Pittsburgh.
Tennessee are now 3-5 for the season, but if Levis can continue performing, the Titans fanbase will be excited for 2024 and beyond.
Injury scares for both teams
Thursday's game was a physical one, and both teams felt it with players going down injured.
There was a worrying incident involving Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks, as he was placed on a stretcher and carted off the field after going down on the sideline after an incomplete pass in the fourth quarter.
Burks gave the crowd a thumbs up on his way off the field. The Titans confirmed he has full movement in extremities, and he was able to walk out of the locker room after the game.
Titans right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere suffered a shoulder injury, while left guard Peter Skoronski also picked up an injury but returned to the field.
The Steelers lost linebacker Cole Holcomb to a left knee injury in the first quarter, and he was also carted off the field. Tomlin admitted after the game that the injury appeared to be serious, and Steelers fans will wait nervously for an update on his fitness.
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