By Mike Bonts, Florida Sports Wire
PITTSBURGH – Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw for 292 yards and a touchdown at Acrisure Stadium as the Jaguars defeated the Steelers, 20-10, before a crowd of 67,225. The win marks the first victory against the Steelers since 2017.
Steelers (4-3) QB Kenny Pickett was 10 of 16 for 73 yards before leaving the game with an injury. Diontae Johnson led the Steelers with eight catches for 85 yards.
That ended a half in which the Jaguars leading 9-6. The visitors had not punted, but had turned the ball over twice, once on a fumble and once in the end zone.
This is the seventh time this season the Jaguars defense has not allowed more than seven points in the first half. The Jaguars forced four straight three-and-outs to start the game for the first time in a game since 2017.
The Jaguars increased their lead midway through the third quarter. Running back Travis Etienne got behind the defense for a 56-yard touchdown pass from Lawrence. Etienne then scored on a 2-point conversion run to make it 17-3 with 5:05 remaining in the third quarter.
Etienne Jr. recorded 24 rushing attempts for 79 yards and three receptions for 70 yards. Jacksonville tight end Evan Engram recorded 10 receptions for 88 yards.
The Steelers answered. Backup QB Mitch Trubisky led a 75-play scoring drive, capped off by a 22-yard touchdown pass to George Pickens. Trubisky completed 15 of 27 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions.
A 37-yard field goal by McManus, the last of four in the ame, pushed the lead to 20-10 with 4:35 remaining in the game.
The Jaguars registered three sacks and two takeaways against the Steelers.
Jacksonville won it’s fifth consecutive game to improve to 6-2. The Jaguars lead the AFC South by two and a half games entering a Week 9 bye.
“We don’t have a lot of time to absorb the result of this,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said. “We’ve got a short week. So we’ll do so quickly and quickly turn our attention in planning toward Tennessee.
(Photo by Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers)