Defense Is Titanic for Titans

The Tennessee Titans’ biggest challenge is getting their offense to play as well as their defense.

Steve McNair ran for two touchdowns in the first quarter, but it was Tennessee’s defense that carried the Titans to a 16-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

The Titans had five sacks, one interception and one safety. They now have 34 sacks this season.

“Our defense is unbelievable,” fullback Lorenzo Neal said. “They have virtually been carrying us. . . . Our defense is definitely winning games for us.”

The Titans (8-2) won their 12th in a row against AFC Central Division foes and matched last season’s win total thanks to a defense that kept the Steelers (5-5) out of the end zone after their opening possession. Pittsburgh has lost four in a row to the Titans.

Tennessee, which hasn’t won more than eight games in a season since 1993, held Pittsburgh to 11 yards in the third quarter and picked up a safety when quarterback Kordell Stewart was penalized for intentional grounding out of the end zone with 7:50 to go, making it 16-7.

After the game, referee Mike Carey said the wrong player was announced as ineligible on the safety play. Stewart threw the ball toward tight end Mitch Lyons, who should have been eligible, meaning it should have been ruled an incomplete pass instead of a safety.

The Steelers, who lost to the Cleveland Browns last week in Pittsburgh, still had their chances. They drove 68 yards but wound up settling for a 24-yard field goal by Kris Brown with 7:06 left. But the next time the Steelers tried to mount a drive, the Titans’ Kenny Holmes intercepted a Stewart pass at the Pittsburgh 20 with 1:53 remaining to seal the victory.