Four-pick ‘D’ fuels perfect Steelers
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Steelers’ latest victory was picture-perfect.
Their defense gathered in the end zone after each turnover — four times in all — and posed for the cameras. Some of the celebrations were planned, some candid, most cheesy. All were well- deserved.
Ben Roethlisberger and the rest of the Steelers’ offense gladly shared the spotlight during a 27-3 drubbing Sunday of the skidding Jaguars. After all, it was the defense’s best performance of the season.
Terrell Edmunds and Minkah Fitzpatrick intercepted two passes each, and the Steelers steamrolled the lowly Jaguars (1-9) to get to 10-0 for the first time in franchise history. The Jaguars, meanwhile, lost their ninth consecutive game.
‘‘They’re fun to watch,’’ Roethlisberger, who passed for 267 yards and two touchdowns, said of the defense. ‘‘They’re turning the ball [over], getting turnovers for us.’’
Jaguars rookie Jake Luton looked lost most of the day against the blitzing Steelers, who allowed only 206 yards. Luton completed 16 of 37 passes for 151 yards with the four interceptions and a couple of more close calls.
‘‘No matter what happens on the last play, you’ve got to play the next one,’’ Luton said. ‘‘Whatever happened last time, you can’t let it affect you. That’s the mindset I try to have. Unfortunately, it kept pouring into another bad play and into another bad play, and I can’t let that happen. I’ve got to clear it and move it on to the next snap.’’
The turning point came late in the second quarter. With the Jaguars trailing 10-3 and driving for a potential tying touchdown, Steelers defensive lineman Tyson Alualu tipped a pass by Luton at the line of scrimmage. Fitzpatrick picked it off at the 2 and returned it 37 yards.
‘‘The defense is playing big,’’ Edmunds said. ‘‘It’s got so much going for them. We just play for each other.’’
Roethlisberger found Diontae Johnson down the left sideline a few plays later. Johnson made a leaping, juggling, contested catch at the 1 to set up a touchdown run by Benny Snell. It was all Steelers the rest of the way.
‘‘We did the job today,’’ coach Mike Tomlin said. ‘‘We checked the boxes. It wasn’t perfect, but nothing is perfect about us except our record. We talked openly about that last night. We want to wear it the proper way.’’
The loss dropped the Jaguars to 41-100 in owner Shad Khan’s nine-year tenure. He tied former Saints owner John Mecom Jr. as the second-fastest owner to reach 100 losses. Late Buccaneers owner Hugh Culverhouse reached the dubious mark in one fewer game.