Cornerback Joe Haden makes the play of Sunday's game for the Steelers. Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Haden keeps Steelers in playoff hunt with clutch fourth-down tackle

By Adam Stites | Last updated 12/19/21

The Pittsburgh Steelers were dangerously close to tumbling below .500 and falling behind in the tight race for an AFC wild-card berth. But the Steelers pulled off a come-from-behind win over the Tennessee Titans thanks to three fourth-quarter field goals and one huge defensive stand.

The Steelers trailed 13-3 at halftime, but shut out Tennessee in the second half. Pittsburgh tied the game early in the fourth quarter with a Chris Boswell field goal, then took the lead with two more. Facing a six-point deficit with fewer than five minutes remaining, the Titans drove into the red zone and faced a fourth-and-seven with 46 seconds remaining.

Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill found Nick Westbrook-Ikhine on a short pass, but he was stuffed short of the line by Steelers cornerback Joe Haden.

Clutch tackle. @joehaden23 just won the game. #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/fgxR2Umirm
— NFL (@NFL) December 19, 2021

While officials spotted the ball much closer to the line to gain than it appeared Westbrook-Ikhine ever reached, it still resulted in a turnover on downs.

Pittsburgh improved to 7-6-1, keeping the Steelers hot on the heels of the Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Chargers, who all have matching 8-6 records and currently sit in the AFC wild-card spots.

The Titans would've clinched the AFC South with a win but instead dropped to 9-5.

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