The Jacksonville Jaguars rode a hot start from Leonard Fournette and withstood several Pittsburgh rallies to stun the Steelers 45-42 on a chilly day at Heinz Field. The Jaguars move on to the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots next Sunday.
The first quarter was dominated by Jacksonville on both sides of the ball. The Jaguars took their opening drive of the game down for one-yard touchdown run from the rookie from LSU. After both teams exchanged punts, the top-ranked Jacksonville defense forced an early turnover with a Myles Jack interception.
Fournette would cash in immediately with an 18-yard touchdown run to put Jacksonville up two scores. He would later leave the game with an ankle injury but would return after halftime.
The defense would add another fourth down stop and the Jaguars would take advantage yet again as Blake Bortles led a methodical 11-play drive capped off by a 1-yard touchdown by T.J. Yeldon.
The Steelers appeared to grab some momentum back after Antonio Brown made a diving catch near the sideline for a 23-yard touchdown. Brown, who was playing in his first game since mid-December due to a calf injury, looked healthy on Sunday and would finish the game with 132 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
Jacksonville’s defense would build their lead back to 21 after a Roethlisberger fumble was recovered by Telvin Smith for a 50-yard touchdown. The Steelers would rally late in the second half and early in the third quarter with a fourth down touchdown pass to Martavis Bryant just before halftime and a 19-yard pass to Le’Veon Bell to bring Pittsburgh within a score entering the fourth quarter.
Every time the Steelers rallied, the Jaguars answered.
Bortles led Jacksonville on three scoring drives in the fourth quarter, one of which was set up by a 45-yard pass to rookie Keelan Cole. Fournette added his third rushing touchdown shortly after that play and finished the game with 109 yards rushing.
Bortles would add a touchdown pass to Tommy Bohannon and set Jacksonville up with a 45-yard field goal from Josh Lambo to give the Jaguars just enough margin to win.
Roethlisberger did everything he could to rally Pittsburgh, finishing with a Pittsburgh playoff record 469 yards passing on the day. His top target on the day was former East Chambers tight end Vance McDonald, who finished with 112 yards on 10 catches.
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