Dowdle rushes for 148 as Steelers extend streak with 35-25 win

Jacksonville, FL - Rico Dowdle rushed for 148 yards, Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes and the Pittsburgh Steelers extended their winning streak to four games with a 35-25 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 14.

Pittsburgh arrived in Jacksonville with three consecutive wins and reinforced that run with its most productive work coming on the ground and inside the red zone. The Steelers rushed for 215 yards, recorded 21 first downs and finished with 411 offensive yards.

Dowdle supplied the game-high rushing total on 15 carries, also the most attempts by any player in the game. His 50-yard run was the game's longest, and he added a 3-yard touchdown reception. Jaylen Warren gave Pittsburgh another productive option with 67 yards on nine carries, including a 28-yard run.

"The result is the part that matters," Dowdle said. "When you're getting productive carries and the whole group is contributing, you want to keep bringing that same energy every time you touch the ball."

Rodgers completed 23 of 35 passes for 205 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, finishing with a 97.9 passer rating. His touchdown passes went to Dowdle, Pat Freiermuth and Germie Bernard.

Freiermuth was Pittsburgh's leading receiver with eight catches for 65 yards and a touchdown. Bernard caught two passes for 16 yards, including his touchdown reception.

The Steelers converted eight of 14 third downs and their only fourth-down attempt. Their red-zone numbers were another notable contrast: Pittsburgh made five trips inside the 20 and scored four touchdowns, while Jacksonville had four red-zone trips without recording a touchdown or field goal on those possessions.

"Four touchdowns in five red-zone trips is the kind of finishing you're looking for," Rodgers said. "There are still things we can clean up, but we were able to put points on the board and complement a running game that was producing."

Jacksonville generated most of its yardage through the air. Quinn Ewers completed 24 of 35 passes for a game-high 347 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, earning a 107.6 passer rating. The Jaguars finished with 304 passing yards and 351 offensive yards, but their rushing total stopped at 47 yards.

Brian Thomas Jr. delivered the game-high receiving performance with 138 yards and two touchdowns on four catches. His 85-yard reception was the longest catch and longest completion of the game. Brenton Strange added eight receptions for 133 yards, giving Ewers two targets who surpassed 100 receiving yards.

"We had production through the air, but we didn't get enough out of our opportunities inside the 20," Ewers said. "You can move the ball and still come away disappointed when the final result isn't there."

The Jaguars recorded 14 first downs and converted five of 11 third downs, but they were unsuccessful on their only fourth-down attempt. Pittsburgh, by comparison, finished with seven more first downs and 168 more rushing yards.

The teams each threw one interception, while Pittsburgh held a pronounced advantage in sacks. The Steelers recorded six, with Cam Heyward accounting for three of them. Jacksonville finished with one sack.

"The pressure came from the whole group," Heyward said. "I was able to finish a few opportunities, but six sacks reflects a lot of people doing their jobs. That's the kind of defensive production we want to build on."

The passing numbers favored Jacksonville, including the game highs from Ewers and Thomas, but Pittsburgh finished with the higher offensive-yardage total and a 10-point victory. The Steelers' 35 points extended a winning streak that stood at three games when Week 14 began.

Up Next

Pittsburgh returns home in Week 15 to host the Baltimore Ravens while carrying a four-game winning streak, and Jacksonville will travel to face the Houston Texans looking to rebound from the loss.