So much for Ben Roethlisberger’s triumphant return. Ditto the notion the Steelers had finally turned the corner.
Rhythm disrupted by a relentless San Diego pass rush, Roethlisberger struggled early and the Steelers (7-6) never recovered in a listless — not to mention perplexing — 34-24 loss to the Chargers yesterday in Pittsburgh.
“We got whupped,’’ Pittsburgh linebacker Larry Foote said.
Roethlisberger completed 22 of 42 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns in his first game back after spraining his right shoulder and dislocating a rib in an overtime win against Kansas City nearly a month ago. Most of the yards and all of the scores came after the Steelers had fallen behind by 24 points to a team that had never won in Pittsburgh during the regular season.
Philip Rivers threw three touchdown passes, two to Danario Alexander, and underachieving San Diego beat the Steelers on the road for the first time since the AFL and NFL merged more than 40 years ago.
Colts 27, Titans 23
In Indianapolis, Andrew Luck led the Colts (9-4) back from a 13-point second-half deficit.
Delone Carter cut the deficit to 20-14 with a one-yard TD run on Indy’s opening possession of the second half. And after Pat McAfee’s 52-yard punt went out of bounds at the Titans’ 1, Cassius Vaughn jumped in front of Nate Washington, picked off Jake Locker’s pass and scored on a 3-yard interception return to make it 21-20.
Rob Bironas gave the Titans (4-9) a 23-21 lead with a 25-yard field goal, but Adam Vinatieri hit from 53 yards to retake the lead and from 40 to seal it.
Browns 30, Chiefs 7
In Cleveland, rookie Travis Benjamin’s electrifying 93-yard punt return touchdown gave Cleveland momentum and the Browns (5-8) won their third straight game.
Jamaal Charles ran for 165 yards, breaking off an 80-yard TD run on the game’s first play for Kansas City (2-11).