Steelers hold off pesky Jaguars, 17-13


October 16, 2011 at 5:00p.m.

Steelers hold off pesky Jaguars, 17-13

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Rashard Mendenhall ran for a season-high 146 yards and a touchdown and the Steelers narrowly avoided a second-half collapse in a 17-13 over Jacksonville on Sunday.

Ben Roethlisberger passed for 200 yards and a score for the Steelers (4-2), who won for the fourth time in five games.

Maurice Jones-Drew rushed for 96 yards for the Jaguars (1-5), who have dropped five straight to match the franchise’s longest losing streak in a decade.

Jacksonville rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert remained winless as a starter, completing 12 of 26 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown on the day after his 22nd birthday. Gabbert’s heave into the end zone on the game’s final play was knocked down by Pittsburgh’s William Gay.

The last-gasp attempt appeared to be a long shot after the Steelers rolled to a 17-3 halftime lead, but Pittsburgh struggled before putting Jacksonville away.