JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Backup safety Brice McCain intercepted a pass and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to help the Pittsburgh Steelers pin a 17-9 defeat on the Jacksonville Jaguars.

McCain’s pick came with 11:32 left in the game. Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles, who was making his first start at home in the regular season since taking the starting job away from Chad Henne two games earlier, threw two interceptions and fumbled twice, but Jacksonville recovered both.

McCain stepped in front of Jaguars intended receiver Allen Hurns and had a clear path to the end zone for his first-ever NFL score. That gave the Steelers an eight-point lead that they nurtured the final 11-plus minutes to improve to 3-2 and rebound from last week’s deflating last-second loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers..

Jacksonville had just two other possessions following the pick-six but the offense could do little against a Steelers defense that did not allow a touchdown. The Jaguars made only one first down in the final 11 minutes.

It was the first time this season that the Jaguars had held their opponent to less than 33 points. They had allowed a league high 152 points in their first four games.

A defensive struggle was evident with the offenses combining for just one touchdown and three field goals. The only time either team reached the end zone was when Pittsburgh put together a 10-play, 70-yard march midway in the second quarter.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger connected with tight end Heath Miller for a 27-yard gain to start the drive. He then completed five more passes in six attempts as he accounted for 57 of the 70 yards. The score came on a 1-yard toss to Michael Palmer, his first reception of the season, to give the Steelers a 10-3 lead.

Jacksonville answered with a late drive. Taking over with less than two minutes left in the half, the Jaguars marched 58 yards before settling for a 35-yard field goal by Josh Scobee, the second of three successful kicks by Scobee in the game.

Scobee added a 36-yard field goal in the third quarter. Pittsburgh threatened, marching to the 13-yard line, but on a third–down play, Roethlisberger was sacked with the ball popping free. Jaguars defensive end Andre Branch recovered for the Jaguars at the 19.

That’s when McCain made the biggest play of the game to send the Jaguars to a fifth straight defeat.

NOTES: The Steelers are on the road again next week at Cleveland. … Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell topped 100 yards from scrimmage with 82 yards rushing and 36 receiving yards. … Jacksonville’s leading rusher was rookie Storm Johnson, who had 27 yards on four carries, including a 20-yard run. Top free-agent acquisition Toby Gerhart gained nine yards on four carries. … Steelers WR Antonio Brown extended his streak of games with five catches and at least 50 yards to 21 with a team-leading 5-84.