PITTSBURGH _ The Terrible Towels were waving and a Heinz Field crowd was on its feet, imploring its defense to come up with another big play against the Los Angeles Rams.
Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick came through, intercepting a Jared Goff pass that once again put the Rams' season on the verge of possible collapse.
The 17-12 defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday ended the Rams' modest two-game winning streak and dropped their record to 5-4, ruining a homecoming for star defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
On a day when Goff had two passes intercepted and lost a fumble, the Rams put themselves in a tough spot in the NFC West and the race for a wild-card playoff spot.
Goff completed 22 of 41 passes for 243 yards and was sacked four times as the offense failed to score a touchdown. He was briefly knocked out of the game after sustaining a hit.
Fitzpatrick scored on a fumble return and sealed the Steelers' fourth consecutive victory, improving their record to 5-4.
The Rams were behind 14-7 at halftime. They began the third quarter with a couple of Goff completions to receiver Robert Woods, but the positive vibe once again changed when cornerback Joe Haden intercepted a Goff pass.
Once the Rams got the ball back, it was more of the same struggle. On second down, Steelers cornerback Mike Hilton hit Goff, forcing him to the sideline. Blake Bortles came on and was stopped short of a first down on a keeper. On fourth down, punter Johnny Hekker attempted a pass that was intercepted by Trey Edmunds.
The Rams finally appeared to get into an offensive rhythm later in the quarter. Todd Gurley ran strong and Goff completed passes to Woods, and tight ends Gerald Everett and Johnny Mundt as the Rams drove to the Steelers' eight-yard line.
But Gurley was stopped for a loss and Fitzpatrick broke up a third-down pass, forcing the Rams to settle for Greg Zuerlein's 30-yard field goal.
The Rams were forced to punt on their next possession, but that turned out to be a positive when Ryan Switzer fielded the kick and was dropped at the five-yard line.
The Steelers inexplicably called for a play-action pass, and Donald and linebacker Clay Matthews sacked Rudolph for a safety that pulled the Rams to within 14-12.
The Steelers, however, took eight minutes off the clock during a drive that culminated with Chris Boswell's 34-yard field goal, increasing the lead to five points and forcing the Rams to score a touchdown to win.
The Rams drove to the Steelers' 30-yard line before three Goff passes fell incomplete. On fourth down, Goff lofted a pass into the end zone for receiver Josh Reynolds, but safety Terrell Edmunds broke up the play.
The Rams got a final chance when they got the ball back at their 34 with 59 seconds left, but Fitzpatrick's interception spoiled any hope of a comeback.
Edge rusher Dante Fowler returned a fumble for a touchdown to put the Rams ahead 7-0. On the third play of the game, Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey snapped the ball high and it sailed through Rudolph's hands. Fowler, coming off the left side, scooped the ball in stride and ran 26 yards to the end zone for the first score of the game.
Late in the first quarter, the Rams kept alive a Steelers drive when Jalen Ramsey was called for pass interference on a play that Nickell Robey-Coleman intercepted a pass. Rudolph made the Rams pay by completing a short touchdown pass to James Washington to tie the score.
The Rams appeared to gain some momentum when Robey-Coleman stripped the ball from Washington after a long gain with less than 2:30 left. However, on third down at the Rams' 41, nose tackle Javin Hargrave sacked Goff. The ball traveled more than 10 yards downfield before Fitzpatrick picked it up and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown, the second time in as many weeks that Fitzpatrick scored for the Steelers.
Zuerlein missed a 56-yard field-goal attempt as time expired in the second quarter and the Steelers took 14-7 lead into halftime.
