The Houston Oilers transform back to the Tennessee Titans as they travel to the Steel City to take on the Steelers. Pittsburgh has dominated this old AFC Central rivalry for many years and is on a four-game win streak in the series. The yinzers need a win to keep pace in the uber-competitive AFC North where one game separates first from last place. Tennessee is coming off an emotional win in front of 150+ Oilers/Titans alumni over the Falcons. Who will successfully navigate their emotions and the bitter Pittsburgh cold to win this bitter rivalry game? Which young passer will lead his team to victory?
Music City Musings – Week 9: Tennessee Titans @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers Offense vs. Titans Defense
The Steelers’ offense has had some consistency issues, namely Matt Canada’s play-calling issues. Although they have had injury issues all over the offense, namely the most recent issue with Kenny Pickett. Pittsburgh has the talent at receiver to be competitive but the offensive coordinator + quarterback duet doesn’t inspire much confidence in Yinzer land at the moment. There might be good news for this offense as the Titans’ defense has been inconsistent as well.
OL vs. DL Matchups to Watch
Pittsburgh’s offensive line has been helter-skelter, to say the least. Starting left tackle Dan Moore is graded as one of the worst tackles in the league, even worse than the Titans’ own Andre Dillard. He has received an overall score of 42.5, which is good for 71st out of 75 eligible tackles by PFF. It’s a wonder that they haven’t gone to rookie Broderick Jones full-time just yet. Center has been a weak spot also as Mason Cole ranks poorly with a score of 47.4. In comparison to those two, the remaining three starters have been better than average. The guards have been slightly better than average while right tackle Chuks Okorafor has been slightly below average.
The Steelers have to shake things up at some point because this current combination isn’t working. Jones should be their permanent starter going forward instead of being in and out. Tennessee should have a solid day rushing the passer against Moore with Arden Key and Denico Autry on the left side. The key battle will be on the interior with Jeffery Simmons and Teair Tart going up against veterans Isaac Semualo and James Daniels. Harold Landry has shown flashes but not enough to be a consistently dominant force to wash out Chuks. Can the Titans get pressure with just four?
Skill-on-Skill Matchups to Watch
The Titans will have some issues in coverage if they don’t fluster the quarterback, no matter who it is. The Steelers present a flotilla of weapons both in the pass-and-run game. Najee Harris is the headliner in the backfield but it is Jaylen Warren that gets the PPR love. It’s not to say that Harris isn’t adept in the passing game himself but Warren has increased his output for whatever reason. Harris dominates the run game in a 2:1 ratio.
Star tight end Pat Freiermuth is currently on injured reserve so that’s one less option. Diontae Johnson has been in and out of the lineup due to injury as well so he hasn’t matched his production from previous seasons. The name to watch here for the Steelers is George Pickens, obviously. Allen Robinson is the supposed steady veteran presence they acquired in the offseason. Calvin Austin is the primary slot speed option.
Tennessee does have weaknesses in the secondary, however, with Kristian Fulton showing vast swaths of inconsistency and is injury-prone. Rookie undrafted free agent Eric Garror will once again get the nod as the fill-in for Roger McCreary. SMB will have to carry the load once again. I’d expect a lot of Elijah Molden in the dime linebacker / third safety/corner role to offset the loss of McCreary. Amani Hooker will be a critical piece.
Titans Offense vs. Steelers Defense
Is the dawn of a new era as the franchise transitions from one signal caller to another? Tennessee looked more explosive last week against the Falcons but faces a far more stern test in the Steelers’ stop unit.
OL vs. DL Matchups to Watch
The Titans’ front five will get a very tough test as the Steelers’ front is set to return star defensive lineman Cam Heyward. Right tackle Chris Hubbard will miss the game due to a concussion so Nicholas Petit-Frere will draw the assignment in his stead. Benched left tackle Andre Dillard returns much to the chagrin of Titans’ fans everywhere. He won’t have it easy against the very talented Alex Highsmith. NPF will face the all-world superstar T.J. Watt most likely. It will be a very long night for the wounded and inconsistent Titans’ front five trying to combat the Steelers’ powerful front seven. The interior trio of Skoronski, Brewer, and Brunskill will have a tough time in particular trying to fend off Montravious Adams and Larry Ogunjobi. Whoever can win the interior battle will dictate the trenches as the outside matchups will likely be a crushing walkover by Pittsburgh.
Skill-on Skill Matchups to Watch
Tennessee’s receivers face another talented secondary that will feature a standout rookie corner earning his stripes alongside a veteran back end. DeAndre Hopkins broke out last week with three touchdown receptions but faces a far tougher competitor in either Joey Porter, Jr or future Hall of Famer Patrick Peterson. Treylon Burks returns for a second consecutive game from a knee injury. Tight end Chig Okonkwo has had an up and down season to date and needs to get going in a hurry against a talented linebacker room. Josh Whyle looks set for a return to action after missing several weeks due to concussion.
The Steelers will miss a large part of their top-tier secondary as the do-everything safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was ruled out due to injury. Keanu Neal will join his former Falcons teammate Damontee Kazee in the starting lineup. It will be interesting to see how Fitzpatrick’s absence impacts the Steelers’ back end against a middling receiver group.
Everyone will be keying on Derrick Henry plus the offensive line’s weaknesses will likely point to the quick short to intermediate pass game to be the order of the day for Tim Kelly. Tyjae Spears will be a critical piece to this end.
Weather Report
The forecast for the Steel City will be a chilly one as temperatures are expected to dip into the mid-30s by kickoff. Fortunately, it appears that both teams will avoid precipitation as it calls for only a one percent chance of rain. The humidity is projected to be at 54%. Winds are predicted to blow south-by-southwestern at seven miles per hour. The temperature is right in line with normal averages for November in Pittsburgh. Acrisure Stadium is notorious for its field issues this time of year and the low weather probably won’t help.
Odds and Ends
Pittsburgh leads the all-time series by a scoreline of 48-32. Mike Vrabel is winless against the Steelers during his tenure, going 0 for 2. Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin has defeated Tennessee seven times in ten tries, including a four-game winning streak since the 2008 season. The Steelers own the scoring advantage by a margin of 229 to 189 in that same period. Pittsburgh’s average margin of victory has been 22.9 to 18.9 in those ten contests.
Uniform
Tennessee is 0-3 while wearing the white tops and light blue bottoms against the Steelers. They are 2-5 in the last seven games of this combination since the new uniforms were launched in 2018.
🚨Wardrobe check:🚨 The #Titans will be decked out in white jerseys with light blue britches and all navy socks in Thursday night’s game at the @steelers. 👖 #BritchesReport pic.twitter.com/Tj1H9pl4uJ
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) October 31, 2023
Betting
The Steelers are favored by THREE points with a money line of -150 while the Titans are three-point dogs on the road. Tennessee’s money line is +135. Pittsburgh has been the favorite just once this season in seven games. The same goes for Tennessee. Pittsburgh should win at home against a rookie quarterback, even if the defense is a bit banged up.
Tennessee is 4-3 against the spread thus far. The Steelers have the same record ATS as well. No advantage in that category here either.
The over/under has been set at 36.5 at the time of press. Pittsburgh has gone UNDER in six of the seven matches. Tennessee has fared slightly better, going UNDER in five of the seven. Hit the under given the weather conditions and the state of both offenses.
Main Photo: Denny Simmons / The Tennessean-USA TODAY NETWORK
