FanHouse Preview: Steelers at Titans

This game wasn't supposed to matter.

If Tennessee had beaten the Texans last week, this would be a rehash of the preseason. Tennessee would have the No. 1 seed for the playoffs wrapped up, while the Steelers would have locked up the No. 2 seed.

Instead, we now have a game that means something (although there is some debate as to how much), which means that both teams have reason to try to prove who's the best team in the AFC, while also saving a little something in the back pocket in case they meet again next month.

Tennessee limps into this game without defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch, but the Titans also have an outstanding offensive line that has allowed only eight sacks all season--which is 19 less than Steelers outside linebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley have racked up this year. If Tennessee can shut down the Steelers' pass rush, it will give Dick LeBeau plenty to worry about.

This game will mean a lot more if it happens again in January, but as for now, it means more for the Titans. Tennessee needs to prove that they didn't play their best football in September and October, while the Steelers, who just beat the Patriots, Cowboys and Ravens in the last three weeks, could shrug off a close loss as a minor setback.


Three Key Questions

1) Can the Steelers run against an Albert Haynesworth-less Titans defense?

2) Can the Titans' running game dent the new Steeler curtain?

3) How important is this game?

Player In The Spotlight: Titans quarterback Kerry Collins. As the season winds up, Collins is not getting better and better. Collins' efforts against the Browns and the Texans are two of his worst games of the year. This week, he has to play better, because the Steelers' defense is not one that's going to allow the Titans to just rely on a ground game that keeps moving the chains and keeps the ball away from the Steelers.

Collins has it in him, as he showed against the Bears (30-of-41, 289 yards, 2 TDs), but if Collins has another bad week, it's a bad trend with the playoffs only two games away.

Pittsburgh's path to triumph: The Steelers' approach to winning has been very simple: if the Steelers' offense doesn't turn the ball over, the Steelers' defense is good enough to keep the game close, which allows Ben Roethlisberger a chance to do some last-minute heroics when the Steelers go to the no-huddle.

Pittsburgh's defense hasn't allowed more than 13 points in any of the past five games. Ike Taylor is playing at an elite level in recent weeks, which means that the Steelers can throw him on Justin Gage and try to force the Titans to look elsewhere. If the Steelers follow their gameplan, they will shut down the Titans running game, force Collins into passing situations, then unleash blitz packages against a Titans' passing game that is best in small doses.

While the Steelers usually use Troy Polamalu in multiple roles, it will be interesting to see if they try to use him to shut down tight end Bo Scaife--Collins' usual safety valve. The Steelers can also slap cornerback Bryant McFadden or William Gay on Scaife in nickel and dime defenses because the Titans receivers don't scare anyone.

Tennessee's path to triumph: The Titans can't expect to consistently run the ball against the Steelers. No team has been able to consistently run against the Steelers all year. But if Tennessee can get Chris Johnson to bust a couple of big plays, it could be enough to get the Titans a lead.

The Titans need to give Johnson the ball in passing situations. While the Steelers haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher this year, the two backs who have been most effective are Cowboys fill-in Tashard Choice (22-yard run and a 50-yard catch) and Patriots' scatback Kevin Faulk (a 41-yard run) were the most effective, largely because they were able to turn draws and screens into big plays against the Steelers' dime defense. If the Titans can get Johnson some seams on plays where the Steelers are flying upfield on a hell-bent pass rush, he can turn a three-yard gain into 50 yards in a heartbeat.

Prediction: Steelers 17, Titans 10.