Titans-Steelers: Live Updates, Analysis
NASHVILLE – Attendance at Nissan Stadium is capped at a little more than 10,000 (15 percent of the 69,143 capacity) but much of the football world will be watching when the Tennessee Titans (5-0) take on the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-0) in a matchup of the AFC’s last two unbeaten teams.
Both offenses are among the NFL’s top four in scoring – Tennessee is second at 32.8 points per game and Pittsburgh is fourth at 31.2 – but the Steelers’ defense has been one of the NFL’s best to this point in the season. The Titans, though, have found ways to win close games, which has created a sense of invincibility.
SERIES HISTORY
Pittsburgh leads the overall series 43-31 in the regular season and 3-1 in the playoffs. During the Titans era (1999-present), Tennessee has a 9-8 edge in the regular season and 1-0 in the postseason. The Steelers have won the last two, including 27-24 in their last visit to Nissan Stadium (Nov. 17, 2014).
INACTIVES
Tennessee: DB Joshua Kalu, OLB Derick Roberson, ILB David Long, C Daniel Munyer, T Isaiah Wilson and DE Matt Dickerson.
Pittsburgh: QB Josh Dobbs, CB Mike Hilton, FB Derek Watt, DT Carlos Davis, T Derwin Gray, TE Zach Gentry and DE Isaiah Buggs.
WORDS OF WISDOM
“They’ve just always been physical. Always have a physical defense. I feel like they always have a good defense, always have a stout front, physical linebackers, guys that are physical in the backend as well, fast, just all-around good defense. They’ve been playing incredible football on that side of the ball, so it’ll be a big challenge for us come Sunday.” – Titans running back Derrick Henry, on the Steelers.
NEED TO KN0W
This is the sixth time during the Super Bowl era that two undefeated teams with at least five wins apiece have met in the regular season (the last was in 2015). In each case, the winner played in the Super Bowl that season and two of them won the Super Bowl.
On to the game … .
FIRST QUARTER
Pittsburgh won the coin toss and elected to receive the kickoff. Steelers will start with the ball.
(15:00) Following a touchback, Jadeveon Clowney with a deflected pass on the first play of the game. That is his fourth of the season, which ties him with Kenny Vaccaro for second on the team.
(12:22) Pittsburgh uses its first timeout. The Steelers have thrown the ball every play. Ben Roethlisberger is 4-5 for 36 yards. … The first play after the timeout is – you guessed it – a pass, a 4-yard completion to running back James Conner.
(5:42) Roethlisberger connects with Diontae Johnson for a 11-yard touchdown to cap a LONG opening drive. Vic Beasley forced a fumble at the Tennessee 20, which the Steelers recovered. Pittsburgh converted four third downs and overcame two penalties, one of which negated a 1-yard touchdown pass from Roethlisberger to Conner. Scoring drive: 16 plays, 75 yards, 9:15. PITTSBURGH 7, TENNESSEE 0
More than half the first quarter is gone, and the Titans finally will get the football.
(4:38) The Titans’ first drive started with a holding penalty against Jonnu Smith, included a near-sack of Ryan Tannehill, and ended after three plays with a net loss of six yards.
(0:00) End of the first quarter. Steelers driving again, have a first-and-10 at the Titans’ 31.
Pittsburgh has run 22 plays to Tennessee’s three, has a 130-1 advantage in total yards and 13:39-1:21 edge in time of possession.
First time since the opener at Denver that the Titans failed to score in the first quarter. In the previous four games, they outscored the opposition 41-21.
SECOND QUARTER
(12:16) Another long drive. Another Pittsburgh touchdown, this one a 1-yard run by Benny Snell Jr. Once again, the defense failed to recover a fumble, this one caused by Clowney at the Titans’ 36. Scoring drive: 13 plays, 61 yards, 7:05. PITTSBURGH 14, TENNESSEE 0
Time of possession is now 16:23-1:21 in favor of Pittsburgh.
Fourteen points is the largest deficit the Titans have faced this season. The previous high was 12 points (24-12) in the third quarter at Minnesota.
(5:26) Tennessee shows life as the offense answers, capped by Corey Davis’ 4-yard touchdown reception. Derrick Henry carried five times on the drive, and Tannehill took a big hit on a 4-yard scramble just prior to the touchdown. Scoring drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 6:50. PITTSBURGH 14, TENNESSEE 7
That is Davis’ second touchdown catch of the season, which matches his total for 2019.
(2:50) A victory, of sorts, for the Tennessee defense as Pittsburgh settles for a 38-yard field goal from Chris Boswell. The Steelers had converted their first seven third-down tires before the Titans finally forced that kick. Scoring drive: 7 plays, 55 yards, 2:36. PITTSBURGH 17, TENNESSEE 7
The Steelers’ 17 points matches the most allowed by Tennessee in the first half this season. Minnesota also had 17 in Week 3.
(1:35) Terrible sequence as Kalif Raymond mishandles the kickoff, which gives the ball to the offense at the Tennessee 10. After a three-and-out, Pittsburgh gets a 57-yard punt return to the Titans’ 17.
(0:52) Pittsburgh with its fourth scoring drive (three touchdowns, one field goal) in as many possessions as Diontae Johnson scores on a 9-yard touchdown catch. Scoring drive: 3 plays, 17 yards, 0:43. PITTSBURGH 24, TENNESSEE 7
That's 17 points for Pittsburgh in the second quarter, the most allowed by the Titans in a quarter this season. Previous high was 13 (three times).
(0:14) Things get worse as Brett Kern can’t handle a low snap and tries to throw the ball. It’s incomplete (ineligible men downfield would have negated a completion anyway). Steelers get the ball at the Tennessee 32 with a chance to add to their lead … but no timeouts.
(0:00) End of the first half. Titans get a break when a false start costs the Steelers five yards. Roethlisberger than heaves the ball to the end zone, where Dane Cruikshank intercepts it and lasts long enough on his return to allow time to run out.
Pittsburgh has a 228-83 edge in total offense. Derrick Henry has 27 yards on eight carries. Ryan Tannehill is 6-11 for 50 yards. Corey Davis has a team-high three receptions for 15 yards.
THIRD QUARTER
Titans get the ball to start. They have to make something happen early.
(14:55) And … Ryan Tannehill sacked on the first play of the second half.
(13:30) It’s a three-and-out. Tennessee punts the ball back to Pittsburgh’s offense, which has scored on every possession thus far.
(13:19) The Steelers’ first play of the half is a 9-yard run by James Conner with a 15-yard penalty tacked on for a late hit by safety Kenny Vaccaro.
(10:29) Pittsburgh has to settle for another field goal. This one is good from 30 yards. A pass interference penalty against Malcolm Butler on third-and-4 from the Tennessee 36 kept Pittsburgh moving. Scoring drive: 7 plays, 54 yards, 2:53. PITTSBURGH 27, TENNESSEE 7
(9:36) Finally – the Titans look like the Titans. On a play-action pass, A.J. Brown takes a short throw and goes 73 yards for a touchdown. Longest pass play of the season for Tennessee’s offense. Scoring drive: 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:50. PITTSBURGH 27, TENNESSE 14
Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney and cornerback Kristian Fulton are both questionable to return due to knee injuries.
(8:53) Kevin Byard tackles Diontae Johnson after a 7-yard gain on third-and-10, and Pittsburgh punts for the first time.
(5:56) The Titans had a chance to make it interesting. Instead, they went three and out. Brett Kern with his fourth punt of the day. That matches his season high. It would have been his fifth, if not for the botched snap late in the first half.
Jadeveon Clowney back in on defense for the Titans.
(3:44) On the first play after the Steelers convert another third down, Jeffery Simmons deflects and pass and Jayon Brown comes down with the interception. The offense is in business at the Pittsburgh 30 with a chance to make it a one-score game.
(2:55) A sack on first down and incomplete passes on second and third mean the Titans have to settle for a 51-yard field goal attempt by Stephen Gostkowski. It’s good, and Tennessee is within 10. Scoring drive: 4 plays, minus-3 yards, 0:49. PITTSBURGH 27, TENNESSEE 17
(0:38) The defense forces another punt, and a late hit on punt returner Kalif Raymond means the offense will start at its own 30.
End of the third quarter. Titans have given themselves a chance. Can they pull out another one late?
FOURTH QUARTER
(10:15) After Henry is stopped for no gain on third-and-goal from the 1, the Titans go for it. Tannehill’s pass is incomplete, but Jonnu Smith draws a defensive holding penalty that makes it first down.
(10:13) The Titans make the Steelers pay for the penalty as Henry goes over the top for the touchdown. Scoring drive: 12 plays, 70 yards, 5:25. PITTSBURGH 27, TENNESSEE 24
Henry now has at least one rushing touchdown in four straight games, one game shy of the longest streak of his career. He has seven rushing touchdowns total in the last four games.
(7:31) Pittsburgh with its 11th third-down conversion of the day – a 7-yard completion on third-and-7 – and Jayon Brown is injured and in need of attention. Steelers on the move.
(4:07) With an 8-yard completion on third-and-7, Pittsburgh is now 13-17 on third down. That matches the most third-down conversions by a Titans opponent in the two-plus seasons under Mike Vrabel. The last time Tennessee allowed 13 was two games ago against Buffalo (also 13-17). ... Pittsburgh now at the Titans' 17-yard line.
(2:45) On third-and-2 from the 9, the defense tackles wide receiver Chase Claypool for a 1-yard gain. Pittsburgh is called for offensive pass interference and Vrabel elects to take the penalty and push Pittsburgh back 10 yards.
(2:40) On the next play, Roethlisberger’s pass to the end zone is tipped by Jayon Brown and intercepted by Amani Hooker.
Titans start at their own 20, down by three with one timeout and 2:35 to play.
(2:00) The Titans have reached midfield with a couple of completions to A.J. Brown and one to Jonnu Smith. It will be second-and-1 when play resumes.
(1:00) On first-and-10 from the Pittsburgh 25, Tannehill is called for intentional grounding. That costs the Titans 10 yards and 10 seconds off the clock.
(0:24) On third-and-13 from the 28, Tannehill takes a shot at the end zone with Corey Davis, it’s incomplete. That means a game-tying field goal attempt.
(0:19) Stephen Gostkowski’s 45-yard attempt misses to the right. The comeback attempt falls short.
(0:00) Pittsburgh is the last unbeaten team in the AFC.
PITTSBURGH 27, TENNESSEE 24
Derek Henry finishes with 75 yards on 20 carries.
Ryan Tannehill is 18-30 for 220 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
A.J. Brown and Corey Davis with six catches each. Brown for 153 yards and a touchdown, Davis for 35 yards and a touchdown.
Jayon Brown and Malcolm Butler credited with eight tackles each.
Brown, Amani Hooker and Dane Cruikshank all had interceptions.
