***TNF IN THE SWAMP - TEN @ PIT***
***TENNESSEE TITANS VS PITTSBURGH STEELERS***
The TNF stage is set for a good one tonight as two potential AFC playoff teams on four game winning streaks duke it out for number five. The 6-3 Tennessee Titans head into Pittsburgh to take on the 7-2 Steelers. I have to admit, the Titans are a team that I have a hard time figuring out. I feel like since they drafted QB Marcus Mariota a couple seasons ago, Tennessee receives a ton of hype coming into each year, and then go on to disappoint. I have been guilty of this in the past, falling for the hype and believing that they could be a true threat in the AFC. While I do think that they are an above average team with a ton of talent, I don't believe they scare anybody, yet. Once again, after four straight wins I think they are overrated and that it will show tonight. I have never been impressed by Mariota and his decisions in games. I feel like I'm forever waiting for him to turn into the player that many regarded him to be coming into the NFL. That is just my opinion though as clearly, there are many people out there who believe he is a great QB. Will I be putting my foot in my mouth tonight as Mariota goes off in the Prime Time spotlight on the road against a fellow AFC contender? Maybe, but I don't think so.
The Steelers in my opinion are on the cusp of exploding offensively. They have more talent than they know what to do with. QB Big Ben must have a hard time trying to pick and choose which diva WR gets the rock when dropping back to pass. Between arguably the league's best WR in Antonio Brown, Rookie sensation JuJu Smith-Schuster, and the troubled but dangerous Martavis Bryant all calling for the ball, who could blame him. These guys live for scoring TDs as we can see by their well planned ahead of time Endzone celebrations. I'm sure they will have some good ones in store for tonight but first, they have to score. Up against a Tennessee defense that is decent in my opinion, I don't think they will have any trouble. Yes, the Titans Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau has plenty of ties back to Pittsburgh but it doesn't matter as the Steelers just have way too many weapons that outmatch any type of fight the Tennessee can put up. Rookie CB Adoree Jackson for the Titans will be facing his former USC teammate in Smith-Schuster so while that could be interesting, it still leaves the other guys running a muck through this secondary. The Titans should've destroyed the Bengals last weekend and in my mind they did. If it wasn't for a dropped TD by WR Rishard Matthews and a fumble into the Endzone by Rookie WR Corey Davis, they would've won the game by plenty so that final score is a bit deceiving in my eyes. However, I do keep replaying in my mind the way Bengals WR AJ Green took a slant pass over the middle to the house so easily and believe the Steeler WR core will do the same tonight. PItt can literally pick and choose which type of approach they want to take on offense with also having arguably the best RB in the game in LeVeon Bell. It remains to be seen whether they choose the ground or the arial attack as the primary focus tonight but either way, I don't think the Titans have enough on defense to handle it. The Titans defense has been stout lately but against who? These guys have had a pretty weak schedule thus far and this will be their biggest test of the season by a landslide tonight.
Last week, I believe Pittsburgh literally slept walked through that road game in Indy as they came off of their bye week. I think they kept it simple knowing the FOUR big prime time games in a row they have on deck as well as a showdown with the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots, who always seem to be one of the only teams to have their number. That being said, I think it was a coast game for them. Thew knew they could beat the wounded and battered Colts with one hand tied behind their back, not to mention the lack of motivation compared to what was probably high for a Colts team with not much to look forward too other than getting a big time upset win at home for their fans. Anyway, Pitt still avoided disaster and pulled out the late win there and now I believe is when they turn it on. With a pretty favorable schedule left for them this season, they know they can run the table and potentially lock up the number 1 seed in the playoffs which I don't think I need to state how HUGE that is for any team. Lastly, the Steeler defense has been what has really impressed me the most out of that team. They are loaded with talent at LB and I like Shazier, Dupree, Williams and Watt to be able to slow down the ground and pound game that the Titans rely on with Murray and Henry. I think the Titans will struggle to move the football here, and once they eventually fall behind on the scoreboard, it will be up to Mariota and the passing game to keep up. That is where I draw the line and say nah, not tonight for Tenny. The Pitt defensive front are one of the best at pinning their ears back and getting after the QB and I believe Mariota could be in some real trouble tonight. Steelers CB Joe Haden is out after an injury last game but ex-Titan Coty Sensabaugh will be helping to fill in against his former team tonight. With the help of the pass rush, the Steelers secondary should be able to handle anything Mariota throws at them, literally. I foresee a statement game for the Steelers tonight, and the Titans looking more like pretenders. STEELERS-7
