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Monday, October 29, 2001

Compiled by Gerry Dulac

TV: WTAE

Radio: WDVE-FM (102.5), WBGG-AM (970)

Titans rank 15th in the AFC

Steelers rank 4th in the AFC

Since 1997, only one running back in the NFL has gained more yards than the Titans' Eddie George (5,796), and that's Jerome Bettis (5,821). George has a combination of size, speed and power that is unequaled in the league, yet he is off to slow start because the Titans are spending a lot of time trying to develop their passing game. What's more, he lost one of the league's best blocking fullbacks, Lorenzo Neal, who signed with Cincinnati. George has 290 yards on 106 carries, a paltry 2.7-yard average. Of course, the Titans get a lot of rushing yards from their quarterback, Steve McNair who, like Kordell Stewart, takes off on several designed runs. McNair has 141 yards on 22 carries. Despite allowing Kansas City's Priest Holmes to rush for 150 yards two weeks ago, the Steelers have allowed an average of just 89.4 yards per game. The Steelers will finally start their No. 1 pick, nose tackle Casey Hampton, in an attempt to further strengthen their run defense. But the right side of the defensive line, particularly defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen and backup Rodney Bailey, will have to be ready for a lot of action. The Titans run primarily to their left, behind tackle Brad Hopkins, and von Oelhoffen will have to do a good job of maintaining position and reading the block.

Edge: Steelers

Titans rank 9th in the AFC

Steelers rank 1st in the AFC

The Titans don't have the depth they used to have at wide receiver, and McNair has spent a lot of time looking for his tight ends -- Frank Wycheck, who presents a bad matchup for the Steelers, and Erron Kinney, the guy who caught the winning 18-yard touchdown pass last year in Three Rivers Stadium. Wycheck leads the Titans with 18 catches for 208 yards and one touchdown. Kinney is second with 17 catches for 178 yards and one touchdown. Their outside threats are wide receiver Derrick Mason and Kevin Dyson, but Mason has been slowed by injury and only has six catches for 113 yards. Both have the speed to get deep, so cornerbacks Chad Scott and Dewayne Washington have to be careful of the big play. The biggest challenge will be staying with the receivers when McNair runs out of the pocket. Washington saw a lot of action last week against Keyshawn Johson, who caught 10 passes, but Washington was credited with five pass defenses. The Steelers are second in the NFL in pass defense, even though they allowed their first 200-yard passing game of the season last week to Tampa Bay's Brad Johnson. But the Steelers matched a club record with 10 sacks against the Buccaneers by using a variety of blitzes. They won't blitz as much against McNair.

Edge: Steelers

Steelers rank 1st in the AFC

Titans rank 6th in the AFC

Jerome Bettis has four 100-yard games in a row and is averaging more yards per carry (5.9) than any of the top rushers in the league. What's more, he seems to love playing in the spotlight of Monday Night Football, rushing for 1,010 yards and three touchdowns on 228 carries in nine appearances. He has had 100-yard games in eight of the nine times he has played on Monday night. The offensive line has been outstanding since the opening loss in Jacksonville and has done a great job of springing Bettis for long runs (he has five of 29 yards or longer already this season). The guards, particularly Alan Faneca, have done a good job of opening holes for Bettis on counter plays. That's how Bettis scored on a 46-yard run and added a 29-yard burst last week against Tampa Bay. But the Titans have always done a good job against Bettis, holding him under 90 yards in their past eight games against him. One of the keys is safety Blaine Bishop, who plays near the line of scrimmage. But Bishop (foot sprain) has been injured and is listed as questionable for the game. That could make a big difference against Bettis.

Edge: Steelers

Steelers rank 16th in the AFC

Titans rank 16th in the AFC

This is a good example of the resistible force meeting the movable object -- two units ranked dead last in the conference. Kordell Stewart might need to throw more against the Titans because they have done a good job of stopping Bettis. Stewart likely will get a good opportunity. The Titans are banged up in the secondary. Pro Bowl cornerback Samari Rolle (bruised spinal cord) has not played the past two games and is listed as questionable. So is Bishop. The Titans start a rookie, Andre Dyson, at one corner and might have to use another, Joe Walker, if Bishop can't play. The injuries in the secondary are a reason the Titans rank 30th in the league against the pass. But, with the exception of Hines Ward, the Steelers have not done a consistent job of getting the ball to receivers. One of the keys will be how well second-year right tackle Marvel Smith plays against defensive end Kevin Carter in pass protection. Left tackle Wayne Gandy gets defensive end Jevon Kearse, who leads the team with three sacks and 11 quarterback pressures. The Steelers will try to put a tight end, Mark Bruener or Jerame Tuman, to Kearse's side in some pass situations.

Edge: Titans

Titans kicker Joe Nedney, who replaced the inconsistent Al Del Greco, is responsible for each of the team's victories, hitting last-second field goals from 49 in overtime against Tampa Bay and 46 yards against Detroit. Nedney has converted 7 of his past 8 field goal attempts in the past two games. Punter Craig Hentrich is one of the league's best, averaging 42.6 yards with nine punts downed inside the 20. The Steelers have to be wary of the Titans' ability to block kicks. Cornerback Donald Mitchell, who returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown last week against the Lions, also blocked and returned a punt for a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens three weeks ago. The Steelers have had two punts disrupted or blocked already this season.

Edge: Titans

The Titans have won seven consecutive games against the Steelers and are riding a two-game winning streak this season. After a slow start, they are determined to get back into the race in the AFC Central. A loss would put them in a tough position to successfully defend their division title.

Edge: Titans

Bill Cowher seems to save his best for prime-time appearances. He always has his team ready to play on Monday nights and is never afraid to try new wrinkles on national TV to give other teams something to think about. The Steelers have won their past eight home games on Monday Night Football.

Edge: Steelers

To win, the Titans must ...

1. Stop Bettis. The Bus has been on a roll with four consecutive 100-yard games and loves the national spotlight.

2. Throw deep. The Steelers have done a good job of keeping everything in front of them in the secondary, and they will concede the underneath passes to Wycheck.

3. Have success on first down. The Titans can keep the Steelers' defense guessing on second-and-short -- George or the deep pass to Mason?

To win, the Steelers must ...

1. Contain McNair. They cannot let him make plays while running outside the tackles.

2. Throw the ball. The Titans have always done a good job of containing Bettis, so Stewart should have some chances against a banged-up secondary.

3. Stop George. If they can do that, their linebackers can be more aggressive in pressuring McNair and forcing him to step up in the pocket.