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PITTSBURGH
TENNESSEE |
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43
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Final
26 |
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| 101 | PITTSBURGH | -6 | -6 | | 102 | TENNESSEE | 44 | 44 |
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| All Games | 2-2 | -0.6 | 1-3 | 2-2 | 23.2 | 12.5 | 347.7 | (5.3) | 0.7 | 22.2 | 7.7 | 280.0 | (5.3) | 1.2 | | Road Games | 0-2 | -2.6 | 0-2 | 2-0 | 25.0 | 13.5 | 358.5 | (5.3) | 1.5 | 32.5 | 10.5 | 327.5 | (6.1) | 1.0 | | Last 3 Games | 2-1 | +0.4 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 24.7 | 13.3 | 369.0 | (5.6) | 0.7 | 19.3 | 8.0 | 262.0 | (5) | 1.3 | | Grass Games | 2-2 | -0.6 | 1-3 | 2-2 | 23.2 | 12.5 | 347.7 | (5.3) | 0.7 | 22.2 | 7.7 | 280.0 | (5.3) | 1.2 |
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| Offense (All Games) | 23.2 | 12.5 | 21.5 | 35:22 | 26-83 | (3.2) | 26-39 | 65.6% | 265 | (6.8) | 65-348 | (5.3) | (15) | | Opponents Defensive Avg. | 25.1 | 12.2 | 20.9 | 32:21 | 31-130 | (4.3) | 21-34 | 61.0% | 226 | (6.6) | 65-356 | (5.5) | (14.2) | | Offense Road Games | 25.0 | 13.5 | 21.5 | 35:40 | 23-64 | (2.8) | 29-44 | 65.2% | 294 | (6.6) | 67-358 | (5.3) | (14.3) | | Defense (All Games) | 22.2 | 7.7 | 19.0 | 24:38 | 23-95 | (4.1) | 18-29 | 62.4% | 185 | (6.3) | 52-280 | (5.3) | (12.6) | | Opponents Offensive Avg. | 19.8 | 7.9 | 19.8 | 28:06 | 25-95 | (3.8) | 22-37 | 58.9% | 249 | (6.7) | 63-344 | (5.5) | (17.4) | | Defense Road Games | 32.5 | 10.5 | 20.5 | 24:20 | 24-106 | (4.4) | 21-30 | 71.7% | 221 | (7.4) | 54-327 | (6.1) | (10.1) |
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| Stats For (All Games) | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 15-8 | 53.2% | 1-1 | 60.0% | 2-43 | (24.7) | 2-19 | (10.7) | 9-86 | | Opponents Avg. Stats Against | 0.6 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 14-6 | 45.1% | 1-0 | 54.8% | 2-51 | (23.2) | 28-3 | (10.2) | 7-59 | | Stats For (Road Games) | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 | -0.5 | 16-9 | 57.6% | 2-1 | 75.0% | 1-35 | (23.7) | 2-22 | (11.2) | 9-66 | | Stats Against (All Games) | 0.2 | 1.0 | 1.2 | | 11-5 | 46.5% | 0-0 | 100.0% | 2-66 | (29.3) | 2-11 | (6.6) | 5-43 | | Opponents Avg. Stats For | 0.8 | 1 | 1.8 | | 14-5 | 38.2% | 1-1 | 62.5% | 2-56 | (23) | 18-2 | (9.8) | 6-51 | | Stats Against (Road Games) | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | | 10-6 | 57.1% | 0-0 | 0.0% | 1-43 | (43.5) | 1-13 | (9) | 4-37 |
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| All Games | 1-4 | -2.6 | 1-4 | 3-2 | 17.6 | 6.6 | 305.0 | (5.4) | 2.0 | 36.2 | 14.8 | 423.8 | (6) | 0.8 | | Home Games | 1-1 | +0.4 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 28.5 | 11.5 | 360.5 | (6) | 2.0 | 37.5 | 15.0 | 486.5 | (6.2) | 0.5 | | Last 3 Games | 1-2 | -0.6 | 1-2 | 2-1 | 21.7 | 9.0 | 343.0 | (5.6) | 2.3 | 36.3 | 12.0 | 437.7 | (6.1) | 1.0 | | Grass Games | 1-3 | -1.6 | 1-3 | 3-1 | 20.2 | 8.2 | 314.5 | (5.8) | 2.0 | 37.7 | 15.2 | 421.5 | (5.9) | 0.5 |
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| Offense (All Games) | 17.6 | 6.6 | 16.2 | 25:31 | 19-65 | (3.5) | 24-38 | 62.6% | 240 | (6.3) | 57-305 | (5.4) | (17.3) | | Opponents Defensive Avg. | 20.4 | 9.2 | 18.9 | 28:54 | 23-85 | (3.7) | 23-37 | 61.8% | 236 | (6.4) | 60-321 | (5.4) | (15.8) | | Offense Home Games | 28.5 | 11.5 | 18.5 | 28:24 | 17-39 | (2.3) | 29-42 | 68.2% | 321 | (7.6) | 60-360 | (6) | (12.6) | | Defense (All Games) | 36.2 | 14.8 | 25.8 | 36:10 | 34-144 | (4.2) | 27-36 | 74.6% | 280 | (7.7) | 71-424 | (6) | (11.7) | | Opponents Offensive Avg. | 27.3 | 13.2 | 23.6 | 33:43 | 31-127 | (4.1) | 24-36 | 66.9% | 253 | (7.1) | 67-380 | (5.7) | (13.9) | | Defense Home Games | 37.5 | 15.0 | 30.5 | 35:48 | 35-151 | (4.3) | 33-43 | 76.7% | 335 | (7.8) | 78-486 | (6.2) | (13) |
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| Stats For (All Games) | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | -1.2 | 13-5 | 35.9% | 1-1 | 60.0% | 4-123 | (28) | 2-27 | (12.5) | 7-54 | | Opponents Avg. Stats Against | 0.8 | 1 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 13-5 | 38.5% | 1-0 | 38.1% | 3-83 | (26.9) | 24-2 | (13.4) | 6-58 | | Stats For (Home Games) | 0.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | -1.5 | 13-5 | 38.5% | 1-0 | 50.0% | 4-136 | (34) | 1-36 | (24.3) | 4-31 | | Stats Against (All Games) | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.8 | | 13-6 | 42.4% | 1-0 | 66.7% | 2-44 | (27.4) | 2-13 | (5.7) | 5-43 | | Opponents Avg. Stats For | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.9 | | 14-6 | 41.2% | 0-0 | 61.2% | 2-52 | (23.7) | 22-2 | (10.1) | 6-54 | | Stats Against (Home Games) | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | | 12-4 | 37.5% | 0-0 | 0.0% | 2-44 | (22.2) | 2-13 | (6.7) | 6-55 |
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| | Average power rating of opponents played: PITTSBURGH 18, TENNESSEE 25 |
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| 9/9/2012 | @ DENVER | 19-31 | L | 3 | L | 45 | O | 26-75 | 22-40-209 | 1 | 27-94 | 19-26-240 | 1 | | 9/16/2012 | NY JETS | 27-10 | W | -4.5 | W | 43 | U | 28-66 | 24-31-265 | 0 | 22-90 | 10-27-129 | 1 | | 9/23/2012 | @ OAKLAND | 31-34 | L | -3.5 | L | 45.5 | O | 20-54 | 36-49-379 | 2 | 21-119 | 24-34-202 | 1 | | 10/7/2012 | PHILADELPHIA | 16-14 | W | -4 | L | 44 | U | 31-136 | 21-37-207 | 0 | 23-78 | 20-30-168 | 2 | | 10/11/2012 | @ TENNESSEE | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/21/2012 | @ CINCINNATI | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/28/2012 | WASHINGTON | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11/4/2012 | @ NY GIANTS | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| 9/9/2012 | NEW ENGLAND | 13-34 | L | 5 | L | 48 | U | 16-20 | 29-43-264 | 2 | 35-162 | 23-31-228 | 0 | | 9/16/2012 | @ SAN DIEGO | 10-38 | L | 6 | L | 43.5 | O | 10-38 | 15-30-174 | 1 | 39-148 | 24-32-268 | 1 | | 9/23/2012 | DETROIT | 44-41 | W | 3.5 | W | 47 | O | 19-59 | 29-42-378 | 2 | 36-141 | 43-55-442 | 1 | | 9/30/2012 | @ HOUSTON | 14-38 | L | 13 | L | 44.5 | O | 29-158 | 17-27-167 | 3 | 31-95 | 20-28-202 | 0 | | 10/7/2012 | @ MINNESOTA | 7-30 | L | 6 | L | 44 | U | 19-52 | 29-48-215 | 2 | 31-175 | 25-35-258 | 2 | | 10/11/2012 | PITTSBURGH | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/21/2012 | @ BUFFALO | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/28/2012 | INDIANAPOLIS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11/4/2012 | CHICAGO | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| |  | PITTSBURGH: Much was made about former coordinator Bruce Arians' aversion to the running game, and new offensive coordinator Todd Haley (who was the head coach of the run-heavy Chiefs) seems to have been brought in to correct that. The Steelers have a big, man-blocking line and Haley prefers the committee approach. With Rashard Mendenhall recovering from a torn ACL, Isaac Redman will get a heavy workload early in the season. Jonathan Dwyer figures to take a chunk of the early down reps. Redman can handle third down duties, though Baron Batch could push him for that role. Batch might have held that role a year ago had he not torn his ACL. Haley used to oversee the Cardinals' offense, so he's not lost in the passing game. Expect a lot of three-receiver sets and spread principles, with Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown on the outside and Emmanuel Sanders in the slot. Ben Roethlisberger's trademark is improvising and stretching out plays. Wallace might more often be the primary target, but Brown has shown more of an ability to shake open once the play breaks down. Sanders will be the primary target in the middle of the field. Tight end Heath Miller often stays in to protect. When the Steelers throw near the goal line, it's often play-action to someone in the middle of the field (Miller or the slot receiver, possibly Sanders now). Wallace's and Brown's roles are usually minimized once the Steelers drive deep into opponent territory, unless Roethlisberger is buying time on a broken play. The Steelers were tied for ninth in the league in sacks despite a rash of injuries to their linebackers. Although they forced an NFL-low 15 turnovers in 2011, Pittsburgh still led the league in scoring defense and yardage defense'the schedule is kind enough to allow for a repeat of these numbers. Lawrence Timmons' numbers were down last year because of a move to outside linebacker for about a third of the season. He'll play inside full time in 2012, and his numbers could revert closer to where they were in 2010. Troy Polamalu, meanwhile, looked a half-step slow by the end of last season due to all the nagging injuries he's been dealing with. He appears to finally be on the decline. | | TENNESSEE: The Titans are encouraged by what they deemed a productive offseason for RB Chris Johnson. They mix a lot of zone plays in for Johnson, though their line is more built for man blocking. They use a lot of two-tight end sets and still use a fullback to try and open things up for him. Johnson takes about 70 percent of the reps and is often asked to find yards between the tackles. Javon Ringer will come in on every third or fourth series. The Titans often go into the red zone with the idea of running it, with Johnson taking a lot of touches. But they get easily frustrated after one busted play and ended up one of the league's most pass-heavy red zone teams. The Titans were so pass-happy for most of last season that they looked like classic Air Coryell under offensive coordinator Chris Palmer. They get the ball downfield aggressively, something that didn't change whether it was Matt Hasselbeck or Jake Locker under center. Kenny Britt is the first look, with Nate Washington not far behind. Jared Cook is often used to stretch the middle of the field. Rookie Kendall Wright was brought in to provide a deep threat in the slot, though he may be used underneath as well for spacing purposes. The Titans also reintroduced the screen game last year, giving them another way to get Johnson the ball. They'll often try to get the ball outside to a receiver near the goal line rather than using a tight end over the middle. Defensive line coach Jim Washburn and DE Jason Babin leaving before last season was a big reason Tennessee finished with the second-fewest sacks in the NFL in 2011. The secondary took a hit this year with the departure of CB Cortland Finnegan and contract dispute with franchise player S Michael Griffin. A lot is going to be asked of LB Colin McCarthy, who was a monster after moving into the starting lineup in the middle of last season, recording 50 solo tackles over eight games as a rookie. Tennessee will be looking for both projected starting cornerbacks, Jason McCourty and Alterraun Verner, to help fill the void created by the loss of Finnegan. McCourty led defensive backs in solo tackles in 2011, and opposing quarterbacks may target him even more often now that he'll be matched up with many opposing No. 1 WRs. Verner has 102 total tackles (86 solo) in 15 career starts and would seem to be the more attractive target for opposing quarterbacks to pick on. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER PRO FOOTBALL PREVIEW (PITTSBURGH-TENNESSEE) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Steelers-Titans Preview* =========================
By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer
The Pittsburgh Steelers are back at .500, but injuries on defense continue to be a concern even with a potentially favorable prime time matchup ahead.
Trying to win two in a row for the first time this season, the banged-up Steelers look for a fourth consecutive victory over the struggling Tennessee Titans on Thursday night in Nashville.
Coming off its bye week, Pittsburgh (2-2) rallied for a 16-14 home victory over Philadelphia on Sunday. Ben Roethlisberger engineered a 64-yard drive over the final 6:33 and Shaun Suisham hit a 34-yard field goal as time expired to help the Steelers carry some momentum into this short week.
"We had the ball last," coach Mike Tomlin said. "Such is life."
Life can be better for the Steelers, especially on defense. Pittsburgh ranks fifth in the NFL with 280.0 yards allowed per contest, but it's given up 65 total points in road defeats to Denver and Oakland.
Though Tennessee (1-4) ranks 27th averaging 17.6 points, the Steelers will line up without one, and possibly two, of their top defenders.
That's enough to leave Tomlin wary of this challenge, along with the fact that Pittsburgh is 2-7 in Tennessee since the former Houston Oilers relocated there in 1997.
"We just need to respect the fact that we have yet to (win on the road) this year and we have an opportunity on Thursday night," Tomlin said.
Star safety Troy Polamalu will miss a third game after re-aggravating a strained calf Sunday. Tomlin, however, is cautiously optimistic that linebacker LaMarr Woodley could play despite a strained right hamstring.
"We're at the early portion of the season and we've got to be smart with how we deal with that," he said of Woodley.
Linebacker James Harrison will play following Sunday's effort in which he harassed Michael Vick in his return after missing the first three games while recovering from knee surgery.
While the Steelers hope a potentially patchwork defense can come through Thursday, their offense is healthy and could be in for a productive evening.
Rashard Mendenhall looks to build on his strong performance last week in which he rushed for 81 yards with a touchdown, and caught two passes for 20 yards in his first game since tearing his ACL on New Year's Day.
"Our savior is back," Roethlisberger said. "It was great to see him out there and he did a great job."
Mendenhall ran for 69 yards on 23 carries as Pittsburgh snapped a three-game skid at Tennessee with a 19-11 win Sept. 19, 2010.
Roethlisberger missed that contest while serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, but he threw for five touchdowns in a 38-17 win over the Titans on Oct. 9, 2011.
Roethlisberger is 3-1 versus Tennessee, with the lone defeat coming in Nashville on Dec. 21, 2008. He threw for 329 yards with two touchdowns, but was intercepted twice and sacked five times as the Steelers fell 31-14.
He passed for 207 yards without a TD on Sunday, but recorded his 25th career fourth-quarter comeback.
"I always have confidence in myself and the guys that we can do it," said Roethlisberger, who has completed 65.6 percent of his passes for 1,111 yards with eight touchdowns and one pick in 2012.
He might not need another fourth-quarter rally against a Titans club that has allowed a league-high 181 points. Tennessee yielded its lowest point total of the season in a 30-7 loss at Minnesota on Sunday.
"It's frustrating," said coach Mike Munchak, whose team has totaled 21 points in two losses since a 44-41 overtime home win over Detroit on Sept. 23. "We know this is our big opportunity to hopefully change the opinion of a lot of people by how we  Thursday night."
That could be a tall order for a team that has committed 10 turnovers and struggles to run the ball. Chris Johnson had 45 rushing yards over the first three games before gaining 141 in a 38-14 loss at Houston on Sept. 30. However, he managed 24 yards on 15 carries versus Minnesota.
Johnson won't get much help with backup Javon Ringer out at least four weeks with a knee injury.
"We don't look like a good team, so I wouldn't sit here and say that we're close," said Johnson, who has averaged 52.8 rushing yards in four games versus Pittsburgh.
Matt Hasselbeck, who started his second straight game in place of the injured Jake Locker last week, went 29 of 49 for 262 yards with a TD and an interception at Pittsburgh last season.
Tennessee has not lost three in a row since a six-game skid Oct. 31-Dec. 19, 2010.
Game Notes: |
| | Last Updated: 4/25/2024 2:16:55 PM EST. |
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