THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL WEEK 9: TENNESSEE TITANS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS

BY ADAM GREENE

For those of us just thankful the Denver Broncos aren’t on our screens come Thursday Night, we might be taught a valuable lesson as the Tennessee Titans, starting a rookie quarterback, travel north to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers, who could also be without their starter, on Amazon Prime’s Thursday Night Football.

This rivalry goes all the way back to the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, when the Steelers jumped from the NFC to the AFC to share the same division as the Titans, then known as the Houston Oilers. As such, this will be the 81^st meeting between the two franchises, with Pittsburgh leading 48-32 and a 3-1 advantage in their postseason contests. The Steelers have won their last four meetings, claiming a 19-13 victory back on Dec. 19, 2021. Ben Roethlisberger (now retired) was 16 of 25 passing for 148 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions leading a Matt Canada offense in its inaugural season. It hasn’t gotten better since. He did score a rushing TD.

Ryan Tanehill (currently injured and probably benched after) was 23 of 32 passing for 153 yards, no touchdowns and a pick in the loss. He scrambled five times for 18 yards and a score. D’Onta Foreman rushed 22 times for 108 yards.

TENNESSEE TITANS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (-2.5, O/U: 36.5)

Location: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Broadcast: Amazon Prime

Kickoff: Nov. 29, 8:15 p.m.

TENNESSEE TITANS (3-4)

If you heard an odd tune in the wind last week, somehow combining a banjo with a dulcimer and a tuba, no, you weren’t having a stroke. That was just Will Levis’ entrance music as he took the field for the Titans for the first, and many times to come. Never once in his NCAA career at Kentucky could Levis claim a four touchdown pass performance, but in his first NFL action he delivered exactly that, carving up the Atlanta Falcons in a 28-23 victory that halted a two-game losing streak. Levis, getting his first start, was 19 of 29 passing for 238 yards, the aforementioned four TD passes and no picks. He scrambled seven times for 11 yards and was sacked twice. Derrick Henry rushed 22 times for 101 yards. DeAndre Hopkins, playing with a QB that can actually toss him the ball, caught four for 128 yards and three touchdowns. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine caught the other TD, a 33-yarder. The defense sacked Desmond Ridder five times and knocked him from the game. They sacked Taylor Heinicke once and forced a fumble.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-3)

After two consecutive disastrous wins over teams they should have lost to by multiple scores, the Steelers finally got with the program and fell, losing 20-10 to the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday. Kenny Pickett was 10 of 16 passing for 73 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions before getting knocked from the game. He was sacked once. Mitchell Trubisky, coming from the bullpen, was 15 of 27 passing for 138 yards, one TD and a pick. Diontae Johnson caught eight passes for 85 yards. The defense sacked Trevor Lawrence three times, picked him off once and forced three fumbles. And that’s the only reason the game was close. 

THE PICK

Oof. It’s fun to get excited about a rookie QB who made a hot debut and certainly Levis has the tools around him, with Hopkins and Henry alone, to be successful. But Pittsburgh can get after the quarterback. They are susceptible to the run and I think that will make the difference. If Pickett were healthy and playing, I’d probably pick this one differently, but, as I have made clear, it’s best for the Steelers to lose so Mike Tomlin will feel compelled to fire Matt Canada. I want what’s best for you Pittsburgh. Titans 24, Steelers 16

Last week

Straight up: 11-5

Against the spread: 10-6

Season

Straight up: 75-47

Against the spread: 65-57

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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