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Week 11 Preview: Steelers at Titans
Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) at Tennessee Titans (2-7)
Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET, at LP Field, Nashville, Tenn. – TV: ESPN
*TV announcers: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters
*Keys to the game: The schizophrenic Steelers offense takes yet another shot at a struggling team on the road. Credit to the Jets, whose strong defensive line helped keep QB Ben Roethlisberger from finding a rhythm last week. The Titans sport DT Jurell Casey, but little else in the way of a threat to contain the Steelers, who would be well served to get back to using RB Le’Veon Bell to set the table for Roethlisberger. Tennessee does not string together many lengthy drives, so Pittsburgh has an opportunity to slowly break the Titans’ will by owning the time of possession.
It will be the first “Monday Night Football” appearance for many of the young Titans, and keeping a lid on the Steelers’ potent offense and staying within reach in the first half is job No. 1. Close behind is getting RB Bishop Sankey ripping off positive yardage out of the gate. The Steelers allow an average of 4.4 yards per carry, and the Titans must put rookie QB Zach Mettenberger in manageable passing situations. Pittsburgh’s pass rush had sputtered most of the season, but coordinator Dick LeBeau’s blitz packages are something the former LSU star has never witnessed live.
*Matchup to watch – Steelers WR Martavis Bryant vs. Titans CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson: There is a good matchup between Steelers WR Antonio Bryant and the Titans’ Devin McCourty. But that will largely leave the inconsistent Wreh-Wilson to deal with Bryant, who has six TDs among his 14 catches in just four games.
*Player spotlight – Steelers LILB Vince Williams: With Ryan Shazier expected to miss his second consecutive game with a sprained ankle, Williams may get the call in favor of Sean Spence.
*Fast facts: The Steelers are 2-8 at the Titans since the franchise relocated from Houston in 1997. … Other than a 37-point outburst at Carolina, Pittsburgh has scored three offensive touchdowns in its four other road games.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
There is no question the Steelers play to the level of their competition – the Bucs and Jets have combined for three victories this season, two of which came against Pittsburgh. But the Titans are swimming upstream with a rookie quarterback and a defense ill equipped to handle Roethlisberger’s weapons.
*Our pick: Steelers 34-16
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