Titans no longer mastering anyone in AFC Central
In one of their annual bruise royals, the Tennessee Titans limped out of Pittsburgh on the short end of a 34-7 score. That ended the seven-game domination they held over the Steelers. At 0-3 in divisional play and 2-4 overall, the Titans are reeling fast.
Ah, sweet revenge.
True to the theme in most any Old West paperback, the Pittsburgh Steelers sought -- and found -- some redemption after being wounded so often by the bad guys outfitted in Tennessee Titans uniforms.
The visitors, though, did not live up their role as villains.
The Titans, who had beaten the Steelers at various stadia in all seven of their previous hookups, were woefully armed and scantily prepared in the course of being out-gunned 34-7 in front of a nationwide television audience Monday night at the not-so-OK Corral known as Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.
Battered, ragged, and scarred, the Titans are now 2-4 on the season and 0-3 in AFC Central play. A lock to make the playoffs by most pre-season estimates, a .500 season is now sounding generous.
In addition to getting their black hats handed to them, the Titans did something no Pittsburgh opponent had yet accomplished -- not in one game, anyway -- in making Kordell Stewart look like a real NFL quarterback, and Plaxico Burress a playmaking receiver.
It couldn't be much better for the Steelers. They're riding alone at 5-1 with a five-game win streak and are 2-1 in all-important AFC Central action.
Jerome Bettis was less than his recent self in rushing for a mere 62 yards, but that alone was more than the Titans' team total of 57 yards. Tennessee tailback Eddie George had just 13 yards on 10 carries before leaving with injuries. He had just a 2.7 yards per carry average entering the contest.
George may not play Sunday in Nashville vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has a severely swollen knee and he re-sprained an ankle. He is in his sixth season and has not missed a game during his career.
Safety Blaine Bishop may be lost as well Sunday for the Titans. He was not fully recovered from a foot injury when he fractured a hand on the second play he was involved in after entering the game in the second quarter.
George has been the "go" in the Titans' offensive attack and Bishop, even injured, is an important and experienced "signal caller" in the depleted and still-learning secondary cadre.
The Titans' injury list is as long as Rodney King's rap sheet. It always expands when these two teams meet. A key to Tennessee's success in the past two seasons has been in finding replacements to step up and do the job when someone else is hobbled. That has not worked this season. That, and little else.
True to the theme in most any Old West paperback, the Pittsburgh Steelers sought -- and found -- some redemption after being wounded so often by the bad guys outfitted in Tennessee Titans uniforms.
The visitors, though, did not live up their role as villains.
The Titans, who had beaten the Steelers at various stadia in all seven of their previous hookups, were woefully armed and scantily prepared in the course of being out-gunned 34-7 in front of a nationwide television audience Monday night at the not-so-OK Corral known as Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.
Battered, ragged, and scarred, the Titans are now 2-4 on the season and 0-3 in AFC Central play. A lock to make the playoffs by most pre-season estimates, a .500 season is now sounding generous.
In addition to getting their black hats handed to them, the Titans did something no Pittsburgh opponent had yet accomplished -- not in one game, anyway -- in making Kordell Stewart look like a real NFL quarterback, and Plaxico Burress a playmaking receiver.
It couldn't be much better for the Steelers. They're riding alone at 5-1 with a five-game win streak and are 2-1 in all-important AFC Central action.
Jerome Bettis was less than his recent self in rushing for a mere 62 yards, but that alone was more than the Titans' team total of 57 yards. Tennessee tailback Eddie George had just 13 yards on 10 carries before leaving with injuries. He had just a 2.7 yards per carry average entering the contest.
George may not play Sunday in Nashville vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has a severely swollen knee and he re-sprained an ankle. He is in his sixth season and has not missed a game during his career.
Safety Blaine Bishop may be lost as well Sunday for the Titans. He was not fully recovered from a foot injury when he fractured a hand on the second play he was involved in after entering the game in the second quarter.
George has been the "go" in the Titans' offensive attack and Bishop, even injured, is an important and experienced "signal caller" in the depleted and still-learning secondary cadre.
The Titans' injury list is as long as Rodney King's rap sheet. It always expands when these two teams meet. A key to Tennessee's success in the past two seasons has been in finding replacements to step up and do the job when someone else is hobbled. That has not worked this season. That, and little else.
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