The first game of Week 6 features a team that is looking to catch up to the top of their division, the Steelers, and another that is struggling to score enough points to compete, the Titans.
The game is in Tennessee, which may benefit the Titans as the Steelers are 0-2 on the road this season. That could easily change after this game, but it is something to note.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh picked up a gritty 16-14 win over Philadelphia last week following a bye in Week 4. The week off was very helpful for the aging Steelers, considering they had a 34-31 loss against the Raiders in Week 3.
The Steelers won last week’s game on a game-ending field goal by Shaun Suisham. They only scored 16 points in the game, but the defense held the Eagles to 246 total yards and forced three Michael Vick fumbles. The Titans have the 23rd ranked total offense in the league, and are 30th in rushing, which makes this an inviting matchup for the second-ranked Pittsburgh defense.
The offense will be boosted by the return of Rashard Mendenhall, who came back last week to run for 68 yards and record a touchdown reception. He did fumble the ball once, but it did not result in a turnover.
Pittsburgh has been able to prevent turnovers throughout the year, as Ben Roethlisberger only has thrown one interception.
Tennessee has given up at least 30 points in all five of their games this season. That trend will likely continue tonight.
Tennessee Titans
If it was not for a shootout win over the Lions in Week 3, the Titans would be 0-5 and easily the worst team in the NFL. Their closest margin of defeat is 21 points, as their other three losses were by 28, 24, and 23 points respectively.
The Titans have been struggling without Jake Locker, who has been replaced by Matt Hasselbeck due to injury. Hasselbeck has not been helped out at all by Chris Johnson this season. Johnson is easily the most disappointing player in the league, both to his fans in Tennessee and also those who have him in fantasy football.
Johnson has only run for 210 yards in five games, and he has only eclipsed the 24-yard mark one time all year. He ran for 141 yards in Week 4 against the Texans, but his Titans lost 38-14. He needs to be productive for the Titans to have any chance to win all year, and he simply is just not the same player he was in the past.
Steelers-Titans Prediction
The Steelers may be struggling this season, but the Titans will be an easy opponent for Pittsburgh.
Tennessee cannot get anything going on offense, and that will definitely not change against Pittsburgh’s defense tonight.
Steelers 31 | Titans 14
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About Steve Kubitza
