The Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2) march with great strides towards division victory. The Steelers will open Week 11 with a clear 40:17 defeat of the Tennessee Titans (6-4) and will be able to watch the competition on Sunday in a relaxed atmosphere. Titan quarterback Marcus Mariota disappoints, while Antonio Brown’s mega performance ultimately leads to a win on the canyon.
At first, there seemed to be a possible close match. While Pittsburgh was quickly leading through outstanding Antonio Brown (10 REC, 144 YDS, 3 TD) and a field goal after an early interception of Mariota (22/33,306 YDS, TD, 4 INT), Tennessee responded with an impressive touchdown drive. Afterwards, both defenses controlled the game for a while until Pittsburgh took a bit of a break just before half-time.
The Steelers took advantage of Mariota’s second interception for a field goal and were fortunate enough to end up with a double win: On the hosts’ last drive before the half-time break, Brown’s Fumble first landed with Martavis Bryant, whereupon the refs placed the ball incorrectly – with less than two minutes on the clock, the spot would have had to be placed in the place of the fumble, not the recovery by Bryant. The yard difference made another field goal possible.
The 75-yard touchdown pass from Mariota to Matthews directly to the start of the third quarter was, in retrospect, the last uprising of the Titans, after which Pittsburgh literally suffocated the guests around the brilliantly presented Ben Roethlisberger (30/45,299 YDS, 4 TD). Two long touchdown drives and number three with an unbelievable catch from Brown meant the preliminary decision, all the more so as Mariota followed his third interception a little later.
The Titans were all in the top flight – for the first time since the regular season kick-off, Tennessee had access to all starter-listed players. Pittsburgh wasn’t so happy: Cornerback Joe Haden and Safety Mike Mitchell were injured on Sunday and as expected they dropped out, even Tight End Vance McDonald (Knöchel) didn’t get fit in time.
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2) – Tennessee Titans (6-4)40:17 (10:7,6:0,7:10,17:0) BOXSCORE
After Matthew’s touchdown, there was a potential exchange of blows, but it didn’t turn out to be anything – and the crunch point came shortly before the end of the third quarter: Delanie Walker dropped an allegedly safe titanium touchdown, Tennessee just came to the field goal. Directly in return, Pittsburgh marched down the peloton to the touchdown with twelve layouts and thus pulled away to 30:17. It was the decisive step towards the preliminary decision.
It was the duel strength against strength – with better end for Pittsburgh. In the beginning Mariota had some time left in her pocket, but thanks to Hayward, Tuitt and Co. ever shorter. Also in the Run Game, especially in Inside Runs, there were hardly any spaces for the Titans, which hit the offense so strongly built up around the run sensitively.
There is still no other player in the NFL who runs his routes and cuts as explosive as Brown. Tennessee felt painful, Brown quickly doubled his touchdown yield for the current season and put on a show. Whether as an isolated receiver like the first touchdown or with a circus match at number 3 – the Titans had no chance in the secondary. Brown is the first player with 1,000 receiving yards this season and has now taken over Hines Ward’s Steelers record with his fifth consecutive 1,000 yard season.
Not a good game of the otherwise so reliable Titan quarterback. The first interception was a clear overthrow like you don’t know it from him. Number two was a clear misread when Mariota suspected zone coverage, but Pittsburgh played and Sensabaugh grabbed the pick. The third interception was then a throw in the back of the receiver into a very narrow window, the resulting ricochet was turned over. The fourth pick was already in Garbage Time.