The Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers have a long and storied rivalry that dates back to the 1970s, when the two teams were members of the AFC Central Division. The Titans, then known as the Houston Oilers, were one of the few teams that could consistently challenge the Steelers during their dynasty years of the 1970s and 1980s. The two teams met in the playoffs four times during that era, with the Steelers winning three of those matchups.
The rivalry continued to be heated in the 1990s and early 2000s, even after the two teams were realigned into different divisions. The Titans reached the Super Bowl twice during that time period, but they lost both games to the St. Louis Rams. The Steelers also won two Super Bowls during that era, defeating the Seattle Seahawks in 2006 and the Arizona Cardinals in 2009.
In recent years, the rivalry has cooled somewhat, but it is still one of the most heated in the NFL. The Titans and Steelers have met four times in the playoffs since 2002, and the Titans have won three of those matchups.
Mike Vrabel Returns to Pittsburgh
Titans head coach Mike Vrabel will return to Pittsburgh for the second time as a head coach on Thursday night. Vrabel spent four seasons as a player with the Steelers after being selected in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He won three Super Bowls with the Steelers, and he is considered to be one of the most successful linebackers in franchise history.
Vrabel has a deep understanding of the Steelers’ organization and their culture. He knows what it takes to win in Pittsburgh, and he is looking to lead the Titans to victory over his former team on Thursday night.
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Titans Keys to Victory
The Titans will need to play their best game in order to defeat the Steelers on Thursday night. Here are a few keys to victory for the Titans:
- Protect the quarterback: The Steelers have a pass rush that is led by T.J. Watt, who is one of the best defenders in the NFL. The Titans will need to keep Watt and the rest of the Steelers’ pass rushers out of the backfield in order to give quarterback Ryan Tannehill time to throw the ball.
- Run the ball effectively: The Titans have a good running game with Derrick Henry and Dontrell Hilliard. If they can run the ball effectively, it will take pressure off of Tannehill and open up the passing game.
- Force turnovers: The Titans have a good defense that is led by Harold Landry III and Jeffery Simmons. They will need to force turnovers from Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett in order to give themselves a chance to win the game.
Steelers Keys to Victory
This will also need to play their best game in order to defeat the Titans on Thursday night.
Here are a few keys to victory for the Steelers:
- Get pressure on the quarterback: This have a good pass rush that is led by T.J. Watt. They will need to get pressure on Ryan Tannehill in order to force him into making mistakes.
- Stop the run: The Titans have a good running game with Derrick Henry and Dontrell Hilliard. The Steelers will need to stop the run in order to keep the Titans from controlling the clock.
- Protect the football: This have a young quarterback in Kenny Pickett. They will need to protect him from turnovers in order to give themselves a chance to win the game.
Prediction
The Titans and Steelers are evenly matched teams. Both teams have good offenses and defenses. The game will likely come down to a few key plays. The Titans have a bit more experience than this, and they have been playing better football lately. I predict that the Titans will defeat this on Thursday night.
Conclusion
The Titans and Steelers rivalry is one of the most heated in the NFL. The two teams have a long history of playing close, competitive games. The game on Thursday night is sure to be another exciting matchup.
