Tennessee Titans - Pittsburgh Steelers preview

Written by Andrew Strickert on .

The Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers once had a fierce divisional rivalry, which ended with the 2002 realignment. None of the Titans who will suit up against the Steelers Sunday were with the team eight years ago and the game may not be a rivalry to them but it's still a huge rivalry to thousands of long-time diehard Titans fans.
 
This game will more than likely be played the same way Titans-Steelers games used to be played -- hard-hitting, tough, defensive battles.

Titans-Steelers injury report and impact

Written by Tom Gower on .

The final injury report is out for Sunday's game against the Steelers, and here's what it looks like:

PITTSBURGH STEELERS
OUT: DT Casey Hampton (hamstring), OT Max Starks (ankle)
DOUBTFUL: WR Emmanuel Sanders (quadricep), LB Jason Worilds (shoulder)
PROBABLE: WR Arnaz Battle (knee), QB Byron Leftwich (knee), CB Bryant McFadden (groin)

In the Q&A posted earlier today, Blitzburgh Blog addressed the likely impact of Hampton and Starks being ruled out.  Jonathan Scott steps in for Starks, while Chris Hoke plays NT.  The Steelers do have good depth on the defensive line, and second year man Evander "Ziggy" Hood is a player to watch.  Jonathan Scott started eight games at right tackle for the Bills last year and managed a mere 7.5 blown blocks leading to sacks, but is a better run blocker.  Expect lots of Rashard Mendenhall and not much of Dennis Dixon throwing the ball down the field.

TENNESSEE TITANS
OUT: OT Mike Otto (knee)
QUESTIONABLE: DT Tony Brown (knee), DE William Hayes (knee)

Otto misses his second straight game.  Both Brown and Hayes fully participated in practice on Friday, and Hayes did on Thursday as well.  Though players listed as questionable are expected to play about half the time, I'd expect both Brown and Hayes to be in the lineup on Sunday.

Total Titans/Blitzburgh Blog Q&A: Part II

Written by Drexel Perry on .

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 21: Ryan Clark #25 of the Pittsburgh Steelers tries to tackle Chris Johnson #28 of the Tennessee Titans during their game on December 21, 2008 at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Yesterday, in Part I of this week's questions/answers exchange with Blitzburgh Blog, I answered their questions regarding Sunday's Tennessee Titans/Pittsburgh Steelers matchup.

Today, we'll switch roles, with Total Titans asking the questions and Blitzburgh Blog providing the insightful responses.

Part II of this week's Q&A exchange....after the jump.

Belated thoughts from a trip to Nashville

Written by Tom Gower on .

Last Sunday, I made my annual pilgrimage to LP Field to see the Titans play.  Unlike my previous three times seeing the Titans, in Indianapolis last December, against Houston in Week 2 last year, and the playoff game against the Ratbirds, they came away with that 38-13 victory.  Rather than writing a true recap post, I thought I'd give a list of various things I noticed and have seen about the game:

Total Titans/Blitzburgh Blog Q&A: Part I

Written by Drexel Perry on .

PITTSBURGH - SEPTEMBER 10: Runningback Chris Johnson #28 of the Tennessee Titans carries the ball during the first quarter of the NFL season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on September 10, 2009 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

As promised, Total Titans and fellow Bloguin site Blitzburgh Blog will engage in a questions/answers exchange in preparation for this weekend's highly-anticipated Tennessee Titans/Pittsburgh Steelers showdown.

In the first installment of the Q&A, I answered Blitzburgh Blog's questions concerning my thoughts on the next chapter in the storied rivalry between the two former AFC Central foes.

My answers to their questions...after the jump.

Bud Adams has a shot at the Hall of Fame

Written by Andrew Strickert on .

Would the NFL be the same today if not for Bud Adams? That's a question the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee will ponder as they consider him for enshrinement in the Class of 2011.
 
Adams co-founded the American Football League with the late Lamar Hunt, who was enshrined in 1972. The two recruited six more owners (or ownership groups) to compete with the NFL, a battle which ended with a merger ten years later. Buffalo Bills founder Ralph Wilson was another of the original AFL owners (a.k.a. The Foolish Group) and was enshrined last year. The only other early AFL figure in the Hall is Al Davis, who was hired by the Raiders in 1962 as coach/GM and eventually became that franchise's owner.
 
A strong case can be made that Adams' contributions, while not on the same level as Hunt's, are more significant than those of Wilson or Davis.

Total Titans/Blitzburgh Blog Q&A

Written by Drexel Perry on .

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 21: Hines Ward #86 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is hit hard by Cortland Finnegan #31 of the Tennessee Titans as he scores a touchdown during their game on December 21, 2008 at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

In preparation for this week's showdown between the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers, as usual, Total Titans will participate in a questions/answers exchange with a blogger/writer who will provide us with some insight regarding Sunday's Titan opponent.

This week's Q&A will involve fellow scribe Bam Morris from Bloguin's Pittsburgh Steelers site: Blitzburgh Blog.

Have any questions you'd like to have answered by Bam Morris pertaining to the Titans/Steelers battle on Sunday? Feel free to provide your inquiries below.