Titans Host Steelers On Monday Night Football
After a poor performance against the Jets last weekend, the Pittsburgh Steelers will look to earn a rare victory over the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night Football.
Former divisional rivals meet tonight as the Tennessee Titans host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football.
Kickoff at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn., is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET.
While it might look like a non-event on paper, the Steelers have historically struggled in the Volunteer State and a performance on par with last week’s loss to the New York Jets could make this a very interesting game.
The Story So Far
Pittsburgh (6-4, 2-3 road) currently sits right in the thick of an AFC North battle royal. All four of the division’s representatives own a winning record and right now it looks like this could be anybody’s division.
The Steelers have split the season series with the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns and, with two games left against the Cincinnati Bengals, may have the best shot at taking the division.
Mike Tomlin’s team has also picked up quality wins over the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans, but losses to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4 and the New York Jets last week suggest there are weaknesses that need to be tackled between now and the end of December.
Tennessee (2-7, 1-3 home) has endured another miserable season with very little for Music City fans to get excited about.
The Titans earned a quality road win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1 but, barring a Week 6 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, it’s been all downhill from there.
Ken Whisenhunt’s team, which enters Monday night on the back of three straight losses, will be hoping a showdown with the Steelers turns out as productive as it has in recent years.
Head-to-Head
The 1970 AFL-NFL merger established a rivalry between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Oilers, or Tennessee Titans as they would become known, that would last 31 years.
The two franchises locked horns in the AFC Central all the way until 2002, when league realignment sent the Steelers to the North and the Titans to the South. The rivalry may have simmered down in the ensuing years but there are still elements of both team’s fan base that fondly recall the days of Terry Bradshaw, ‘Mean’ Joe Greene, Earl Campbell and Warren Moon.
Pittsburgh leads the all-time head-to-head series 44-32.
The Oilers/Titans are 20-18 when hosting the Steelers.
Since moving to the Volunteer State in 1997, Tennessee is 13-7 against Pittsburgh.
The Titans are 8-2 in home games against the Steelers since leaving Houston.
Tennessee has won two straight in the series, including a 16-9 victory at Heinz Field a season ago.
The Titans have won four of their last five home games against the Steelers.
Injury Report
Pittsburgh cornerback Ike Taylor (arm) is out indefinitely while safety Troy Polamalu (knee) is expected to miss the game. Rookie linebacker Ryan Shazier is questionable with an ankle injury.
Tennessee tight end Delanie Walker is doubtful for Monday’s game as he goes through the league’s concussion protocol. Cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson (back) and defensive tackle Sammie Lee Hill (hamstring) are both listed as questionable.
Check out the full injury list
Titans’ wide receiver Delanie Walker is doubtful for Monday’s game with the Steelers.
Betting Report
Below you’ll find Betting Sports’ breakdown of odds and betting trends.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Tennessee Titans odds for 11/17/2014
Moneyline: Pittsburgh (-235) opened as the favorite over Tennessee (+210) on the moneyline and has seen its advantage extend.
At the time of writing, the Steelers are sitting around -265 while the Titans are +225.
Pittsburgh is 2-3 on the road this season while Tennessee is 1-3 at home.
The Titans have had a lot of success against the Steelers in Nashville though, winning six of eight head-to-head meetings at LP Field.
Spread: The spread opened at 5 and has subsequently risen to 6.
Pittsburgh (5-5-0 ATS) has been inconsistent against the spread this season while Tennessee (2-6-1 ATS) has been plain terrible.
The Steelers are 2-3-0 ATS on the road and 3-3-0 ATS when playing as the favorite.
The Titans are 0-3-1 ATS at home and 2-4-1 ATS when playing as the underdog.
Tennessee is 4-2-0 ATS in its last five head-to-head meetings with Pittsburgh.
Total: The total opened at 47.
Pittsburgh (6-4-0 O/U) has favored the over this season while Tennessee (3-6-0 O/U) has favored the under.
The total has gone over in three of Pittsburgh’s last four, and under in three of Tennessee’s last four.
Eight of the last 12 head-to-head meetings have seen the over pay out. The total has also gone over in five of the last six games played between the sides in Nashville.
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