Steelers vs. Titans

Pittsburgh -2 vs. Tennessee

For teams that have the playoffs and a first-round bye clinched, this game between Pittsburgh and Tennessee does not have the impact it may have had had the Steelers not clinched the AFC South and a first-round bye in the playoffs after dispatching the Baltimore Ravens 13-9 in a big road victory last week. But this game still has a tremendous impact and will decide whether the AFC playoffs will go through frigid Heinz Field in Pittsburgh or through the Music City of Nashville.

Moreover, the Tennessee Titans (12-2) want to prove they are still the power they appeared to be when they started the season 10-0, but have only gone .500 since with wins against winless Detroit and hapless Cleveland and losses to possible playoff team the New York Jets and last week to division rival Houston.

Home field seemed a foregone conclusion nearly a month ago, but Tennessee’s struggles have opened the door for Pittsburgh (11-3), winners of five straight, to possibly steel away the Titans’ coveted prize.

Tennessee’s stellar defensive play has eroded in recent weeks and that was seen when the Texans’ Andre Johnson racked up 207 yards and a touchdown en route to a 13-12 upset victory over Tennessee. A bad day was made worse as the Titans saw their defensive leader, tackle Albert Haynesworth rolling around on the field in pain. The All-Pro had sprained his MCL and will miss the Titan’s remaining two games. With a bye in the first week of the postseason, Haynesworth is hopeful to return for the team’s first playoff game in the divisional round.

While Tennessee’s defense has betrayed them in recent weeks, Pittsburgh’s defense has led them on the brink of home field advantage. The Steelers won a controversial replay and turned a late 9-6 deficit to Baltimore into a 13-9 victory.

The Pittsburgh Steelers lead the NFL in rush defense, pass defense and total defense and is on pace to be first the first team to finish first in all three of those categories since the 1991 Eagles. The Steelers also lead in scoring defense at a paltry 13.7 points per contest.

Even more history making is the fact that no opponent to face Pittsburgh this season has eclipsed 300 yards and no one has done that since the 1973 Rams.

The interesting thing about home field for these teams is that they may not want that distinction. In 2000, the year after the Titans lost the Super Bowl to the Rams by one-yard, they finished 13-3 and were preparing to have the AFC playoffs go through Nashville until they lost in their first game. The Steelers have even more pain as the top AFC seed, clinching it in 1994, 2001 and 2004 but lost the AFC championship game at home each season. They won the Super Bowl following the 2005 season as a wild-card team, playing three road games before winning Super Bowl XL in Detroit.

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