Titans throttle Steelers to secure top AFC playoff seeding

The Tennessee Titans crushed visiting Pittsburgh 31-14 on Sunday to improve their record to 13-2 for the season and more importantly clinch the #1 seed in the AFC.  As a result they’ll play at Nashville’s LP Field during the postseason where they’re 7-1 on the year.  The victory also tied a franchise mark for most wins in a season which they can eclipse with a victory at Indianapolis next Sunday.

The victory was typical of many of the Titans’ wins this year, with Kerry Collins playing mistake free football and an opportunistic defense forcing the Steelers into making four turnovers.  After a scoreless first period, the Titans opened up a 10-0 lead on a Rob Bironas 42 yard FG and a 34 yard TD pass from Collins to Justin Gage.  The Steelers managed to cut the lead to 10-7 before halftime when Ben Roethlisberger hit Santonio Holmes from 31 yards out for his 17th TD pass of the season.

Roethlisberger would give the Steelers a short lived 14-10 lead early in the second half when he found Hines Ward in the end zone for his 2nd TD pass of the game.  From that point on, it was all Tennessee and the Titans took the lead for good just a few minutes later on Chris Johnson’s 21 yard run.  Lendale White added another rushing TD early in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 24-14 and Michael Griffin capped the scoring when he returned an interception 83 yards the other way.

Titans’ Coach Jeff Fisher was especially pleased with his team’s performance, calling it their best overall game of the season.  He downplayed talk of it being a “statement” game and focused instead on the need to maintain momentum heading into the playoffs:

"This was not a statement game by no means. It was a momentum game. We needed to build momentum for the playoffs and the bye week by playing well and winning the game. The bonus is the second game here at home."

Titan’s linebacker Keith Bullick enraged Steelers fans when he stomped on one of their iconic “Terrible Towels” in the end zone after the game said simply:

"It sets the tone for the playoffs in the AFC”

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin dismissed suggestions that his team was “flat”, and pointed to the four turnovers as the deciding factor in the game:

"If you don't take care of the football versus good people, it comes back to bite you”

Pittsburgh fell to 1-5 against the Titans since the team moved to Tennessee.  The Steelers will conclude their season next Sunday at home against the Cleveland Browns.