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Onus will be on Steelers defense in Tennessee rematch
These guys ain't them.
Not that Jeff Fisher's latest collect in Tennessee is to be taken lightly. The Titans went 11-5 this season, recovering from a 1-4 start well enough to win 10 of their final 11 games.
It's just that in the NFL of 2002-03, any team can be beaten, and the Titans, bye and all, are no exception.
The Cowboys (21-13), Browns (31-28), Redskins (31-14) and Ravens (13-12) all topped the Titans, and only the Browns made the playoffs.
Remember that when you're assessing the Steelers' chances of waltzing into Tennessee and waltzing out again with a victory.
Remember, also, that the Steelers' initial trip to Nashville this season wasn't a total disaster, despite the 31-7 deficit they faced with 8:09 remaining and quarterback Tommy Maddox lying paralyzed at Baptist Hospital at the time.
"If you really go back and look at the tape, we moved the ball on them," Maddox said of the Steelers' 31-23 loss on Nov. 17 at The Coliseum. "We obviously scored on the first big play and missed a couple of field goals in the first half. We make both those field goals, it's 14-13 at halftime and it's a different game. People tend to forget about that a little bit.
"We did some good things, they were overshadowed by a couple balls that I forced in there. We threw an interception in the end zone. We missed two field goals. We moved the ball more than people give us credit for."
Maddox remembers. He remembers throwing an interception on third-and-9 from the Steelers 10-yard line, and another on second-and-8 from the Tennessee 34 on a gadget play that turned into an illegal forward pass. He also remembers Todd Peterson missing field goals of 31 and 37 yards (apparent gimmies for Jeff Reed).
Around all that the Steelers gained 201 yards in the first half (17 more than the Titans), including the game-opening 72-yard touchdown pass from Maddox to wide receiver Hines Ward. They also converted 50 percent of their third-down opportunities (4 of 8; Tennessee was 6 of 9) and recorded nine first downs (to the Titans' 12).
It's not as if the Maddox-led offense came in and wilted under an assault on the pocket for which it had no answer.
The heat the Titans bring this time figures to be increased thanks to the presence of defensive end Jevon Kearse, who missed the previous meeting with a broken left foot.
Maddox welcomes it; secure in the belief he has enough options and weapons at his disposal.
The more intense pressure will be on the Steelers defense. Fisher didn't need to see the passing display put on by Kelly Holcomb in the Steelers' 36-33 survival of the Browns on Sunday to be encouraged to attack the Steelers secondary Saturday.
That's what the Titans do these days, even without wide receiver Kevin Dyson, who went on the injured reserve list in late November.
Tennessee will still attempt to establish George, particularly between the tackles (George is no longer a back to be feared bouncing outside or running wide), but the Titans no longer live and die on his legs. They'll be more inclined to spread the field and put the game mostly in the hands of quarterback Steve McNair.
The McNair most remember isn't the guy who became an MVP candidate this season. He's still difficult to bring down even when defenders get a clean shot on him and can still make plays running or throwing once he escapes the pocket. But the McNair that will challenge the Steelers on Saturday runs only when he must and looks for second- and third-options down the field much more often.
Tight end Frank Wycheck, once a passing-game staple, has become a bit player. Instead, McNair inflicts damage through an array of potential targets, stretching and crossing the defense out of three- and four-receivers sets.
Offensively, these aren't the smashmouth Titans of 1999 and 2000; they're much better.
The Steelers need to remember that most of all and prepare accordingly.
