Steelers will be true measure of Titans' abilities
December 16
Tennessean columnist Joe Biddle
"In constructing a 12-1 record before tanking it in Texas, the Titans were on top of the NFL world.
There was no pressure. The Titans flew under the radar, even after losing their first game of the season to the Jets.
This all changed with the loss at Houston. For the first time this season, the Titans encounter a must-win week. And there are probably 30 other NFL teams they would rather face than Pittsburgh.
The Steelers are showing the swagger and ability to win physical, tough, close games in December. They are precisely where all playoff-bound teams want to be at this point in the season.
The Steelers have won five games in a row, including Sunday's 13-9 win at Baltimore. In the past three weeks, they've beaten the Ravens, Cowboys and Patriots - currently a combined 27-15. Now at 11-3, the Steelers can earn home-field advantage by winning their final two games.
The Titans have lost two of their past four games. If they want to gain home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, they have to beat Pittsburgh. Their margin of error has hit rock bottom.
It's what this time of year is all about. Which teams want it the most? We are going to find out what the Titans are made of, and how much the two losses exposed their underbelly to the rest of the league.
It's no secret veteran quarterback Kerry Collins was off his game in Houston. You just have to find a way to win in spite of it.
His passes were off target much of the game, so it was surprising to see the Titans call a long pass pattern down the sideline on fourth-and-3 from the Houston 32 with the game on the line. Collins had been overthrowing receivers on long routes and this was one day where he couldn't catch fire.
"It wasn't my best performance,'' Collins understated.
That one is over. No use trying to dissect it anymore. Pittsburgh should be the sole focus."
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