Titans @ Steelers
Final Score: Steelers 19, Titans 13
Writer: Josh Kurzer (@jkurzer52 on Twitter, jk303030 on Reddit)
This battle between two teams in playoff contention was a war of attrition, and the turnover battle proved to be the deciding factor. The Titans led 13-3 at the end of the second quarter and were held scoreless in the second half. Things began to unravel after Ben Roethlisberger scored on a quarterback sneak to make it a 13-10 game. On Tennessee’s next possession, receiver Racey McMath fumbled the ball while trying to break a tackle. The Steelers converted a field goal after recovering the fumble and got the ball right back on a tipped interception after kicking away to Tennessee. Pittsburgh would go on to kick another field goal to take a 13-10 lead. Then, a Ryan Tannehill fumble would give the football to Pittsburgh for the Titans’ third consecutive giveaway. The Steelers could only muster 168 yards of offense and one touchdown, but the defense led the way to a second-half comeback to give Pittsburgh the victory.
Tennessee Titans
Quarterback
Ryan Tannehill: 23/32, 153 yards, 4 sacks, fumble, INT | 5 carries, 18 yards, TD
Without Derrick Henry and A.J. Brown on the field, Tannehill’s weapons are severely limited. When you combine the lack of talent at playmaking positions with the fearsome pass rush of the Pittsburgh Steelers, it makes for a tough matchup for any quarterback. Tannehill played well in the first half, as he did what he was asked despite a run-heavy game plan. Tennessee ran the ball for over 200 yards today and controlled most of the game, but a string of turnovers in the second half cost them mightily. There was not much Tannehill could have done to avoid either of his two turnovers. The first was a pass that was tipped at the line of scrimmage, and the second was a fumble that came when he was swarmed by Pittsburgh pass rushers. Tannehill scored the first touchdown of the game with his legs on a sneak that counted for his seventh rushing touchdown of the season.
7th rushing TD for Ryan Tannehill 👏pic.twitter.com/JTd14PfDsn
(via @NFL)— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 19, 2021
SCHO TIME 🎥
📺: CBS | @JoeTheScho pic.twitter.com/xSa7la85vl
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 19, 2021
We'll take that!!!
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/XKjoOGxipc
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 19, 2021
Running Backs
D’Onta Foreman: 23 carries, 108 yards | 3 targets, 2 receptions, 27 yards
Dontrell Hilliard: 9 carries, 49 yards | 6 targets, 4 receptions, 10 yards
Jeremy McNichols: 6 carries, 26 yards | 3 targets, 3 receptions, 25 yards
The Titans ran the ball for 201 yards today, and likely would have run for a lot more if not for the second-half meltdown. This was the third time the Steelers have allowed more than 190 yards rushing in their last four games. Pittsburgh’s inability to stop the run is something coach Mike Tomlin must be keenly aware of and needs to be remedied if the Steelers are going to have any chance to win a playoff game.
D’Onta Foreman was the primary ball carrier for Tennessee in this one. He carried the ball 23 times and accounted for over half of his team’s rushing total. Though he is not nearly the physical force that Henry is, Foreman is cut from the same cloth. He is a textbook power back who can mix it up between the tackles and shake defenders when he needs to. Hilliard and McNichols were effective in their roles, both contributing on the ground and in the air.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine: 7 targets, 4 receptions, 32 yards
Chester Rogers: 4 targets, 4 receptions, 30 yards
Anthony Firkser: 2 targets, 2 reception, 19 yards
Geoff Swain: 2 targets, 1 reception, 5 yards
Cody Hollister: 2 targets, 1 reception, 5 yards
MyCole Pruitt: 1 target, 1 reception, 1 yard
Julio Jones: 1 target, 0 receptions
Racey McMath: 1 target, 1 reception, -1 yard, fumble
With Julio Jones out, Tennessee’s pass-catchers provided nothing explosive throughout the game. Tannehill’s longest completion went to the running back Foreman for just 18 yards. No wide receiver or tight end in this game had a reception of longer than 13 yards. The Steelers’ defensive front was making life miserable for Tennessee all game long, and the aggressive pass rush did not offer the offense enough time to set up shots down the field. The best chance the Titans had for a long completion came in the first half when Westbrook-Ikhine dropped what would have been at worst a 40-yard completion and at best a touchdown, it was his first drop of the year. This game showed that Tennessee needs A.J. Brown on the field to move the ball efficiently through the air.
GIMME THAT BALL!!
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/yrJ60u3kUQ
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 19, 2021
Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger 16/25, 148 yards, 3 sacks| 3 carries, 0 yards, TD
Roethlisberger’s play has steadily declined over the last several years, and it is now at a point where he needs to lean on his defense to win games. The case was no different today. Big Ben struggled to push the ball down the field and get it in the end zone. Pittsburgh scored just one touchdown today, and it surprisingly came from Roethlisberger on the ground. That’s right, the only touchdowns scored in this game came on quarterback sneaks. Roethlisberger’s was particularly notable because it was his first rushing touchdown in three years, as the Steelers try not to run quarterback sneaks to preserve his body. The difference between Roethlisberger and Tannehill in this game came in the turnover department. Roethlisberger protected the ball all game while Tannehill’s two turnovers led to Chris Boswell’s deciding field goals in the fourth quarter.
BIG BEN FOR SIX!
📺: CBS | @_BigBen7 pic.twitter.com/yYDf9OGfK9
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 19, 2021
Running Backs
Najee Harris: 12 carries, 18 yards | 5 targets, 2 receptions, 8 yards
On the defensive side of the ball, coach Mike Vrabel’s game plan worked to perfection. Tennessee stacked the box and filled gaps all game, gang tackling star rookie Najee Harris and not letting him pick up yards after contact. Harris’ 18 rushing yards is a career-low, and the first-round pick simply had nowhere to go. Tennessee possessed the ball for nearly two-thirds of the game, and Harris was never able to get into a rhythm. The rookie from Alabama is at his best when Pittsburgh can lean on him as a workhorse, and the game flow did not allow that to happen on Sunday. If you’re still alive in the fantasy playoffs, Harris is all systems go next week in Kansas City.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Diontae Johnson: 5 targets, 5 receptions, 38 yards | 1 carry, 10 yards
Pat Freiermuth: 4 targets, 4 receptions, 37 yards
James Washington: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 36 yards
Zach Gentry: 1 target, 1 reception, 17 yards
Chase Claypool: 2 targets, 1 reception, 12 yards | 1 carry, 7 yards
None of Pittsburgh’s pass-catchers stood out on Sunday, but they contributed evenly across the board. The Steelers passing game was similar to Tennessee’s on the other side, with no true playmakers to scare the defense. Chase Claypool had a quiet performance after his disappointing mental mistake in the two-minute drill last week. Pat Freiermuth and Diontae Johnson were effective for Pittsburgh, with both picking up yards after the catch on designed short passes and screens. There is a lot of young talent on Pittsburgh’s offense but there is so much room to grow, especially for Claypool and Johnson. James Washington caught the longest reception of the day for the Steelers, but it went for only 19 yards. Overall it was another underwhelming performance from the Steelers’ offense, and they have their defense to thank for stealing a win at home.
— Josh Kurzer (@jkurzer52 on Twitter, jk303030 on Reddit)