titans vs steelers in Week 9: Match Inactives
On Thursday Night Football, the Tennessee Titans (3-4) visit Pittsburgh to play the Steelers (4-3) in a game. On Thursday, Nov. 2, kickoff is set for 7:15 p.m. CDT/8:15 p.m. EDT at Acrisure Stadium (68,400 capacity).
The 81st meeting between the two former AFC Central Division rivals will take place on Thursday night. In the history of the Titans/Oilers, no opponent has faced the team more times than the Steelers. They split the four Thursday night games they’ve played, winning two each.
Head coach of the Titans Mike Vrabel will make his second head coaching visit to Pittsburgh, having done so in 2021. After being selected in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft, he played for the Steelers for four seasons.
The teams’ Week 9 inactives are as follows:
TITANIES
AOL Jeremy Hubbard
Q-B Tannehill Ryan
CBC Colton Dowell, LB; Roger McCreary, WR DL Caleb Murphy Johnson, Jaleel
STEELING
Q-B 3rd QB Mason Rudolph
S. Dylan Cook Minkah Fitzpatrick T
Not That NT Armon Watts Finken Fehoko
Highlights of the Titans versus Steelers game: Pittsburgh triumphs 20–16 on Thursday Night Football
The Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3) defeated the Tennessee Titans (3-5) on Thursday Night Football at Acrisure Stadium to start NFL Week 9.
Following a Week 8 loss to Jacksonville, Pittsburgh recovered. Quarterback Kenny Pickett left last week’s game late in the second quarter due to a rib injury; head coach Mike Tomlin said he was leaving the door “ajar” for him to play on Thursday, and he did receive the starting job.
Conversely, Tennessee defeated Atlanta in their Week 8 encounter by a slim margin. After making an impressive debut last week, rookie quarterback Will Levis led the Titans once again while Ryan Tannehill remained out with an ankle sprain.
I’m about to fire you!
Due to a staggering 40 yards of penalties from Pittsburgh, Tennessee was able to move the ball into Pittsburgh territory on its opening drive. Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt sacked Levis without his helmet on the drive’s thirteenth play, as seen below. Nick Folk’s 36-yard field goal kept the Titans in the game.
Speak up!
Tennessee took the lead after forcing consecutive three-and-outs out of Pittsburgh.
The drive’s fourth play saw Levis get rid of the ball before being sacked, setting up a 23-yard gain for wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Running back Derrick Henry broke the plane for the Tennessee touchdown seven plays later. The next play, Chris Boswell found the goal from 29 yards out for the Steelers.
3 for the Titans
After a 45-yard combination of back-to-back completions between Levis and wide receiver Kyle Philips, Folk’s 36-yard field goal at the end of the first half was made possible.
Halftime: Steelers 10, Titans 13.
Tennessee outgained Pittsburgh 198-142 in total yards while controlling the ball for the majority of the first half. Levis completed 153 yards of passing while Pickett completed 78 yards.
Tennessee and Pittsburgh trade FGs.
In the first play of the second half, Tennessee went three and out, and Pittsburgh’s Boswell made a 30-yard field goal. After that, Tennessee mounted its own scoring drive. With 19 seconds left in the third quarter, Folk made a 48-yard field goal four plays after Levis got the ball out to Henry, who ran for a 23-yard gain after catching the pass below. 16–13 was the Titans’ lead.
Take the lead in changing
Later in the fourth quarter, running back Jaylen Warren thundered down the sideline for a 22-yard gain after quarterback Brett Favre threw a strike to wide receiver Diontae Johnson for a 32-yard gain.With 4:02 left in the fourth quarter and four plays later, Pickett found an open Johnson for a 3-yard touchdown, giving Pittsburgh a 20-16 lead.
The Steelers end it.
With 2:06 left in the fourth quarter, Tyjae Spears ran the next kickoff out to the Titans’ 48-yard line, but the Steelers forced a turnover on downs. Following a three-and-out by Pittsburgh, Tennessee’s subsequent possession resulted in a touchdown. Nevertheless, Kwon Alexander of the Steelers, a linebacker, intercepted Pickett to seal the victory.