TNF:Tennessee Titans 6-3 at Pittsburgh Steelers 7-2

[Mike75]

 

 

 

 

 

 

TNF:Tennessee Titans 6-3 at Pittsburgh Steelers 7-2 with the Titans seven points underdog to the Steelers maybe its just me but i think that its gonna be close.

 

Can't wait for this matchup on Thursday Night Football and i've actually been looking forward to this game since they first announced it when the schedule was originally released in April.

 

Both Tennessee and Pittsburgh have won 4 out of their last 5 games.

 

Since 1999 Tennessee leads the series 10-7 over Pittsburgh including a 34-31 win in OT in the 2002 NFL playoffs.

 

 

Titans Last 5                                          Steelers Last 5
11/12/17 vs CIN 24-20  W                    11/12/17 @ IND  20-17  W
11/5/17 vs BAL 23-20  W                     10/29/17  @ DET 20-15  W
10/22/17 @ CLE 12-9 W OT                10/22/17 vs CIN  29-14  W
10/16/17 vs IND 36-22 W                     10/15/17 @ KC  19-13  W
10/8/17 @ MIA 16-10  L                        10/8/17 vs  JAX 30-9  L
 

 

Titans Offense: 18th overall (7th rush, 27th pass). Defense: 17th overall (6th rush, 19th pass).

Steelers Offense: 10th overall (18th rush, 10th pass). Defense: 2ns overall (2nd rush, 11th pass).

 

 

Combining their 8-4 finish in 2016 with their 6-3 start in 2017, the @Titans are 14-7 in their last 21 regular season games. From Week 5 of 2016 to the present, the #Titans’ .667 winning percentage ranks fifth in the NFL. In that span, only the @Patriots (.857, 18-3), @Chiefs (.762, 16-5), @Cowboys (.714, 15-6) and this week’s opponent, the @Steelers (.714, 15-6), have fared better than the @Titans (.667, 14-7).

 

 

Since Week 5 vs @Dolphins, the @Titans defense has allowed only 17 conversions on 3rd down in 63 attempts. The defense’s third-down conversion rate of 27% leads the AFC during that span and trails only the 25.7% conversion rate the 8-1 @Eagles have allowed.

 

 

The @Titans have climbed to 10th in the NFL in red zone offense after being 31st a few weeks ago and Marcus Mariota has had three game-winning drives in a month.

 

 

In 2 career Thursday games, @Titans QB Marcus Mariota has completed 40 of 57 (70.2 pct.) with 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 108.9 rating & has a rush TD.

 

 

Pittsburgh marks the third straight game Tennessee is facing a top 10 pass defense.

 

 

Titans safety Kevin Byard leads the NFL with 6 interceptions and had 5 in two games the most in that span in NFL history.

 

 

Titans kicker Ryan Succop set an NFL record of successful field goals inside 50 yards with 56 straight made and that streak was broken this past weekend vs. Cincy

 

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@Titans punter @brettkern6 leads the NFL with a 52.2-yard average, and a 46.0-yard net.

 

 

 

[Mike75]

[Mike75]

 

 

Amazing how long Dick Lebeau has been around and in the NFL. Lebeau turned 80 years old back in September and his rookie year he played for the Detroit Lions and the year was 1959 a very long time ago. He played 14 seasons in Detroit and was teamed with Hall of Famers Dick "Night Train" Lane, Yale Lary, and Lem Barney as part of a Detroit secondary that was one of the most feared in the NFL.

 

LeBeau is widely considered to be one of the greatest defensive backs in Lions history. He recorded 62 interceptions for 762 yards and three touchdowns. His 62 interceptions are still a Lions franchise record, and he is tied for seventh all-time in NFL history.

 

LeBeau was also one of the most durable players in the league. In 14 years, he played 185 games – placing him fourth on Detroit's all-time list. He is third all-time for most seasons played (14) and previously held the NFL record for consecutive appearances by a cornerback with 171, which has since been broken by Ronde Barber. He also recovered nine fumbles, returning them for 53 yards and a touchdown.

 

During his career, he earned three trips to the Pro Bowl (1964–1966). In 1970, LeBeau established a career-high nine interceptions (tied for sixth on the team’s all-time single-season interceptions list). He was a major defensive contributor to the Lions finishing with a 10–4 record that season. The Lions finished second in the NFC Central and earned a berth in the playoffs.

 

Lebeau started coaching in 1973 but his biggest success came later in his career when he was defensive coordinator of the Steelers defense in 1992 through 1996 in his first stint and 2004 through 2014 in his second and during that time he managed to coach in four different Super Bowls winning two of them.

 

He is credited with inventing the "Fire Zone" or "zone blitz" defense, which employs unpredictable pass rushes and pass coverage from various players. His defenses typically employ 3–4 sets, with any of the four linebackers (and frequently a defensive back) among the pass rushers, while defensive linemen may drop back into short pass coverage zones to compensate for the pass rush coming from other positions. The design is intended to confuse the opposition's quarterback and frustrate its blocking schemes. Since zone blitzes don't identify any of the prospective rushers, the offense may be unsure on each play of which defenders will rush the passer and which will drop into coverage. While often described as a "blitzing" scheme (implying more than the typical number of four pass rushers used by most defenses), the call on any particular "zone blitz" play may involve only three or four pass rushers but from unpredictable positions and angles

 

LeBeau is beloved among his players, many of whom refer to him as "Coach Dad." Steelers players have given him many gifts, including a Rolex watch.

 

LeBeau was named "Coordinator of the year" by the Sporting News for the 2008 season.

 

In 2010, LeBeau was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

 

On January 10, 2015, LeBeau stepped down as defensive coordinator of the Steelers. He was then hired as the assistant head coach/defense of the Tennessee Titans on February 5, 2015.

 

On January 20, 2016, the Titans officially named LeBeau assistant head coach/defensive coordinator after the departure of Ray Horton to the Cleveland Browns. Said LeBeau, "I like Tennessee a lot. I really love being here."

[Mike75]

 

 

The Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans are ships going in opposite directions.

 

While the Colts franchise ultimately left Andrew Luck exposed, the Titans did the exact opposite. They built their team to protect QB Marcus Mariota, and now they have arguably the most promising young core in the NFL.

 

Indy didn't help Luck out any by not investing in an offensive line and in the end the team paid the ultimate price they may have lost their QB for good and he had the potential to be one of the best ever.

 

The Colts were lucky and their fans were spoiled ass rotten with the fanbase being carried the last twenty years by two very good QB's Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck making the postseason fourteen times,winning ten or more games fourteen different seasons,winning their division ten times.

 

From 1999-2016 The Patriots were 209-79 overall coming in first in winning percentage and second during that span were the Colts who went 189-99.

 

The Patriots went to eleven AFC title games,seven Super Bowls and won five titles during that span meanwhile the Colts only managed to go to four AFC title games,two Super Bowls and won just one title despite being just as dominant as the Patriots.

 

It is very rare for a franchise to be gifted with a franchise QB right on the heels of the previous one leaving. The 49ers got lucky with Joe Montana and Steve Young,the Packers with Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers,the Patriots with Drew Bledsoe and Tom Brady and the Colts with Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck. Other than that it just doesn't happen often besides those four franchises.

 

Well if Andrew Luck somehow ends up not playing again the team definitely blew a golden opportunity because the Colts appeared to have a stranglehold on the AFC South for the next decade when they managed to go 11-5 in their first year with Luck back in 2012.

 

Now the team with the brightest future in the division is the Tennessee Titans. And here’s what’s most telling: They have gotten to this point by, in many ways, doing the exact opposite of the Colts.

 

While Indianapolis enjoyed a meteoric rise, Tennessee’s growth has been maddeningly methodical. Some fans grew frustrated, saying the process was too slow and conservative.

 

But it has finally produced a team that looks like it can sustain its success over the long term possibly better than any team in the NFL. These days, few teams look smarter than the Titans, who are 6-3 entering Thursday night’s game against the Steelers.

 

The key difference in philosophies: The Colts invested little in young talent to surround their star quarterback, who was constantly battered and bruised and now will miss the entire 2017 season due to a shoulder injury. On the other side, no team in the last two decades has been as committed to supporting its prized quarterback as the Titans have with Marcus Mariota.

 

“Marcus is an integral part of our offense,” said general manager Jon Robinson, “but protecting him was first and foremost.”

 

Robinson started in January 2016 as GM and Mariota started his second season that same year. In their first year together the Robinson and Mariota went 9-7 and this year they are 6-3.

 

The best thing that happened for the Titans is drafting Mariota in 2015 and getting Robinson the year after and they've made a great tandem. After all any successful team has to have a franchise QB who can win games and a good GM that can stock the team with talent and that is happening in Tennessee.

 

From 1999 through 2011 the first twelve years were great with the team having seven winning seasons,six trips to the playoffs,three division titles,two AFC title game appearances and a Super Bowl berth.

 

2012 through 2015 the team went through a tough period due to a new GM Ruston Webster whose poor drafting included a QB Jake Locker who busted. Things started to get back on track when the team drafted a new QB Mariota.

 

Drafting a franchise quarterback though isn’t enough to build an offense.

 

Ever since the Titans drafted Mariota No. 2 overall in the 2015 draft, they haven’t stopped adding offensive pieces around him.

 

Robinson compares it to building a house and the first thing his quarterback needed was a solid foundation.

 

Despite spending their top pick in 2014 on an offensive tackle, Taylor Lewan, they did the same thing in 2016 with Jack Conklin, giving their at-times fragile quarterback two personal bodyguards at the premier positions on the line.

 

Then in free agency GM Robinson signed center Ben Jones plus guard Josh Kline off waivers and the team already had guard Quinton Spain.

 

So in 2016 in Mariota's second season his offensive line was set Lewan,Spain,Jones,Kline,Conklin.

 

After that, the Titans accessorized. They spent a second round pick in 2016, acquired from the Rams when they traded up for Jared Goff, on star Alabama running back Derrick Henry, a Heisman Trophy winner who along with DeMarco Murray now forms one of the NFL’s best backfield tandems.

 

With 2017's No. 5 overall pick—again part of the Goff trade—Tennessee took wide receiver Corey Davis. The team then spent its two third-round picks on another wide receiver Taywan Taylor and a tight end Jonnu Smith.

 

This may sound completely normal, even logical, but it’s nothing like how teams typically act after selecting a top quarterback.

 

According to the draft value chart, developed by former coach Jimmy Johnson and which awards points to each draft slot based on its expected value, no team since at least 1998 has supported a top quarterback prospect like the Titans have done with Mariota through his first three seasons.

 

The Titans have showered Mariota with 4,640 points of offensive talent, adding up all the offensive players they’ve drafted in the first four rounds, after which the expected value of picks becomes negligible. That’s about twice the average for quarterbacks selected first or second overall since 1998.

 

“If you go get that franchise quarterback, go get him some help,” said offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie. “Some guys turn around say, ‘I’m going to go the other way. I’ve got him, and he’s going to win the game.’”

 

There are two obvious points of comparison for what the Titans have done. The first is in Indianapolis, where the Colts spent roughly a third as much draft capital in the ensuing drafts on offensive players after picking Luck.

 

Eventually, the offense—even with a prodigious talent like Luck—began to break down when the front office tried to cobble together the roster around him with aging free agents like Andre Johnson.

 

Another clear point of reference: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who selected Jameis Winston No. 1 overall in the same draft the Titans took Mariota No. 2. Like the Colts, they didn’t spend many of their subsequent picks on offensive players. (In 2016, they spent a second-round pick on a kicker.)

 

That could help explain why the Tampa Bay offense has sputtered. The Buccaneers are 3-6 with Winston now rehabbing an injury of his own.

 

Meanwhile, Mariota has been among the best protected and least exposed quarterbacks in the NFL--27 quarterbacks have been sacked more than he has this year.

 

At the same time, investing top draft picks at some of the positions that draw the highest salaries, like quarterback and receiver, has given Robinson and coach Mike Mularkey the financial flexibility to splurge elsewhere. Last offseason, the Titans spent more than $80 million on defensive free agents.

 

All the while, the Tennessee offense, once mocked for lacking explosiveness, has steadily improved. From 2015 to 2016, the Titans jumped from 28th in scoring to 14th. This year, they’re 13th.

[Sol Aristatel]

I'm liking your Titans ticket at 40-1, Mike. A tad better than the 33-1 currently been offered at Bovada.

 

With parity in the league this season, a team like Tennessee could definitely go on a run. They need to keep improving though. Playing these shitty teams close is kind of concerning. Wins are wins. But I'd like to see them crank it up a notch..

[Mike75]

I'm liking your Titans ticket at 40-1, Mike. A tad better than the 33-1 currently been offered at Bovada.

 

With parity in the league this season, a team like Tennessee could definitely go on a run. They need to keep improving though. Playing these shitty teams close is kind of concerning. Wins are wins. But I'd like to see them crank it up a notch..

 

Yes we have been making a lot of silly boneheaded mistakes letting teams hang around way too long. We dominated both Baltimore and Cincy and they have top ten defenses.

 

Against Cincy WR Rishard Matthews dropped a pass in the end zone,WR Corey Davis fumbled the ball near the end zone right before he hit the pylon out of bounds and it was ruled a touchback one of the dumbest rules ever. Also our FG kicker made 56 straight FG but missed a rare one Sunday. Altogether 17 points we should've had but didn't so the score should've been 41-20 instead of 24-20. We dominated the game although the score doesn't indicate it.

 

Mariota has three game winning drives already this year.

 

Mariota was out vs. Miami Dolphins otherwise we would've killed them easily. With a healthy Mariota not missing a game we are 7-2 instead of 6-3.

 

Cant wait until December 10th Arizona/Tennessee that'll be fun.

 

Saw Matt Barkley when he played us last year he is a decent QB. I think they need to let Gabbert play see what he has.

[Mike75]

For what it's worth the Steelers are 1-5 in last 6 Thursday night games

[Mike75]

[Mike75]

rp

[Sol Aristatel]

I'm on the Titans tomorrow. Probably not good news for your boys, Mike. NFL has not been kind to Diabler Sports Inc. in 2017.

[Mike75]

[Mike75]

I'm on the Titans tomorrow. Probably not good news for your boys, Mike. NFL has not been kind to Diabler Sports Inc. in 2017.

 

LOL,No problem my friend because tomorrow your luck will take a change for the better

[Mike75]

[Mike75]

 

All time series since 1999 Tennessee leads 10-7

 

 

1999--Steelers @ Titans---Titans win 16-10

1999--Titans @ Steelers---Titans win 47-36

2000--Titans @ Steelers---Titans win 23-20

2000--Steelers @ Titans---Titans win 9-7

2001--Titans @ Steelers---Steelers win 34-7

2001--Steelers @ Titans---Steelers win 34-24

2002--Steelers @ Titans---Titans win 31-23

2003--Steelers @ Titans---Titans win 34-31 OT AFC Divisional playoffs

2003--Titans @ Steelers----Titans win 30-13

2005--Titans @ Steelers---Steelers win 34-7

2008--Steelers @ Titans---Titans win 31-14

2009--Titans @ Steelers---Steelers win 13-10 OT

2010--Steelers @ Titans---Steelers win 19-11

2011--Titans @ Steelers---Steelers win 38-17

2012--Steelers @ Titans---Titans win 26-23

2013--Titans @ Steelers----Titans win 16-9

2014--Steelers @ Titans---Steelers win 27-24

[Mike75]

Tennessee Titans 6-3

 

Nov. 16at Pittsburgh Steelers 7-2

Nov. 26at Indianapolis Colts   3-7
Dec. 3Houston Texans  3-6
Dec. 10at Arizona Cardinals   4-5
Dec. 17at San Francisco 49ers  1-9
Dec. 24Los Angeles Rams   7-2
Dec. 31Jacksonville Jaguars  6-3

 

 

 

Pittsburgh Steelers 7-2

 

Nov. 16--Tennessee Titans     6-3
Nov. 26---Green Bay Packers  5-4
Dec. 4---at Cincinnati Bengals  3-6
Dec. 10---Baltimore Ravens  4-5
Dec. 17---New England Patriots   7-2
Dec. 25---at Houston Texans  3-6
Dec. 31----Cleveland Browns  0-9

[Mike75]

NFL Network‏

The top of the AFC South meets the leader of the AFC North.

@Titans. @Steelers.

Grab your popcorn, #TNF TONIGHT!

 

[Mike75]

 

[Mike75]

 

 

[FISHHEAD]

For what it's worth the Steelers are 1-5 in last 6 Thursday night games

FWIW..........the Titans are 11-37-4 ATS vs. the AFC last 52 games.

[Fazzer]

great stat for trend bettors. 

[Mike75]

FWIW..........the Titans are 11-37-4 ATS vs. the AFC last 52 games.

 

From their first year 1999 through 2011 they had seven winning seasons,six postseason berths,three division titles,three different years had most wins in NFL,two AFC title game and one Super Bowl appearance.

 

However, between 2012 and 2015 the Titans suffered four straight losing seasons including a 2-14 mark in 2014 and 3-13 mark in 2015 hence the bad record the last 52 games and the 11-37-4 ATS.

 

Things began to get better after 2015 with the drafting of Marcus Mariota and hiring of GM Jon Robinson.

 

Starting in 2016 the Titans went 9-7 including beating 5 playoff teams and are 6-3 on 2017 this season so far.

 

From September 12,1999 (the Titans first year) through November 12,2017 (Most recent week of play) i put the records of all teams and below is how all teams fared during that time. Since starting 1999 through 2017 the Titans have a winning record overall and are 12th overall of all 32 teams during that span.

 

 

1. New England Patriots—216-81 OVERALL

2. Indianapolis Colts—192-106 OVERALL

3. Pittsburgh Steelers—188-108-1 OVERALL

4. Green Bay Packers—184-112-1 OVERALL

5. Denver Broncos—173-124 OVERALL

6. Philadelphia Eagles—172-124-1 OVERALL

7. Baltimore Ravens—169-128 OVERALL

8. Seattle Seahawks—167-129-1 OVERALL

9. New Orleans Saints—156-141 OVERALL

10. New York Giants—154-143 OVERALL

11. Dallas Cowboys—154-143 OVERALL

12. Tennessee Titans—152-145 OVERALL

13. Minnesota Vikings—151-145-1 OVERALL

14. Atlanta Falcons—150-146-1 OVERALL

15. Carolina Panthers—149-148-1 OVERALL

16. Kansas City Chiefs—147-150 OVERALL

17. Los Angeles Chargers—147-150 OVERALL

18. Miami Dolphins–144-153 OVERALL

19. New York Jets—144-154 OVERALL

20. Chicago Bears—141-156 OVERALL

21. Cincinnati Bengals—137-156-3 OVERALL

22. Tampa Bay Bucs—135-162 OVERALL

23. Arizona Cardinals—131-165-1 OVERALL

24. Los Angeles Rams—131-165-1 OVERALL

25. San Francisco 49ers—130-167-1 OVERALL

26. Washington Redskins—129-167-1 OVERALL

27. Buffalo Bills—128-169 OVERALL

28. Jacksonville Jaguars—126-171 OVERALL

29. Oakland Raiders—120-177 OVERALL

30. Houston Texans—109-140 OVERALL

31. Detroit Lions—109-188 OVERALL

32. Cleveland Browns—88-209 OVERALL

[Mike75]

FWIW..........the Titans are 11-37-4 ATS vs. the AFC last 52 games.

 

great stat for trend bettors. 

 

I'm no psychic so i don't know whats going to happen during the game tonight and if Tennessee will win or lose BUT i will say this......

 

Since their first year in 1999 through 2017 the Titans overall are the 12th most winningest team out of 32 teams during that span.

 

In 2016 the team with a new GM and better QB put an end to the 4 years of losing seasons going 9-7 in 2016 for a winning season and are 6-3 and look to have another winning season in 2017 as well.

 

So when bettors look at this 'trend' remind them that the team is now winning again and this 'trend' is largely due to the 4 straight losing seasons incurred from 2012 through 2015.

 

Beginning in 2016 and continuing onward in 2017 as well Tennessee has started winning games again.

 

Good luck to both teams.

 

Also if Tennessee does lose tonight they'll still be among the top six teams in the AFC.

[joeybagadonuts]

Landers on Pitt Ml so the Titans likely pull out a win here.

[Mike75]

Landers on Pitt Ml so the Titans likely pull out a win here.

 

:yay

[WVU]

mike, your homer ass talked me into it.  Don't fuck me