Keys to the Game and a Prediction for Sunday vs the Titans

Another week – another big game. It’s become almost a weekly thing for the Steelers to have the “big game” of the week, and Sunday in Tennessee is no exception, as the Steelers and Titans battle for what likely will be the #1 spot in the AFC. The Steelers are 11-3, and with a win over the 12-2 Titans, they will be all but what should be an easy win over the awful Browns the #1 seed in the AFC in the playoffs.

Of course there are a few things that have to happen vs the Titans to gain that win, and below are are just a few keys along with my prediction for the outcome of Sunday’s huge game at LP Field.

1. Rattle Kerry Collins – Yes the Titans will try their best to run with LenDale White and Chris Johnson, but once they realize that won’t work, they are going to have to turn to Collins, who has struggled as of late when called upon to win a game. In his last four games, Collins has thrown three TD’s and three picks, but the Titans are not a team that can throw to win, and if James Harrison and friends can pressure Collins, he’ll for sure make enough mistakes for the Steelers to win.

2. Don’t Underestimate the Titans D – All the talk this week has been that the Titans D is weak without Albert Haynesworth and Kyle Vanden Bosch, but they still have some playmakers. Keith Bullock and David Thornton are very good, and the secondary is going to be tough to throw on with Pro Bowlers Cortland Finnegan and former Steeler Chris Hope. The Steelers are catching a break without Haynesworth and Vanden Bosch, but they can’t think they can just show up and win.

3. Take Care of the Football – They gave the ball away twice vs the Ravens and twice vs the Cowboys, but were able to survive both those games with comebacks. Let’s see what this team could do if they stop putting the ball on the turf. Ben hasn’t thrown a pick since the first quarter of the New England game, and he has to be careful with the feisty Titans secondary.

4. Treat This Like a Playoff Game – The Titans are like a boxer that has taken a couple hard shots, and they are clearly just trying to hang on and keep the top spot in the AFC. The Steelers need to come out and play like the favorite and the young, hungry challengers. The Titans have already peaked, while the Steelers are right now playing their best. They need to show that again Sunday.

So those are just a few things that need to happen in this game. I think and fully expect Mike Tomlin to have them focused and ready to go, and they should be able to snatch the AFC’s best seed with this win. Now they just have to go out and get it.

Steelers 23 Titans 14