RECORD-LOW TEMP FOR LP FIELD: The official kickoff temperature was 25 degrees, making it the coldest game ever played at LP Field, which opened in 1999. Previously, the record low was 28 degrees against the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 30, 2001. With the winds at kickoff against the Steelers measured at nine miles per hour, the wind chill computed to 16 degrees. That was the second-lowest wind chill in LP Field history and the lowest since Christmas 2000 against the Cowboys (29 degrees, wind chill of 14 degrees).
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MOST PASSING YARDS BY A ROOKIE ON MONDAY NIGHT:*Zach Mettenberger completed 15 of 24 passes for 263 yards, two touchdowns, one interception and a 110.2 passer rating in his first career primetime performance. He completed an 80-yard touchdown pass to Nate Washington and a four-yard touchdown to Chase Coffman. Mettenberger's 263 passing yards set a record for a rookie on *Monday Night Football, topping the previous record of 241 yards by Philadelphia's John Reaves in 1972 (Oct. 2, 1972 against the New York Giants).
METTENBERGER FIFTH ROOKIE QB IN FRACHISE HISTORY WITH THREE STARTS: Zach Mettenberger became the fifth quarterback in franchise history to start at least three games during his rookie season, joining Jacky Lee (1960), Dan Pastorini (1971), Brent Pease (1987) and Vince Young (2006). Within the group, Mettenberger has the most total passing yards (741) and touchdowns (five) and the highest passer rating (92.7) in his first three starts.
METTENBERGER-TO-WASHINGTON BOMB: In the second quarter, Zach Mettenberger connected with wide receiver Nate Washington on an 80-yard touchdown pass. The reception was the longest of Washington's 10-year career and the Titans' longest completion since Oct. 2, 2011 against the Cleveland Browns (80 yards from Matt Hasselbeck to Jared Cook).
METTENBERGER LEADS ROOKIES IN PASSER RATING: Out of the four NFL rookie quarterbacks who have started games this season, Zach Mettenberger leads the group with a passer rating of 86.2. The others are Oakland's Derek Carr (76.8), Jacksonville's Blake Bortles (72.2) and Minnesota's Teddy Bridgewater (75.0).
KENDALL WRIGHT HITS 200: In the second quarter, Kendall Wright caught a 23-yard pass from Zach Mettenberger to notch his 200th career reception. Not only did he become the 15th player in franchise history to reach the mark, but he accomplished the feat in fewer games than any other player. Wright was playing in his 41st career game, one fewer than when Charlie Hennigan reached 200 receptions in 1963 to set a mark that stood for 51 years.
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SANKEY SCORES SECOND TD:In the first quarter, Titans rookie running backBishop Sankey** scored his second career touchdown on a nine-yard run. He finished the game with 38 yards on 11 carries. Additionally, he recorded his first career kickoff returns, totaling 82 yards on three returns (27.3 avg.), and he caught one pass for seven yards.
COFFMAN'S FIRST CAREER TOUCHDOWN: Fifth-year tight end Chase Coffman recorded his second career start, filling in for the injured Delanie Walker (concussion). Coffman posted three catches for 32 yards, including a long reception of 18 yards and his first career touchdown. On third-and-goal in the third quarter, he made a leaping grab in the end zone on a pass from Zach Mettenberger. NO SACKS ALLOWED: Titans quarterback Zach Mettenbergerwas not sacked by the Steelers in 24 dropbacks. It was the first game since Sept. 23, 2012 against the Detroit Lions that the Titans did not allow a sack in a game.
WILLIAMSON FIRST TITANS ROOKIE SINCE 2011 WITH TWO SACKS: Rookie inside linebacker Avery Williamson was credited with two total sacks against the Steelers. First, he split a sack with Derrick Morgan in the second quarter. In the third quarter, he shared a sack with Wesley Woodyard, and on the following play, he took Ben Roethlisberger down for an eight-yard loss. Williamson became the seventh different rookie in the "Titans era" (1999-present) to record two or more sacks in a game, joining Jevon Kearse (three times in 1999), Carlos Hall (2002), Travis LaBoy (2004), Randy Starks (2004), Jason Jones (2008) and Karl Klug (2011). Williamson now has three sacks on the season.
TITANS CALLED FOR ONE PENALTY: The Titans were whistled for only one penalty in the game, a holding call coming at the 7:05 mark in the third quarter. They overcame the penalty to score a touchdown on the drive. The game marked only the fourth time since the start of the 1999 season that the Titans committed one or zero penalties. Their last such occasion was a one-penalty game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Dec. 22, 2013.
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McCOURTY RECORDS INTERCEPTION:CornerbackJason McCourtyintercepted aBen Roethlisberger** pass in the end zone in the second quarter. It was his third interception of the season and the 11th picked off pass of his career. The takeaway preceded an 80-yard Titans touchdown pass on the following play.
GROVES BECOMES 15TH TITANS DEFENDER WITH A SACK: In the second quarter, outside linebacker Quentin Groves dropped Ben Roethlisberger for a nine-yard sack. With his first sack of the season (9.5 career), Groves became the 15th Titans defender with at least one sack this season. Since sacks became an official statistic in 1982, the only Titans/Oilers team with more players with at least one sack was the 1986 squad, which had 17 players record at least one sack. The 1987 and 1985 defenses also had 15 players with at least one sack.
MONDAY WINNING STREAK COMES TO END: The loss to the Steelers ended the Titans' four-game winning streak on Monday night, which dated back to 2008. The Titans are 15-11 in Monday night games since the start of the 1999 campaign.
LINEBACKERS ACCOUNT FOR ALL FIVE TITANS SACKS: The Titans defense totaled five sacks against the Steelers, all coming from the linebacker corps. Inside linebacker Avery Williamson was credited with a pair of sacks, while outside linebackers Quentin Groves and Shaun Phillips had one sack apiece. Outside linebacker Derrick Morgan and inside linebacker Wesley Woodyard each had a half of a sack. It was the third time in the last five games the Titans recorded five or more sacks (six against Jacksonville on Oct. 12; five against Houston on Oct. 26). The Titans rank fourth in the AFC and sixth in the NFL with 29 sacks in 2014.
INACTIVES: The Titans' seven inactive players were quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, wide receiver Kris Durham, cornerback Brandon Harris, running back Antonio Andrews, tackle Will Svitek, tight end Delanie Walker and defensive lineman DaQuan Jones.
