NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Jeff Fisher had barely started talking about his season-opening win over Oakland when he set the tone for Tennessee's upcoming opponent.
"Now it's officially Steelers' Week," Fisher said.
For teams that haven't been division rivals since 2001 in the old AFC Central, emotions certainly rise when they play. Sunday will be the 73rd game between Pittsburgh (1-0) and Tennessee (1-0), the most against one opponent for the old Houston Oilers.
Consider this a good playoff gauge for both clubs because there have only been three NFL postseasons since 1985 without at least one of them in the playoffs.
"It's probably more of a measuring stick because they are perennially a good, competitive football team," Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said. "It's kind of a window to how you stack up against the best in the AFC."
Pittsburgh receiver Hines Ward believes not being in the same division has eased the importance of this series but not the intensity.
"It's still a heated rivalry. Every time you come out of that game black and blue," Ward said.
These franchises have much more in common than just a shared divisional history. Both love to run the ball and rank No. 2 (Pittsburgh) and No. 3 (Tennessee) in rushing yards per game since 1995 in Fisher's first full season coaching his team. There's also coaching stability and stingy, hard-hitting defense too.
"It's always a challenge," Fisher said. "It's such a first-class organization and such a ... fan base and following. They're always very well coached and very physical."
Pittsburgh leads the series overall 42-30, but the Steelers haven't won at LP Field since Nov. 25, 2001.
They've split the past two games with the Titans winning 31-14 in Nashville on Dec. 21, 2008 — the Steelers' last loss before winning the Super Bowl in a game Pittsburgh fans remember for some Titans stomping on their treasured Terrible Towels. Pittsburgh pulled out a 13-10 overtime win at home — the first of six straight losses for the Titans to open 2009.
Fisher said his Titans didn't play well enough to win the 2009 opener. This week has been filled with lots of talk of tradition and rivalry.
"I think by the end of the week the players will understand the significance of it. We've got some former Steelers on the roster that it's going to be a big week for, and we'll get our point across," Fisher said.
Titans safety Chris Hope, who played his first four years in Pittsburgh, said the only lesson needed is watching the Steelers on tape. Tennessee's seven rookies? Well, Hope said who in the world hasn't seen the Steelers play?
"They have big-name guys like (Troy) Polamalu and Hines Ward and (Ben) Roethlisberger. It's not like this is their first time seeing those guys play," Hope said.
The Titans won't see Roethlisberger, who will be sitting out the second of his four-game suspension. Tomlin said Dennis Dixon, who made his second career start in last week's 15-9 overtime win over Atlanta, will start against a Titans' defense that had four sacks, three batted passes and two turnovers in Tennessee's 38-13 rout of Oakland.
"Without him, we definitely know our chances are much better," Titans defensive tackle Tony Brown said. "Not saying that as a knock to the guy backing him up."
Dixon gets help from Rashard Mendenhall, the running back taken a spot before Tennessee's Chris Johnson in the 2008 draft. Mendenhall pulled out that win over Atlanta with his 50-yard touchdown run in overtime. Sunday will be much louder when Dixon's on the field.
"The crowd can be a factor," Dixon said. "It all depends on what you do as an offense. If you execute your plays, they won't be a factor at all."
For Dixon's inexperience, this will be Vince Young's first career start against the Steelers and defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. Young was Kerry Collins' backup the last two games, and he is 7-1 as a starter on his home turf. Even though Young is coming off a 142.6 passer rating that was the NFL's best last week, Tomlin and the Steelers are focused on Johnson.
"I think their offense still flows through Chris Johnson, as it should," Tomlin said. "He has a strong argument for being the best player in the world right now. They have some concept things, some speed option things, some designed things that highlight Vince's athleticism and pedigree, but largely their personality is their personality and their offense flows through 28."
That pits strength versus strength with the Steelers having allowed only four 100-yard rushers since 2005. Johnson is the NFL's leading rusher since 2008, and he has 12 straight 100-yard rushing games after he ran for 142 yards against Oakland.
The Titans, including Johnson, are only concerned about one streak. They know they can't waste a schedule that has them at home for two straight games, especially with the second against the Steelers.
"That's a good, good motivational confidence boost going into the rest of the season," Hope said.
