NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans (1-1) host the Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) this week on Sunday Night Football. Kickoff at Nissan Stadium (capacity 69,143) is scheduled for 7 p.m. CDT on Sunday, Aug. 25.
THE BROADCAST
The game will be nationally televised on NBC, including Nashville affiliate WSMV News 4. Play-by-play announcer Al Michaels, analyst Cris Collinsworth and sideline reporter Michele Tafoya will have the call.
The Titans Radio Network, including Nashville flagship 104.5 The Zone, will carry the game across the Mid-South with the "Voice of the Titans" Mike Keith, analyst Dave McGinnis, sideline reporter Amie Wells and gameday hosts Rhett Bryan and Jonathan Hutton.
LAST WEEK AGAINST THE PATRIOTS
The Titans played their first home game of the preseason last week against the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. After the Titans led for most of the evening, the Patriots scored with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and held on for a 22-17 win.
Starting quarterback Marcus Mariota played three series—all in the first quarter—and helped the Titans build an 8-0 advantage. He completed six of nine passes for 63 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown strike to tight end Delanie Walker. Mariota added a rushing attempt for a two-point conversion immediately following the touchdown.
The game represented a significant milestone for Walker as he embarks on his 14th NFL campaign. The franchise's eighth all-time leading receiver (360 receptions with the Titans) suffered a leg injury in Week 1 of the 2018 regular season and had not played since that time.
After Mariota exited against the Patriots, Ryan Tannehill played most of the second quarter. Tannehill, who is in his first preseason with the club, was 7-of-11 passing for 84 yards and a 15-yard touchdown to running back Jeremy McNichols. It gave Tannehill three touchdown passes and a 130.8 passer rating in two preseason contests (19-27, 214 yards).
Defensively, former Patriots cornerback Logan Ryan provided one of the highlights of the game in the early moments by intercepting a Brian Hoyer pass on New England's first offensive series.
THE STEELERS
The Steelers look to get back to the playoffs in 2019 after finishing as the runners-up in the 2018 AFC North race by a half game. The 10-6 Baltimore Ravens took the division, while the Steelers went 9-6-1 and missed the postseason for the first time since 2013.
Mike Tomlin enters his 13th season with the club. He has led his club to six AFC North titles, most recently in 2017, and has guided the Steelers to the playoffs eight times.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time Super Bowl winner, is entering his 16th NFL season. In addition to holding virtually every major passing record in Steelers history, he has the seventh-most passing touchdowns in NFL history (363), the sixth-most passing yards in NFL history (56,194) and the seventh-most completions in NFL history (4,616).
Last week, the Steelers won for the second consecutive week, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 17-7. Roethlisberger did not play, deferring to Mason Rudolph, a third-round draft choice in 2018. Former Tennessee Volunteer signal caller Joshua Dobbs started the team's first preseason contest, a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Titans Online looks back at the all-time series between the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers. (AP Photos)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell (26) is tackled by Tennessee Titans cornerback Logan Ryan, right, and outside linebacker Aaron Wallace, left, during the second half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. The Steelers won 40-17. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) plays in an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva (78), second from right, lines up against the Tennessee Titans with the rest of the line during the second half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) plays in an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell (26) plays against the Tennessee Titans during an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
In this Nov. 16, 2017, photo, Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) plays in an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh. The one thing Mariota has shown in his young NFL career is the ability to bounce back from an interception or a bad game. The Titans' third-year quarterback is coming off the worst game yet with four interceptions and has more picks than touchdown passes this season, and now he gets to visit Indianapolis and one of the league’s worst pass defenses. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Tennessee Titans cornerback Adoree' Jackson (25) breaks up a pass intended for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (19) during the first half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) calls out signals as center Maurkice Pouncey (53) gets ready to snap the football at the line of scrimmage during an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, in Pittsburgh. The Steelers won 40-17. (Scott Boehm via AP)
Tennessee Titans tight end Anthony Firkser catches a pass during NFL football training camp Saturday, July 28, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) plays in an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Tennessee Titans running back DeMarco Murray (29) is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Vince Williams (98) during the first half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) scrambles for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (19) is hit by Tennessee Titans strong safety Johnathan Cyprien, rear, and Jayon Brown (55) as he makes a catch during the second half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. The Steelers won 40-17. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, left, is greeted by Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlinan NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018, in Pittsburgh. The Steelers won 16-6. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) runs the ball as Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Joe Haden (23) and linebacker Anthony Chickillo, left, pursue in the first quarter of an NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
File-This Aug. 25, 2018, file photo shows Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) getting a pass away as Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Artie Burns (25) rushes him in the first half of an NFL preseason football game, in Pittsburgh. Mariota’s emergence as one of the NFL’s top young stars helped provide proof that a good quarterback can be found in the state of Hawaii. (AP Photo/Don Wright, File)
Tennessee Titans linebacker Robert Spillane (42) intercepts a pass intended for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Justin Hunter (11) as linebacker Daren Bates (53) and defensive back Kenneth Durden (38) defend in the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
