With the Steelers vs. Titans showdown on Sunday likely to be a competitive game, here are the bold predictions for the upcoming matchup
Last Sunday was a pleasant treat for Steelers fans, as they decimated a surprisingly bad Browns team. Going back to the bold predictions from last week, some of them certainly came true, and they surely aided the Steelers in securing the victory. The Titans are likely to be a far tougher opponent though, as their above-average defense and a physical offense have also helped them enter this matchup undefeated.
The two plans seem pretty set. The Titans will want to utilize their excellent running game to wear down the Steelers defense before surprising them with quick passes near the red zone. Their defense will want to utilize their pass rush in order to limit the Steelers’ passing game as well. For the Steelers, they will try and keep with their balanced approach that has help field one of the more consistent offenses in the NFL. As well, they will try and shut the rushing offense down with the best rush defense in the league in order for their pass rushers to be given an open invitation to rush the quarterback.
While those philosophies are the goal, there are still plenty of bold predictions that can be made about these two teams. Perhaps an underutilized player goes off or a stud is kept in check. These will likely be what determines the final outcome of the game. With all of this said, here are five bold predictions for the Steelers vs. Titans this Sunday.
Smith-Schuster takes over
JuJu Smith-Schuster has had a rough start to his 2020 campaign. While his early stats looked promising, he still has yet to have a 100-yard receiving day and has only amassed six receptions for a measly 34 yards over the last two games. While it may not be time to ring any alarms yet, Smith-Schuster needs to have a good game Sunday if he wants to get paid this offseason. With these expectations known, he seems poised to have a great game.
To be fair, Smith-Schuster has seen a lot of double coverages as the top receiver for the Steelers. While it is slightly concerning that is all it takes to write him out of a game, it has aided the other Steelers receivers who have benefited from softer matchups. More than likely, the Titans will key in on this and look to cover the other targets the Steelers have. This should provide Smith-Schuster with more single coverage and chances to win.
I think Smith-Schuster will have a stat line in the range of eight catches for 100 plus yards and a score. Not monster numbers by any means, but likely his best game since his sophomore year in 2018. This may result in a dip in some of the other Steelers receiver stats, but Smith-Schuster needs a quality game to show that he is a quality player. He faces a decent matchup this year and will hopefully make the most of it.
Tannehill turns into the real threat
The Titans are known for their ferocious running game, but facing a Steelers defense that has stopped some of the best runners this season may mean the Titans rely more on the pass. While some have labeled Ryan Tannehill as a game manager, his play this season has been just the opposite. Tannehill has looked like a sleeper MVP candidate due to his smart and efficient passes he has been throwing, and he has made the Titans far more versatile.
All of this said, my bold prediction is that Tannehill shreds the Steelers defense. While he will still get hit a few times and may throw an interception or two, I think Tannehill will counter that with over 400 yards passing and five total scores. With this game potentially being high scoring, the Titans may have to roll with Tannehill’s arm if they want to keep up with the Steelers offense. He has the talent to do it too.
While the Steelers will certainly be trying to put the game in Tannehill’s arm instead of the Titans ground game, don’t be surprised if that ends up biting them. Tannehill has shown that he is a good player since taking over for the Titans, and he may show the rest of the NFL that he deserves to be in the MVP picture after a stout showing against the Steelers. Don’t be surprised if he lights the Steelers up and throws them off balance due to the likely focus on the running game.
Williams takes the lead on defense
The loss of Devin Bush will almost certainly be felt by the Steelers defense, but luckily, they have another linebacker who has been playing well in Vince Williams. Better yet, the Steelers seem like they will allow Williams to continue in his role and not try to take on too much like he did after Ryan Shazier was lost to injury. Considering the Titans’ injuries on the offensive line and affinity to run the ball, Williams may be lined up for his best game of the season.
He has already piled up some incredible tackle for a loss and sack statistics, and it seems like those numbers will only grow this Sunday. Expect to see a heavy dose of Williams as the Steelers hope to plug the run. As well, on the passing downs he plays on, he should be a favorite to burst through the middle and drag Tannehill down for a sack or two. This game plan favors his style of play even though he will be tasked with tackling the best running back in the league.
Williams could have eight-ten tackles on Sunday with three-four of them being for a loss. Throw in a pair of sacks and suddenly Williams is the best defender on the Steelers. While stopping the Titans run game won’t be easy, relying on a player like Williams will be critical if it happens. Expect to see him early and often on Sunday as he breaks through gaps and plugs the run like he has been doing all season.
Conner has more yards then Henry
As has been stated extensively in this article, the Titans have an elite running back in Derrick Henry going up against an equally elite run-stopping defense. In this classing “unstoppable force vs. immovable object” battle, both teams will be looking to exert their dominance over the other. That said, I think the Steelers get the leg up, and will even go so far as to say that Henry will have fewer total yards than James Conner.
This isn’t to say that Conner is the superior player to Henry (he isn’t), but he faces a much softer matchup against the Titans defense. With the Steelers keying in on Henry, don’t be surprised if he is kept under 100 total yards on the day. As for Conner, he is a punishing runner in his own right and can catch the ball out of the backfield. Put those two things together and there is a real chance Conner ends the day with more total yards.
To set the prediction in stone, I’ll say Conner goes for 120 total yards on 22 total touches. Henry sees 23 total touches but can only amass 88 yards. That isn’t a horrible day for a running back, but for one as talented as Henry, it would certainly be a disappointment. This would be a huge win for the Steelers if the final stats looked like this, as it means both the Steelers stopped Henry and they had success on the ground as well.
A new AB causes trouble for the Steelers
The Steelers ditched their former AB troubles via a trade with Oakland, but a new AB emerges as a thorn in their side for this game. While he has yet to play while fully healthy, A.J. Brown is blossoming into one of the premier receivers in this league. Mix this in with an improved passing game, and suddenly Brown is a player to watch as a potential mismatch threat for the Steelers secondary.
If he is healthy enough to play, I think he causes some major issues for the Steelers defense. He is one of those “running back bodies” inside of a receiver, and he shows that every time he has the ball in his hands. As well, he is physical when he goes up to make the catch, allowing him to thrive in the red zone as well. He is about as complete of a receiver as you could ask for, and when he is fully healthy, he is a force to be reckoned with.
Assuming he plays, I think he has north of 150 total yards and scores three times, twice catching the ball and once running. The Steelers have seen their struggles covering receivers so far this year, and with a defense likely determined to stop the run, it could allow Brown some opportunities to make big plays. His knee injury is concerning, but the upside he has when on the field make him a threat for the Titans to use on the Steelers.
The Steelers and Titans appear to be even opponents, and considering the importance of this game, it will likely be a competitive fight to the end. Keep in mind these bold predictions listed above, as any of them could alter the outcome of the game. While none are a guarantee to occur, don’t be surprised if one or two do and help determine the outcome of the game.