Titanic effort: First-year Tennessee offensive coordinator Norm Chow watched the Titans march fluidly downfield on the game's first series Sunday against the Steelers at Heinz Field. Often using a three tight-end set, the Titans mixed power running -- RB Chris Brown had 24 yards on the first drive -- and pinpoint passing by QB Steve McNair to take a 7-0 lead. The final play was a 1-yard pass from McNair to TE Ben Troupe, who benefited from a play-action fake that froze the Steelers defense and set up his score. The drive chewed up 6:37 of the clock.
Not so fast: Just when it looked like the Titans had set the tone, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, who struggled in the preseason, went to work. He went 5 of 5 for 88 yards on the first drive, sealing it with a 3-yard TD pass to rookie TE Heath Miller in the back of the end zone. Roethlisberger faked a handoff to Verron Haynes, who laid a smothering block that took out two Titans, then the QB rolled right. He hit Miller in front of the usually disruptive Keith Bulluck.
Out of the pocket: Roethlisberger struggled in the preseason because he stayed in the pocket more than he would have liked. Yesterday, he was out of there for most of his 11 passes, nine of which were complete, two of which went for TDs. "We got out on the run a lot, which plays to my strengths."
Human submarine: Steelers LB James Farrior powered through a hole and met Titans RB Travis Henry head-on. It wasn't pretty. Henry, jolted hard, lost a fumble that was recovered by CB Ike Taylor at the Tennessee 40. Henry, a free-agent acquisition, had the most fumbles in the NFL from 2000 to 2003.
Make them pay: Six plays after the turnover, reliable K Jeff Reed booted a 44-yard field goal at the vaunted open end of Heinz Field early in the second quarter. That gave the Steelers a 10-7 edge.
Titans K Rob Bironas, who was in training camp with the Steelers last year, kicked wide right on a failed 47-yard field goal attempt after his team drove to the Steelers' 25. The big play on the drive was a nifty, 35-yard run by Brown, who made a nice move on Troy Polamalu and held on when Taylor tried to strip him from behind.
Beaten, badly: WR Antwaan Randle El pulled a double-move on Tennessee CB Tony Beckham and beat him for a 63-yard score that gave the Steelers a 17-7 lead.
Oops II: Titans wideout Drew Bennett got whacked by Steelers FS Chris Hope and had a near-reception jarred from his arms. The ball popped in the air and Polamalu snatched for an interception that put the Steelers at their own 11. The Steelers drove to the Titans 9before Reed's 27-yard field goal made it 20-7 at the half. The Titans never threatened again, turning the ball over four times compared to none by the Steelers.
No pass zone: The Steelers threw the ball just twice in the second half. They ran it 25 times. For the game, they ran 41 times (for 206 yards) and passed 11 times (for 218).
Batch will be back: Coach Bill Cowher said the team plans to re-sign QB Charlie Batch today. The third-team QB was cut Saturday to make room for an extra linebacker, Andre Frazier.
Nice sack, kid: Frazier, who was activated from the practice squad, posted his first career sack on McNair. One play later, LB Joey Porter sacked McNair for a loss of 8 yards.
Tight end time: TEs Jerame Tuman and first-round pick Heath Miller each provided a catch, with Tuman's covering 27 yards and Miller's 3 for the Steelers' first touchdown. Tuman is on pace to surpass his total of nine catches last season.
