Titans (12-2) vs. Steelers (11-3)

When: Noon Sunday at LP Field
TV: WTVF-5
Radio: 103.3-FM.
Line: Steelers by 2.
Last week: Titans lost to Texans, 13-12; Steelers beat Ravens, 13-9

Who's hot

Titans: DE Jacob Ford has a sack in three straight games and six sacks in the last seven games.
Steelers: WR Hines Ward had eight catches for 107 yards against the Ravens.

Who's not

Titans: WR Justin McCareins had a fumble and couldn’t get to several balls in his vicinity last week.
Steelers: The offensive line has allowed Roethlisberger to be sacked 41 times.

Numbers game

>> Titans QB Kerry Collins is 2-0 against the Steelers with three TDs, 0 INTs and a 94.4 passer rating.
>> Titans RB Chris Johnson is averaging 108.6 rushing yards in the past three games.
>> K Rob Bironas needs one point to pass George for fourth place on the franchise’s all-time scoring list.
>> In his past three games against the Titans, Hines Ward has 24 catches for 349 yards and four TDs.
>> The Steelers rank second in NFL with 47 sacks, trailing only the Cowboys (53).
>> Steelers safety Troy Polamalu has four interceptions in the last five games.

Team comparison

With NFL ranking
Category........Titans (rank)....Steelers (rank)
Total offense....326.5 (19th)....303.4 (24th)
Rush offense....142.8 (5th)....102.9 (23rd)
Pass offense....183.7 (25th)....200.5 (17th)
Points per game....24.6 (10th)....21.6 (21st)
Total defense....281.0 (4th)....239.1 (1st)
Run defense....93.4 (9th)....75.8 (2nd)
Pass defense....187.6 (5th)....163.3 (1st)
Points allowed....14.1 (2nd)....13.7 (1st)

Who has the edge

Quarterback
Even
Kerry Collins has played well and limited his mistakes. Ben Roethlisberger has been efficient, but he’s been beaten up in a lot of games.
Running back
Titans
Chris Johnson and LenDale White could control the game if they’re on. Steelers back Willie Parker is a blazer who just needs a little daylight.
Receiver/tight end
Steelers
Hines Ward is a playmaker and Santonio Holmes is dangerous. Justin Gage is averaging 18.9 yards per catch but the Titans must find more ways to get him the ball.
Offensive line
Titans
Pro Bowlers Kevin Mawae and Michael Roos lead a dependable group. The Steelers have given up 41 sacks. Only the Patriots (44) have given up more.
Defensive line
Steelers
Without Albert Haynesworth and Kyle Vanden Bosch the Titans obviously aren’t the same. Pittsburgh nose tackle Casey Hampton is a beast and DE Aaron Smith has played well.
Linebacker
Steelers
The Steelers are solid across the board, led by pass rushers LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison, and James Farrior is a tackling machine. The Titans have a good group, too, paced by leading tackler Keith Bulluck.
Secondary
Titans
Pro Bowlers Cortland Finnegan and Chris Hope anchor the Titans’ back end. Steelers safety Troy Polamalu is a game-changer who makes plays all over the field.
Special teams
Even
Tennessee’s Rob Bironas and Pittsburgh’s Jeff Reed have missed just six of 60 kicks between them. The Steelers cover kicks and punts better than the Titans. Tennessee has a better return game.
Coaching
Steelers
Pittsburgh Coach Mike Tomlin has the Steelers peaking at the right time, and Dick LaBeau has them playing unbelievable defense. If Jeff Fisher can pull this one off with a depleted defense, he’ll deserve huge props.
Intangibles
Even
The Titans are at home, but are missing two of their best defensive players. The Steelers have all the momentum, riding a five-game winning streak, and they’re 6-1 on the road.

Titans win if ...

They’re able to find a way to run the football, which would keep Pittsburgh’s defensive line from teeing off on Collins. The Titans are going to have to be stingy on defense without two of their top players.

Steelers win in ...

They’re able to move the football and protect Roethlisberger. On defense, the Steelers will need to keep Tennessee’s running game from getting going.

Game day at LP Field

National anthem: Little Big Town.
10th anniversary honorary captain: TE Frank Wycheck.
Giveaway: Titans All Decade Football Cards.
Clothes drive: Fans attending the game are asked to bring new underwear and socks for boys and girls ages newborn through 18 as part of the YWCA Kid’s Drive. There will be drop-off sites around the stadium.
Getting there: Shuttles run from three locations — 10th Circle North, Fourth and Harrison, and Greer Stadium — beginning at 10:30 a.m. and ending 90 minutes after the game’s conclusion. Cost: $10 for a round-trip ticket. For details about road closures near LP Field, visit nashville.gov/pw and click on Road Closures / Traffic Cameras.

At stake

Titans: A chance to wrap up the No. 1 seed in the AFC and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. A win would also give the Titans a chance to rest plenty of starters next week at Indianapolis.
Steelers: A win would set them up for the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage in the AFC, but they’d also need to beat Cleveland next week.

Key matchups

Titans CB Cortland Finnegan vs. Steelers WR Hines Ward
Watching these guys should be worth the price of admission. They’re both feisty and neither will back down. Ward is one of the NFL’s most physical receivers and Finnegan plays to the whistle on every snap. Finnegan has to keep the play-making Ward in check.
Titans LT Michael Roos vs. Steelers ROLB James Harrison
It’s Pro Bowler vs. Pro Bowler as the athletic Roos will battle the explosive Harrison off the edge. Roos has played well against some of the NFL’s best defensive ends, but Harrison can come from different angles in the 3-4 scheme and has been the devil to deal with this season. He has 15 sacks and leads a ferocious pass rush.