Who is playing on Thursday Night Football in Week 9?
By Matt Conner
The rivalry between the Tennessee Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers is a storied one in NFL history. There have been a number of memorable games, even in the postseason, between the two teams and both teams are once again in the hunt for a postseason appearance in a crowded AFC.
Dating back to the early 1970s, this rivalry was initially sparked during the Steelers' dominant years of the decade. The Steelers were even responsible for bouncing the Titans out of the playoffs in both 1979 and again in 1980. Of course, in those days, the franchise was known as the Houston Oilers before team owner Bud Adams moved the franchise to Nashville in 1997.
The intensity of the Titans-Steelers rivalry continued into the 2000s. The team's battles with the Steelers throughout the late '90s and early 2000s became emblematic of a rivalry between two physically imposing and hard-hitting teams. One of the most memorable moments in this rivalry came in the 2002 AFC Divisional Playoffs when the underdog Steelers, led by quarterback Tommy Maddox, stunned the Titans with a last-minute touchdown pass.
This year, the Titans can only hope they have struck gold with the selection of Will Levis at quarterback. With Ryan Tannehill injured, Levis got his first start last Sunday in Week 8 and threw four touchdown passes with zero interceptions in a win over the Atlanta Falcons. That momentum could alter the trajectory for the entire franchise if they can hit on a QB of the future, but the Steelers' defense will provide an ideal foe against whom Levis can prove his readiness.