Friday 17 November 2017 06:11, UK
Two of the top teams in the AFC go head to head in Pittsburgh as the Steelers host the Tennessee Titans on Thursday Night Football, live on Sky Sports Action from 12.30am.
At 7-2, the Steelers are currently the No 1 seed in the AFC, while the 6-3 Titans are the No 4 seed, just edging out the Jacksonville Jaguars (6-3) for South supremacy.
So, if things were to stay as they are for the final few weeks of the season, this would be an AFC Divisional match-up in the playoffs - watch the rehearsal run live on Sky Sports Action (407) from 12.30am.
In a tweet...
Two contenders for the postseason from the AFC have the chance to lay down an early marker as the in-form Titans and Steelers do battle on Thursday Night Football.
What's the latest?
Steelers starting safety Mike Mitchell left their Week 10 win over the Colts on a cart with an injured right ankle and did not return, while cornerback Joe Haden left the game with a left leg injury, later seen on crutches on the sidelines. Mitchell is questionable to start, while Haden is out 'indefinitely' with a broken fibula.
Stat attack
Since entering the NFL in 2015, Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota has been prolific in the redzone, returning 36 touchdown passes and no interceptions - comfortably the best redzone TD/INT ratio in the NFL in that span.
Pittsburgh running back Le'Veon Bell leads the NFL with 840 rushing yards, while wide receiver Antonio Brown has a league-best 882 yards to go with 60 receptions, tied for the second-most in the NFL.
Key battle
Pittsburgh's offensive weapons are obvious, and so Tennessee will have a tough task keeping them all quiet. However, their own offense should not be taken for granted. The Titans' rushing attack has proven particularly strong with a one-two punch of DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry. The Steelers defense has been strong this year - second overall - but is only 11th in stopping the run. Their two losses on the season have come when they could not contain Jordan Howard of the Bears (140 yards, two TDs) and Leonard Fournette (181 yards, two TDs). Will the Titans expose that weakness once again?
Game-changer
JuJu Smith-Schuster. Don't get it twisted, Antonio Brown is still comfortably top dog among receivers in Pittsburgh - the entire league, in fact. But, Smith-Schuster's impact over the past few weeks can't be denied. He leads all rookie receivers in the NFL with his 521 yards and has recorded a touchdown reception in three consecutive games. In fact, he has more receptions (14 to 12), receiving yards (329 to 182), and receiving touchdowns (3 to 1) than Brown in those three games. Maybe Antonio should in fact start sweating?
Watch the Tennessee Titans @ Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football, live on Sky Sports Action from 12.30am on Friday.
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