NFL Picks Week 5: Pittsburgh Steelers Will Send Tennessee Titans Back to Earth

Week 5 of the NFL Season provides an opportunity for an interesting pick in a matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers are hobbled by injuries to key starters, and the Tennessee Titans are on a surprising rise to the top of the NFL, but don't expect the Titans to walk away with a victory at Heinz Field Sunday.  While the Steelers are down, they aren't out.  The Titans are certainly streaking, but they aren't infallible. 

Here are four reasons the Steelers will upend the Titans in their quest for a fourth straight victory.

Ben Roethlisberger Is Starting

Though injured in his appearance against the Houston Texans, Ben Roethlisberger will be healthy enough to start against the Titans.  No matter how effective the Steelers have been without their starting quarterback, the offense simply does not run as efficiently without Roethlisberger at the helm.

He has thrown for 1,148 yards and is completing 61.6 percent of his passes.  He’ll be in a boot and less mobile than normal, but Roethlisberger is strong in the pocket and tough to bring down. 

The Steelers top the league in receiving, most of which is due to Roethlisberger’s strong arm and fundamental command of the system.  Even if the Steelers’ rushing attack falters, Roethlisberger’s influence could single-handedly shift the outcome of this game in the Steelers’ favor.

Max Starks Added To the Offensive Line

Allowing 14 sacks against Roethlisberger this season, the Steelers’ offensive line has been abysmal.  A large part of this is the absence of two starters on the front group of five, plus the fact head coach Mike Tomlin has not employed the same combination of linemen in each of Pittsburgh’s first four games. 

This week, however, the Steelers added veteran offensive lineman Max Starks to the roster to the elation of Steelers Nation.  With Starks in the lineup, the offensive line should find some consistency and leadership.  With this consistency and cohesiveness they’ve been lacking, the line will provide Roethlisberger the time he needs in the pocket to find receiving weapons Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace. 

A stronger showing will compensate for the loss of Rashard Mendenhall, as well.  Strong play by the offensive line will translate into a substantial increase in offensive production against the Titans and should allow the Steelers to hold them off late in the game.

The Sum of Offensive Parts

Though injury plagued, the Pittsburgh offense is simply too potent for a stingy Tennessee defense.  Despite giving up 14 sacks this season, the Steelers’ passing game is still listed as the most prolific in the NFL. 

Combine this with the fact the Steelers average nearly five yards per carry and suddenly, the Steelers become a formidable offensive threat.  The Titans' defensive line is strong, but a loaded passing game will open running lanes for Pittsburgh running backs Isaac Redman and Mewelde Moore, who are more than capable of carrying the load if Mendenhall is unable to play. 

While the Titans are seventh in the league in total defense, they haven’t faced an offense as well-rounded as the Steelers’.

Defensive True Grit

The true grit of the Steelers' defense is unquestionable.  Even without James Harrison, this is a defense that has given Matt Hasselbeck consistent trouble throughout his career.  When facing them, Hasselbeck only has a 53.3 completion percentage. 

Furthermore, this is a defense that simply reloads and is led by every defensive coordinator’s dream in Troy Polamalu, an elite hybrid player who can play in coverage as a safety or blitz off the outside like an outside linebacker. 

The Steelers’ defense ranks second in the league, even after facing a strong Houston Texans offensive attack.  Despite injuries, this is a unit that always digs deep to get the job done, so it would be unwise to expect anything different on Sunday. 

If the Steelers can stop the Titans from establishing a running game behind Chris Johnson and Javon Ringer, the defense will have done enough to ensure a Steelers victory from their standpoint.

Prediction

Game time is Sunday, Oct. 9 at 1 p.m. Eastern at Heinz Field.  Tune your television to CBS to catch the action. 

The final prediction is Pittsburgh Steelers 24, Tennessee Titans 17.