Pittsburgh Steelers: Winners and Losers from Steel Curtain's Win vs. Titans

The Pittsburgh Steelers were big winners in Sunday's victory against the Tennessee Titans.  In a game where it appeared the Titans had every advantage entering the contest, the Steelers proved they are more than capable of overcoming injury and perceived weaknesses to dominate their opponent. 

Meanwhile, the Titans couldn't have looked worse.  A team excited by hopes of playoff glory after ending a holdout by star running back Chris Johnson and the addition of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, the Titans looked like a flop on Sunday.

With Pittsburgh defeating Tennessee 38-17 in Sunday's contest, who were the day's winners and losers?

Winner: Big Ben's Leadership

Ben Roethlisberger’s 224-yard, five-touchdown effort proved he’s the true leader of this Steelers team. 

It looked like the Steelers were down and out this season with injuries decimating the Pittsburgh defense and “Big Ben” in a boot, but Roethlisberger found his focus as he and the Steelers found their rhythm against the Titans. 

More efforts like this one and Roethlisberger’s name will unquestionably parallel Terry Bradshaw as one of Pittsburgh’s greatest quarterbacks.

Winner: Ward Makes an Impact

Overshadowed in large part by Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace, Hines Ward was a popular target in the end zone for Roethlisberger as Ward hauled in two touchdown catches for the Steelers. 

There have been questions about Ward's age and productivity, but his productivity on Sunday was instrumental in Pittsburgh’s domination of a streaking Titans team.  Ward’s two touchdown receptions should ease his anxiety about the season, as well. 

With a little love from Roethlisberger, Ward will be dangerous as the season progresses.

Winner: Dick LeBeau Overcomes Injuries

With a defensive line in a shambles and missing James Harrison in the linebacking corps, defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau managed to stop a Titans team looking to establish its ground game against a weakened Steelers defensive line. 

Instead, LeBeau conjured ghosts of Pittsburgh’s past to limit the Titans to a mere 66 yards.  Tennessee only found the end zone twice as the Steelers defense held tough while its offensive counterparts torched the Titans secondary. 

On Sunday, LeBeau certainly worked a miracle, as he did more with substantially less.

Loser: Chris Johnson Flops

Before the season, Chris Johnson signed a four-year contract with the Titans for $53.5 million, of which $30 million is guaranteed after holding out in preseason camp.  After the holdout, there were high hopes in Tennessee that the combination of Johnson and Matt Hasselbeck would make the Titans playoff contenders, but questions must be answered after Sunday’s game against the Steelers. 

First, are the Titans truly contenders? 

And, second, is Chris Johnson worth the money? 

A 14-carry, 51-yard performance does little to help this offense when it needs its ground game.  Sure, the offensive line should take its share of the blame, but great players can overcome mediocre output on the line. 

Fortunately for Johnson, the season is long, so he still has ample time to redeem himself.

Loser: Titans Are a Disaster

Are the Titans truly playoff contenders? 

The team received an upgrade at quarterback when it signed Matt Hasselbeck, but it’s obvious this team is missing significant pieces if it hopes to make a run in the playoffs, let alone make it to the playoffs. 

It has an offensive line that can’t establish a ground game, even against a decimated Pittsburgh defense, and it has a secondary that was torched by a quarterback who’d been sacked 14 times in four games. 

Furthermore, the Titans defense gave up over 150 yards on the ground to a Steelers backfield that is missing its best player. 

The Titans can only hope they find some magic against the Houston Texans to win a division that is, otherwise, not very good.  Will the Titans brush themselves off and find the answers to the problems exposed by the Steelers?