Steelers–Titans rivalry

The Steelers–Titans rivalry is a National Football League rivalry between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans that dates back to the 1970s when the Steelers and then-Houston Oilers played in the AFC Central. The two teams were realigned into separate divisions for the 2002 NFL season, however matchups are still considered heated between the two teams.

Pittsburgh Steelers–Tennessee Titans

Pittsburgh Steelers Tennessee Titans
First meeting	September 20, 1970 Oilers 19, Steelers 7
Latest meeting	December 19, 2021 Steelers 19, Titans 13
Next meeting	2023 in Pittsburgh
Statistics
Meetings total	80 meetings
All-time series	Steelers, 48–32
Postseason results	Steelers, 3–1 List January 7, 1979 Pittsburgh 34, Houston 5 January 6, 1980 Pittsburgh 27, Houston 13 December 31, 1989 Pittsburgh 26, Houston 23 January 11, 2003 Tennessee 34, Pittsburgh 31
Largest victory	Steelers, 38–7 (1979, 1980)
Current win streak	Steelers, 4 (2014–present)
Championship success
Super Bowl Championships (6) PIT (6) – 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 2005, 2008 TEN (0) Conference Championships (9) PIT (8) – 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1995, 2005, 2008, 2010 TEN (1) – 1999

History

Origins

When the American Football League completed its merger with the NFL in 1970, three NFL teams were given a $3 million payment to join the former AFL teams to form the American Football Conference. While the Baltimore Colts and the Cleveland Browns readily joined the new conference (the Colts due to the money, the Browns due to owner Art Modell eyeing a potential intrastate rivalry with the Cincinnati Bengals), the Steelers were hesitant to join until Steelers owner Art Rooney told his son Dan Rooney that the payment plus keeping the rivalry with the Browns was important, although it was losing its longstanding rivalry with the Philadelphia Eagles. Additionally, a rivalry with the Bengals also made geographic sense for the team.

While the teams that would form the National Football Conference struggled to agree on a realignment proposal, the AFC teams quickly found an alignment. The Oilers, who were part of the AFL East before the merger simply because it was further east than the Kansas City Chiefs, were placed in the AFC Central with the Bengals, Browns, and Steelers, being the only team in the division that wasn't in or near Ohio. The Oilers were placed in the division at the insistence of Dan Rooney, much to the chagrin of Al Davis.^[1] The Oilers and Steelers became acquainted with each other right away, when the two teams met in the season opener of the 1970 NFL season in Pittsburgh, a 19–7 Oilers victory in the first-ever NFL game at Three Rivers Stadium. The two teams met again four weeks later at the Astrodome in Houston, a 7–3 Steelers victory. The opening season win would be the only time the Oilers would be ahead in the overall series; the series would be tied again in 1971, but since then the Steelers have had the overall series lead, currently at 43–31 in the regular season. At 78 meetings overall, the Oilers/Titans franchise has played the Steelers more than any other team in its history.^[2]

1970s

The rivalry didn't initially pick up steam, as the Steelers were starting to become a powerhouse in the NFL during the 1970s while the Oilers collapsed completely. However, the Oilers became a contender in the latter part of the decade and challenged the Steelers to division and conference supremacy. Unlike other rivalries such as the one between the Steelers and Browns that was based on the close proximity between the two teams and was more fan-driven, the rivalry between the Steelers and the Oilers/Titans franchise was driven on personal hatred between the two teams, much like the concurrent rivalry the Steelers had with the Oakland Raiders or the rivalry with the Baltimore Ravens decades later.

The two teams met in the AFC Championship Game two years in a row at Three Rivers Stadium, with the Steelers dominating the "Luv Ya Blue" Oilers 34–5. The Steelers were expecting a closer encounter in the 1979 AFC Championship Game, which was marred by a controversial call in the third quarter when quarterback Dan Pastorini threw a pass to wide receiver Mike Renfro in the end zone. It was ruled incomplete, despite television replays clearly showing Renfro having possession of the ball with both feet in the end zone; even Steelers radio commentator Myron Cope thought it was a touchdown. The Oilers had to settle for a field goal, and the Steelers would go on to win 27–13; the game itself would spark the debate on whether or not the NFL should have instant replay, which would go into effect for the 1986 NFL season.

1980s

Both teams hit hard times once the 1980s hit, with the Oilers quickly sinking to the bottom of the division and the Steelers hit with the retirement of several key players from the dynasty years, only remaining competitive due to the AFC Central as a whole being weak during this time. By 1987, the Oilers began to have sustained playoff appearances again under quarterback Warren Moon and controversial coach Jerry Glanville while the Steelers were still rebuilding from their mid-1980s dropoff.

However, the two teams would clinch a wild card spot in the playoffs in 1989, the only year Chuck Noll would win NFL Coach of the Year. During a regular season matchup in Pittsburgh earlier in the year, following the game the usually stoic Noll in post game handshake grabbed Glanville and told him he'd better watch out or he'd get jumped on. This was in reaction to Glanville's earlier comments on how the Oilers field was the 'house of pain' and his prediction that his players would intentionally hurt the Steelers; bounties are now outlawed in the NFL. In the Wild Card round, the Steelers, despite having been swept by the Oilers in the regular season, defeated the Oilers in overtime 26–23. Glanville would be fired from the Oilers after the game.

1990s

The Oilers were the class of the division for the early 1990s, winning two division championships, while the Steelers were slowly becoming a threat again under head coach Bill Cowher. The two would exchange division titles in 1992 and 1993 before the Steelers became the dominant team in the AFC Central due to Oilers owner Bud Adams going through with his threats to blow up the team and rebuild if it didn't go to the Super Bowl.

During this time, both teams were fighting for new stadiums in order to remain competitive. While the Steelers would eventually get one in Heinz Field (although they would've stayed in a refurbished Three Rivers Stadium if the financing plan for Heinz Field fell through),^[3] the Oilers couldn't get a new stadium built in Houston and announced they were moving to Nashville for the 1998 NFL season. The Steelers (along with the Bengals) were one of six teams to vote against the proposal out of respect to Houston fans due to the rivalry as well as having recently encountered similar issues with the Browns.^[4] The Oilers ended up moving to Tennessee for the 1997 season instead due to lame duck status in Houston; Houston would receive a new NFL team in 2002 when the Houston Texans started play.

Due to the size of Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville (only 41,000 seats), the now-Tennessee Oilers decided to play at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis as an interim home until what would become LP Field was ready to open in 1999. Ironically, most of the crowds in Memphis were more than small enough that Vanderbilt Stadium would've been able to accommodate them. Despite that, the Oilers were planning on playing there again for 1998. That changed after the final game of the season, when the Oilers faced the Steelers in front of 50,677 fans—the only crowd that could not have been reasonably accommodated at Vanderbilt. However, Steeler fans made up the great majority of the crowd (at least three-fourths, by one estimate ^[1]), despite the fact that it was a meaningless game for both teams (the Steelers already clinched the AFC Central and a first-round bye in the playoffs, Oilers were already eliminated from the playoffs) and the Steelers were resting several starters. The Oilers won 16–6 against mostly Steelers backup players. Adams was so embarrassed that he abandoned plans to play the 1998 season in Memphis and ended up moving to Vanderbilt after all. Adams would rename the team the Titans in 1999 when Adelphia Coliseum (now LP Field) opened.

Since realignment

The NFL realigned its teams for the 2002 season, placing the Titans in the new AFC South while the Steelers remained in the now-renamed AFC North. Although the two teams wanted to remain together in the same division,^[1] they were not able to because the Titans' vote was controlled by the NFL since it recently relocated while the Steelers (along with the Bengals) were required to remain in the same division with the Browns as a result of the NFL's settlement with the city of Cleveland in 1996.^[5] Additionally, there was some sentiment to keep the Ravens in the same division as the Steelers, although at least one realignment proposal did have the Titans in the AFC North.^[5] Despite that, the Steelers and Titans have still played each other rather frequently, having only not played each other four times.^[2]

Perhaps the most notable matchup since realignment came in 2008, when the two met in Nashville in a game that determined home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs and a possible preview of the AFC Championship Game. LenDale White and Keith Bulluck stepped on a Terrible Towel after the Titans' 31–14 victory. Pittsburgh's Larry Foote responded, "They deserved to do that, they whooped us, they deserve to celebrate and, hopefully, we'll see them again,"^[6] while Hines Ward said, "T. J. Houshmandzadeh did kind of the same thing and you see where they went."^[6] Former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher, by this point working for CBS as an analyst on The NFL Today, mentioned on The NFL Today (while clearly showing bias in favor of his former team) that such antics can come back to haunt teams.^[7] Tennessee proceeded to lose eight consecutive games, including their playoff game against the Ravens and their '09 Week 1 game against the Steelers, capped off by a 59–0 blowout to the New England Patriots, the Titans' worst loss ever.

The Steelers edged the Titans 13–10 to open the 2009 season and won again 38–17 in 2010. In 2012, Matt Hasselbeck led the Titans to a close 26–23 win, and in 2013, Jake Locker led a 16–9 win over the Steelers. In 2014, the Steelers rallied from down 24–13 to win 27–24.

The two teams met on November 16, 2017 at Heinz Field, in primetime on NBC and NFL Network. The game, part of the NFL Color Rush and the Steelers first color-on-color game since World War II, was won by Pittsburgh, 40–17.^[8]

The two teams met on October 25, 2020 in Nashville, with both clubs entering with identical 5–0 records. During a game rescheduled from its previous start date due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the Titans organization, Pittsburgh jumped to a 24–7 halftime lead before Tennessee rallied in the second half. The game was decided when Titans kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed a potential game-tying field goal at the end of regulation, allowing the Steelers to win 27–24 and attain its first 6–0 start since 1978.^[9]

Game Results

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Houston Oilers/ Tennessee Oilers/ Titans Season-by-Season Results
1970s (Steelers, 16–6) Season Season series at Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Oilers Overall series Notes 1970 Tie 1–1 Oilers 19–7 Steelers 7–3 Tie 1–1 Game in Pittsburgh was the first meeting between the two, and the first regular-season game at Three Rivers Stadium. This marks the only time the Oilers/Titans franchise has held the overall series lead in the history of the rivalry. 1971 Tie 1–1 Steelers 23–16 Oilers 29–3 Tie 2–2 1972 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 24–7 Steelers 9–3 Steelers 4–2 1973 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 33–7 Steelers 36–7 Steelers 6–2 1974 Tie 1–1 Oilers 13–10 Steelers 13–7 Steelers 7–3 Steelers win Super Bowl IX. The Oilers win was the Steelers last loss of the season. 1975 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 24–17 Steelers 32–9 Steelers 9–3 Steelers win Super Bowl X. 1976 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 32–16 Steelers 21–0 Steelers 11–3 1977 Tie 1–1 Steelers 27–10 Oilers 27–10 Steelers 12–4 1978 Tie 1–1 Oilers 24–17 Steelers 13–3 Steelers 13–5 Steelers win Super Bowl IX. The Oilers win was the Steelers last loss of the season. 1978 playoffs Steelers 1–0 Steelers 34–5 Steelers 14–5 AFC Championship Game. First postseason meeting in the series. Steelers win Super Bowl XIII. 1979 Tie 1–1 Steelers 38–7 Oilers 20–17 Steelers 15–6 Monday night game. 1979 playoffs Steelers 1–0 Steelers 27–13 Steelers 16–6 AFC Championship Game. Game was marked by controversy over the Mike Renfro no-touchdown call. Steelers win Super Bowl XIV.
1980s (Steelers, 12–8) Season Season series at Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Oilers Overall series Notes 1980 Tie 1–1 Steelers 31–17 Oilers 6–0 Steelers 17–7 Game in Houston was a Thursday night game. Oilers' first shutout win in the series. 1981 Tie 1–1 Steelers 26–13 Oilers 21–20 Steelers 18–8 Game in Pittsburgh was a Monday night game. 1982 Steelers 1–0 no game Steelers 24–10 Steelers 19–8 Game in Pittsburgh canceled due to 1982 strike. Game in Houston was the first game following the 1982 strike. 1983 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 17–10 Steelers 40–28 Steelers 21–8 1984 Tie 1–1 Steelers 35–7 Oilers 23–20(OT) Steelers 22–9 First overtime game in the rivalry in the game in Houston. 1985 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 20–0 Steelers 30–7 Steelers 24–9 1986 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 21–10 Steelers 22–16(OT) Steelers 26–9 1987 Oilers 2–0 Oilers 23–3 Oilers 24–16 Steelers 26–11 Game in Pittsburgh was the first win for Warren Moon in the series. First season sweep by the Oilers in the series. 1988 Tie 1–1 Oilers 34–14 Steelers 37–34 Steelers 27–12 First Sunday night game between the two. Steelers' lone road victory in 1988, as well as their only win in division play. 1989 Oilers 2–0 Oilers 23–16 Oilers 27–0 Steelers 27–14 1989 playoffs Steelers 1–0 Steelers 26–23(OT) Steelers 28–14 AFC Wild Card playoffs. Final game as Oilers coach for Jerry Glanville. Final postseason meeting as division rivals.
1990s (Tie, 10–10) Season Season series at Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston/ Tennessee Oilers/ Titans Overall series Notes 1990 Tie 1–1 Steelers 20–9 Oilers 34–14 Steelers 29–15 Both games were Sunday night games. 1991 Tie 1–1 Steelers 26–14 Oilers 31–6 Steelers 30–16 1992 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 21–20 Steelers 29–24 Steelers 32–16 Bill Cowher's first game as Steelers head coach. 1993 Oilers 2–0 Oilers 26–17 Oilers 23–3 Steelers 32–18 Last regular season series sweep by the Oilers while located in Houston. Game in Houston was a Sunday night game. 1994 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 30–14 Steelers 12–9(OT) Steelers 34–18 Game in Pittsburgh was a Monday night game. 1995 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 21–7 Steelers 34–17 Steelers 36–18 Steelers lose Super Bowl XXX. 1996 Tie 1–1 Steelers 30–16 Oilers 23–13 Steelers 37–19 Oilers' home game is the final game in rivalry to be held in Houston, and the final game between the two teams before the Oilers relocation to Tennessee in 1997. 1997 Tie 1–1 Steelers 37–24 Oilers 16–6 Steelers 38–20 Oilers' home game is the only matchup between the two teams in Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium to date. 1998 Oilers 2–0 Oilers 41–31 Oilers 23–14 Steelers 38–22 Oilers' home game is the only meeting between the two to date at Vanderbilt Stadium. Last meeting between the two before Oilers change name to Titans in 1999. 1999 Titans 2–0 Titans 47–36 Titans 16–10 Steelers 38–24 Meeting in Tennessee is first meeting at Nissan Stadium (previously named Adelphia Coliseum). Titans lose Super Bowl XXXIV.
2000s (Titans, 6–4) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 2000 Titans 23–20 Three Rivers Stadium Steelers 38–26 Final meeting between the two teams at Three Rivers Stadium. Steve McNair returned after injury two weeks earlier. Titans 9–7 Adelphia Coliseum 2001 Steelers 34–7 Heinz Field Steelers 40–26 First meeting at Heinz Field. Steelers 34–24 Adelphia Coliseum Final meeting as division rivals. Titans moved to new AFC South for the 2002 season while Steelers remain in AFC Central, renamed AFC North. 2002 Titans 31–23 Adelphia Coliseum Steelers 40–27 Tommy Maddox was knocked out with temporary paralysis and had to sit out several games in ensuing weeks; he returned late in the season. 2002 playoffs Titans 34–31(OT) Adelphia Coliseum Steelers 40–28 AFC Divisional playoffs – Final postseason meeting to date. Only postseason meeting with the Titans located in Tennessee. 2003 Titans 30–13 Heinz Field Steelers 40–29 2005 Steelers 34–7 Heinz Field Steelers 41–29 Steelers win Super Bowl XL. 2008 Titans 31–14 LP Field Steelers 41–30 Titans' Keith Bulluck and LenDale White stomped on a Terrible Towel late in the game after clinching victory and home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs. This would mark the Steelers' last loss before winning Super Bowl XLIII, while the Titans went winless until Week 7 of the 2009 season, with many Titans fans believing the losing streak began due to the so-called "Terrible Curse". 2009 Steelers 13–10(OT) Heinz Field Steelers 42–30 NFL Kickoff game.
2010s (Steelers, 4–2) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 2010 Steelers 19–11 LP Field Steelers 43–30 Steelers lose Super Bowl XLV. 2011 Steelers 38–17 Heinz Field Steelers 44–30 Ben Roethlisberger ties Steeler record with 5 touchdown passes. 2012 Titans 26–23 LP Field Steelers 44–31 Thursday night game. First win of the year for Matt Hasselbeck substituting for injured Jake Locker. 2013 Titans 16–9 Heinz Field Steelers 44–32 The quickest points scored in NFL history occurred (Titans accidentally commit a safety with 14:59 on the clock in the first quarter). 2014 Steelers 27–24 LP Field Steelers 45–32 At a kickoff temperature of 25 °F (−4 °C), the game is the coldest to be held at LP Field.^[10] 2017 Steelers 40–17 Heinz Field Steelers 46–32
2020s (Steelers, 2–0) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 2020 Steelers 27–24 Nissan Stadium Steelers 47–32 Sixth game since the 1973 season with two teams entering with 5–0 or better records (all previous winners eventually reaching the Super Bowl). Steelers' best start since 1978. Game was rescheduled due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the Titans organization. 2021 Steelers 19–13 Heinz Field Steelers 48–32 Final start in the series for Ben Roethlisberger. 2023 Acrisure Stadium
Summary of Results Season Season series at Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston/ Tennessee Oilers/ Titans Notes Regular season Steelers 44–31 Steelers 25–12 Tie 19–19 Postseason Steelers 3–1 Steelers 2–0 Tie 1–1 AFC Wild Card playoffs: 1989. AFC Divisional playoffs: 2002. AFC Championship Game: 1978–1979. Regular and postseason Steelers 47–32 Steelers 27–12 Tie 20–20

References

1. Bouchette, Dan. Steelers-Oilers/Titans rivalry plays its final act in Pittsburgh under the Monday night spotlight. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2001-11-29.
2. Titans-Steelers matchup nothing new, then or now Nashville Post (09/04/2013)
3. Cook, Ron (June 22, 1998). "Plan B Flawed; Option Is Worse". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 5, 2008.
4. PRO FOOTBALL;N.F.L. Owners Approve Move To Nashville By the Oilers. The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
5. http://articles.courant.com/2001-05-21/sports/0105210578_1_afc-north-divisions-of-four-teams-realignment^{[bare URL]}
6. Bouchette, Ed (December 22, 2008). "Steelers Notebook: Sacks record doesn't ease sting of loss". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
7. "Fisher explains Terrible Towel stomp". 22 December 2008.
8. "Titans vs. Steelers RECAP, score & stats | NFL Week 11". 17 November 2017.
9. "Steelers Hold Off Titans, 27-24, Remain Undefeated – CBS Pittsburgh". pittsburgh.cbslocal.com. 2020-10-25. Retrieved 2020-11-07.
10. Le'Veon Bell rumbles for 204 yards as Steelers rally past Titans ESPN.com (11/18/2014)