The Tennessee Titans dropped to 3-5 on the season after a 20-16 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers on “Thursday Night Football”.
Thursday was the first of three consecutive road games for the Titans, who will look to get back in the win column in Week 10 against Tampa Bay before traveling to Jacksonville in Week 11.
Tennessee has lost all four games away from Nissan Stadium this year, and five when you factor in a London game in which the Titans were considered the home team.
Rookie quarterback Will Levis made his second NFL start, completing 56.4 percent of his passes (22-of-39) for 262 yards and one interception. Levis was under pressure more than he was in his first start, as expected, taking four sacks and ten quarterback hits. He was pressured 15 times in total.
Running back Derrick Henry ran for 75 yards on 17 carries, marking his second-fewest rushing yards in a game this season.
Here are ten stats from the Titans’ Week 9 loss in Pittsburgh.
Al-Shaair with 10 tackles for fourth-straight week
Azeez Al-Shaair continues to make the most of a one-year contract signed with the Titans back in March.
The 26-year-old registered 10 tackles in Week 9, extending his streak of games with 10-plus tackles to four. Al-Shaair also had a pass breakup in the second quarter.
Henry moves up to second on franchise's all-time list
Derrick Henry ran for 75 yards and added 27 yards in the passing game against the Steelers, marking the former Heisman Trophy winner’s 47th career game with 100 or more scrimmage yards.
That moves him past Chris Johnson for the second-most in franchise history. Henry now only trails Eddie George, who achieved the feat 54 times.
Hopkins extends receptions streak
Hopkins could not follow up on his Week 8 breakout performance, but still hauled in four catches on 11 targets for 60 yards. Unfortunately, all of that came in the first half.
Regardless, the former Clemson standout extended his streak of recording at least one reception in a game to 153, which is the longest active streak in the National Football League. That is also the same number of games Hopkins has played in during his career.
Levis becomes fifth rookie in Titans era with two starts at QB
Levis made his second NFL start on Thursday, completing 22-of-39 passing attempts for 262 yards and one interception.
The 24-year-old joined good company on Thursday, becoming just the fifth rookie in the Titans era to make two starts at quarterback. Levis joined Vince Young, Zach Mettenberger, Marcus Mariota and Malik Willis.
Philips posts career-high 68 receiving yards
Philips hauled in four catches on five targets for a team-high 68 yards, including a long of 24 yards. The UCLA product surpassed his previous career-high for receiving yards in a game, which was 66 (Week 1, 2022).
Titans allowed just 160 yards passing
The Titans’ defense did not allow any big plays through the air, which was good, but the unit could not seem to get off the field.
The defense held Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett to just 160 passing yards, marking the fewest passing yards allowed by the Titans since giving up just 152 yards against Houston in October of last season.
Titans collect fifth opening-possession scoring drive of 2023
The Titans followed up the Steelers’ 10-play, 78-yard opening scoring drive with a 14-play, 72-yard drive of their own that took 7:23 off the clock. It was the fifth time this season that Tennessee scored on its opening possession, all of which have been field goals.
Titans' struggles in Pittsburgh continue
Tennessee will have to hope for better luck next time they visit the Steel City. The Titans have lost their last three games in Pittsburgh, with the last victory at Heinz Field coming in Sept. 2013. In all, the Titans have lost five straight to the Steelers.
Stonehouse averaged 57.0 yards per punt
Titans punter Ryan Stonehouse had one of his better days flipping the field. He averaged 57.0 yards per punt on three tries, including a 61-yarder in the third quarter. The Colorado State product is now second in the National Football League among punters, averaging 52.3 yards per punt.
Folk breaks NFL record
Titans kicker Nick Folk was good on all three field goal tries on Thursday. His first, a 36-yarder on the opening possession, was his 71st consecutive field goal made under 40 yards, breaking the NFL record previously held by Baltimore’s Justin Tucker.
