The Week 9 bye didn’t arrive as a reset for every team, but for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans, it comes with very different kinds of momentum.
The Steelers sit at 6-2 and have quietly built something real after a rough opening stretch. They opened the year by barely getting past an undermanned Atlanta Falcons team, then got blown out in Foxborough by the New England Patriots. A home win over the favored Cincinnati Bengals flipped the mood for a moment, but a 27-24 loss at Cleveland on a Thursday night followed four days later.
Since that setback, Pittsburgh has stacked four straight wins, and the offense has found a rhythm around running back Jaylen Warren. Veteran Aaron Rodgers has helped steady things with timely throws, while the offensive line has started to settle in and show growth.
That same upward trend is showing on the other side of the ball, too. Under coordinator Patrick Graham, the Steelers rank seventh in the league in fewest total yards allowed per game, and only two teams are giving up fewer rushing yards per game.
During the current four-game winning streak, Pittsburgh has allowed just three offensive touchdowns, a sharp drop from the eight offensive TDs surrendered during its 2-2 start.
That’s why the Steelers come out of the bye with a solid mark: Grade: B+.
Tennessee’s story is much harsher, even if there are a few signs that things may be moving in a better direction. At 1-7, the Titans are still buried in a long slide that stretches back more than four seasons.
Robert Saleh is now the fourth head coach in that span, following Mike Vrabel, Brian Callahan, and interim Mike McCoy. The franchise won three straight playoff berths under Vrabel from 2019-21 and finished as the AFC’s top playoff seed in 2021, but the decline since then has been steep.
After winning seven of their first 10 games in 2022, Tennessee is 13-53 in its last 66 games.
The season started with five straight losses, and the offense had a hard time doing anything consistently. Over the last three games, though, quarterback Cam Ward has played much better, and running back Tony Pollard has put together a big year. The unit has found the end zone eight times in those three games, which is already more than the six offensive touchdowns Tennessee managed during its 0-5 start.
Even with that improvement, the Titans still have a major problem on defense, and the situation has gotten worse with the loss of four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and safety Amani Hooker. That leaves Tennessee with plenty of work ahead after the bye.
Grade: D
In Other News...
Titans Could Face One Huge WR Decision With Jeremiah Smith
The Titans are already being linked to another Ohio State receiver, and this one comes with a much bigger spotlight attached. After taking Carnell Tate, Tennessee is being mentioned as a possible fit for Jeremiah Smith in the 2027 NFL draft, a conversation that naturally starts with the state of the roster and how much more help the passing game may still need by then.
Smiths college production has only added to the intrigue, and for Tennessee the question is less about whether he would draw interest than how a move like that would reshape the receiver room. It is still a speculative exercise at this stage, but it is the kind of long-view decision that can define how a team stacks young talent and balances need against opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Were Quietly Pulled Into A Trade Deadline Running Back Story
After the NFL trade deadline, the Giants were still doing some due diligence at running back, and one of the names that surfaced in the process was Tony Pollard. New York reportedly reached out to the Titans about Pollard as part of a broader search that also included calls to Atlanta on Bijan Robinson and Baltimore on Justice Hill, a sign the market for backfield help had been active even as the deadline approached.
The Giants also tried to work out a deal for Jonathan Taylor before pulling back when the Colts pushed for a higher draft pick, leaving them to reset their plans at the position. For Tennessee, Pollards inclusion in that discussion is another reminder that his name still carries value around the league, even with Cam Skattebo expected to slide back into his primary role once he returns from a hamstring injury. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Just Opened A Long Term Question In The Secondary
The Titans moved on from Amani Hooker in a deal with Buffalo, sending the veteran safety and a fifth-round pick to the Bills in exchange for a second-round selection. It was a notable shift for a defense that had counted on Hookers presence in the back end, and it immediately changes the shape of Tennessees secondary as the team looks to redistribute snaps and responsibility.
Kevin Winston Jr. and Tony Adams are the names expected to step into the starting safety roles, but the move also opens a longer-range question about how Tennessee plans to keep that spot stocked. With the 2027 NFL Draft already coming into view, prospects such as Kingston Lopa, Jaylen McClain and Brauntae Johnson could become part of the conversation as the Titans try to find the next answer at safety. [Read more 🡒]