When Pittsburgh has lost this season, it has looked very bad in doing so, getting outscored 52-17 in falling at Baltimore in Week 1 and Houston last week. That normally stout Pittsburgh run defense allowed 180 yards on the ground against the Texans. And the injuries piled up in that one. QB Ben Roethlisberger was beat up all day, sacked five times behind an offensive line missing two regular starters. The Steelers also lost running back Rashard Mendenhall (right hamstring), linebacker James Harrison (right eye) and defensive end Aaron Smith (foot sprain) during the game.

Harrison, a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year is for sure out this game and probably several weeks. Lawrence Timmons will move to his spot, with Larry Foote taking Timmons’ spot. Smith and Mendenhall are very iffy – Isaac Redman would start at running back because Mewelde Moore is also out injured. Roethlisberger (foot) will play through his injury. And if there is one piece of good news, defensive end Brett Keisel should play after missing the past two games.

The Titans are fairly healthy, although they lost top WR Kenny Britt for the season a few weeks ago. And defensive back Chris Hope broke his forearm in last week’s win over Cleveland and will miss this one. Fullback Ahmad Hall, the lead blocker for Chris Johnson, will return from a four-game suspension this week.

Speaking of Johnson, he got off to a terrible start but had his first 100-yard game last week in the 31-13 win over the Browns. The Titans still rank last in rushing but will have to try to run the ball as Pittsburgh is No. 1 in pass defense.  Tennessee, on a three-game win streak, ranks No. 1 in scoring defense.

Pittsburgh is 2-0 at home all-time when Roethlisberger starts. The Titans won 19-11 last year in Nashville in a game in which Big Ben didn’t play.

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