Zach Mettenberger will set a record on Monday Night Football
By Dave Bevan
Good Friday morning Titan fans! In this edition of Titan Sized Tidbits, we bring you all the latest news links surrounding the Titans. With the Monday Night Football matchup against the Steelers around the corner, you know these links are going to be filled with information about the game.
There will be several articles published on the site today and over the weekend. There will be a mixture of the Titans-Steelers coverage, news updates, and opinion articles. So, I hope you enjoy and will leave us some feedback. Here are today’s hot links:
Roethlisberger-Mettenberger will be record long for last-name NFL QB matchup
"In Week 7, when the Steelers visited Houston, Ben Roethlisberger vs. Ryan Fitzpatrick made for the longest last-name quarterback matchup in NFL history.Per the Elias Sport Bureau, the record will only have a four-week shelf life.When the Steelers play in Nashville Monday night, Ben Roethlisberger vs. Zach Mettenberger will take over the crown.Mettenberger talked about his matchup with Roethlisberger before I received confirmation of this vital news.”I think us combined it’s 25 letters in our last names,” Mettenberger said, misremembering his count by one — it’s 26. “So that’s a pretty big deal. I think that’s a record on it’s own.”"
There is mutual respect between Ben Roethlisberger and Ken Whisenhunt
"It is no coincidence that Ben Roethlisberger’s relationship with Tennessee Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt improved as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback got older.Roethlisberger and Whisenhunt each learned on the job in 2004, with the former starting as a rookie following an early injury to Tommy Maddox and the latter serving as an offensive coordinator for the first time."
Ray Horton is certain Steelers’ offense won’t surprise Titans
"As the Tennessee Titans install their plan to try to slow down a Pittsburgh offense that’s had some huge games recently, defensive coordinator Ray Horton knows even making the Steelers one dimensional won’t be enough."
Horton pointed to the Steeler’s wealth of riches on offense. Antonio Brown is leading the league in receiving yards (1,070), Le’Veon Bell is second in yards from scrimmage (1,213) and Ben Roethlisberger has the biggest passing yardage day this season (522).
"Pittsburgh’s surprising loss last week to the Jets was in large part because of self-inflicted wounds, Horton said."
Titans have no interest in being part of prime-time blowout trend
"Prime-time blowouts have been frequent in the NFL this season, with an average margin of victory of 17.9 points.The Titans play their first of two prime-time games this season when they host the Steelers on “Monday Night Football” in Week 11. In Week 16, they play on Thursday, Dec. 18 at Jacksonville.Tennessee has been in five games that qualify as blowouts this season, getting outscored 151-57 in losses to Dallas, at Cincinnati, at Indianapolis, Houston and at Baltimore.Players want no part of being a contributor to the prime-time trend. (Guys I spoke with didn’t mention it, but I am sure they wouldn’t mind springing a monster upset and being on the winning end of a game that’s not close.)"
Titans’ Bishop Sankey surprised to be in ‘MNF’ promo
"The rookie sounded almost apologetic when asked about it on Thursday.“I was a little surprised. I saw it, and it’s pretty cool, having a chance to be put up there with a guy like Roethlisberger, who has done so much for the game of football,” Sankey said. “But honestly, I don’t think I have done anything spectacular yet, so it was a surprise to me to see myself up there. … We have so many other guys I thought should maybe be on there.”"
A bonus…
Titans ticked off at tank-the-season talk
"The Titans (2-7) have lost seven of their last eight games, so they’ve heard the suggestion they might as well pack it in for this season.“I’m like, ‘Oh, OK, sure,’ ” said tight end Delanie Walker, shaking his head. “It is ludicrous to me. Fans don’t understand the situation we go through as players. No one wants to lose games for better picks. It just doesn’t happen. It would never happen. Just the thought is ludicrous.”"