Tennessee Titans test positive for COVID-19, Steelers game uncertain

What does this mean for the Steelers?

By all accounts, it is business as usual for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The NFL has told them to assume that there is going to be a game played this weekend and that if it is played this weekend it will be the Titans and not some team swap or anything like that.

The reason I bring that up is because there is a theory on a way that the Steelers and Titans could change their schedules to postpone this week’s matchup. I’m not sure who came up with it first, but I am going to credit Teresa Walker:

So this means that both teams would have a makeshift bye week in Week 4 (this week) and then the Steelers would travel to Tennessee to play the Titans in Week 7. To make room for that, the Ravens and Steelers would play in Week 8 which would be the Steelers original bye week.

Now, Steelers fans might look at that and realize that this adjustment means that the Ravens would get a bye week to prepare for the Steelers ahead of their matchup in Week 8. That isn’t exactly fair, but the league has said that whatever comes next probably won’t be perfectly fair.

However, it is better than a possible alternative of calling this a “no contest” and that the Steelers and Titans only play 15 games. That could mean that a team like the Cincinnati Bengals would have an edge on both teams if they all end up with 8 wins because the Bengals have that tie in their back pocket.

Either way, the plan right now is for a game in Week 4, and until we find out more information that should be the presumption.

Now, I have mixed feelings about what this means for the Titans.