ANALYSIS: When you draw up a list of the top NFL head coaches in the game today, Bill Cowher's name has to be near the top of the list. How else to explain the Steelers solid won-lost record over the years with so many free agent losses, and being saddled with a below average Quarterback most of the time. Certainly the playoff wins have become few and far between recently, but for your everyday regular season match-up it is comforting to know that Pittsburgh will come prepared.

Not many pundits would have foreseen the Titans and Steelers respective records at this stage as being 2-3 and 4-1, but here we are, and as for NFL parity there it is! Only Detroit remains winless (0-5 and favored this week), while the Rams are the sole undefeated team. Now no one will confuse the Steelers with the Rams, but seeing 'the Bus' Jerome Bettis bust out with a huge game last week in Tampa makes us feel a little more excited about the Pittsburgh offensive potential. The Titans meanwhile did achieve the win in Detroit, but on the basis of four field goals, one blocked field goal returned for a touchdown, and one offensive TD.

The drive charts illustrate succinctly that Tennessee is having a hard time moving the ball. Their 9% TD rate is the second worst in the NFL (Washington has a humble 4% of drives reaching the end zone so far), and 52% punts gives you the concept pretty quick: conservatism is taking over the Titans. In past years they plodded along behind the wear 'em down running of Eddie George and a great defense, but unless McNair can pick up the aerial attack a bit that's no longer a recipe for success. Of course the Steelers can't be smug themselves with only slightly better percentages on the drive outcomes, but at least they do pick up 32 yards per drive to the Titans 23.

Defensively the Steelers have forced opponents to punt 62% of the time, which is tops in the league. For Pittsburgh it's a field position battle with a defense that is intent on stopping you short of the first down rather than stripping the ball away (their 10% takeaway rate is below average).

On the Play-By-Play side of the equation, the Steelers are projected to run the ball with success, while the lowly Air Kordell stats so far might get a big boost from a Tennessee pass defense that has been shaky at best.

You'll hear the usual dragging up of the head-to-head history and yes we know that the Titans have a nice winning streak against the Steelers. Here's the deal pal, in today's NFL it doesn't matter who you were last season (or even last week), it's all about who you are now.

In this match-up we suggest: