PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The game became meaningless to the Pittsburgh Steelers about a month ago. The game could become meaningless to the Tennessee Titans minutes before kickoff.

That was the conundrum confronting the Titans as they practiced for what will be their biggest game of the season -- or their least significant.

Are they playing for a division title and a week off during the playoffs, or will their winter's afternoon in chilly Pittsburgh merely be a warmup for the games that matter?

If the Jaguars (13-2) beat the Cincinnati Bengals (4-11) at home earlier in the day, the Titans-Steelers game essentially is meaningless. Jacksonville wins the AFC Central and the Titans (12-3) will play a home wild-card playoff game the following weekend.

But should the Jaguars lose, and the Indianapolis Colts (13-2) lose to Buffalo, the Titans might be playing for a bye and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

Clearly, this is an all-or-nothing game for the Titans.

"Maybe we can rig up a TV so we can watch that (Jacksonville) game," wide receiver Yancey Thigpen said.

To many of the Titans, clinching the best record in the history of a franchise once known as the Houston Oilers should be incentive enough to beat Pittsburgh (6-9), which must win to avoid its worst record since going 5-11 in 1988.

"You don't want to go into the playoffs like that, worrying about those kind of things instead of playing the Steelers," tackle Brad Hopkins said. "This team is good about minding its Ps and Qs. It would be disappointing not to make the most of this opportunity."

That's why coach Jeff Fisher tried all week to sell his players on the idea the Jaguars, who lost to the Titans 41-14 last week, really might lose. He doesn't want the momentum gained against Jacksonville to be lost in Pittsburgh, especially if the Titans don't get a bye and must play again in 6-7 days.

"We're one week away from single elimination," Fisher said. "If that doesn't get your attention, nothing will."

But will the Steelers, losers of six straight before upsetting Carolina 30-20 in the snow last Sunday, rate any attention from the Titans?

The Titans have dominated of late, beating them 16-10 earlier in Nashville for their fourth successive victory over Pittsburgh. Out of the playoffs for a second year in a row, the Steelers would seem sorely lacking in incentive to win.

But coach Bill Cowher saw the damage a five-game losing streak at the end of last season did to his players' confidence. A two-game winning streak wouldn't salvage this long-lost season, but it might prove a motivator in what promises to be a long offseason.

"It's been a very frustrating year," he said. "We're not even close to the standards and expectation levels of the city, the owners, the coaches and the players. But this is a great opportunity for us. We can't do anything about this year, but we can leave a little impression."

Jerome Bettis certainly left one in Carolina's defense, plowing through the snow for a season-high 137 yards to assure himself of a fourth successive 1,000-yard season.

Bettis expects a normal Titans-Steelers game -- physical, with plenty of emotion and a close score -- even if Tennessee doesn't need to win.

"Knowing right at kickoff isn't going to make that big a difference for them," he said. "If it were a day before the game, I think it would be a little different. But if it's right at kickoff, you're already wound up to play."

Titans quarterback Steve McNair also came out of his slump with five touchdown passes against Jacksonville after having only one in his previous seven starts. Eddie George ran for 102 yards to push his rushing total to 1,272 yards.

McNair probably will know the Bengals-Jaguars score when he takes the field, but would just as soon not.

"We know what we've got to do; we're going up to Pittsburgh to try to win regardless of any situation Jacksonville is in," said McNair, who has six career touchdown passes and five interceptions against the Steelers. "We put a close to perfect game together against Jacksonville and we want to continue that."

Tennessee is without safety Marcus Robertson, who needed surgery for facial injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.

And while he doesn't want any other players injured in what might be an insignificant game, Fisher won't rest his regulars even if Jacksonville wins.

"We've set a standard for our play, and I hope we maintain that. We have to," Fisher said. "It's an opportunity for us to finish up with momentum into the playoffs."

TENNESSEE Season schedule and results

PITTSBURGH Season schedule and results

September 12 Cincinnati W 36-35 September 19 Cleveland W 26-9 September 26 @Jacksonville W 20-19 October 3 @San Francisco L 22-24 October 10 Baltimore W 14-11 October 17 @New Orleans W 24-21 October 31 St. Louis W 24-21 November 7 @Miami L 0-17 November 14 @Cincinnati W 24-14 November 21 Pittsburgh W 16-10 November 28 @Cleveland W 33-21 December 5 @Baltimore L 14-41 December 9 Oakland W 21-14 December 19 Atlanta W 30-17 December 26 Jacksonville W 41-14 January 2 @Pittsburgh 4:15pm ET

September 12 @Cleveland W 43-0 September 19 @Baltimore W 23-20 September 26 Seattle L 10-29 October 3 Jacksonville L 3-17 October 10 @Buffalo L 21-24 October 17 @Cincinnati W 17-3 October 25 Atlanta W 13-9 November 7 @San Francisco W 27-6 November 14 Cleveland L 15-16 November 21 @Tennessee L 10-16 November 28 Cincinnati L 20-27 December 2 @Jacksonville L 6-20 December 12 Baltimore L 24-31 December 18 @Kansas City L 19-35 December 26 Carolina W 30-20 January 2 Tennessee 4:15pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

Copyright 1999 STATS, Inc. Commercial distribution without the express written consent of STATS is prohibited.