The Titans head north to Three Rivers Stadium in position to sweep this always-intense divisional rivalry for the second straight year.

Six weeks ago at Adelphia Coliseum (Week 11), Titans QB Steve McNair ran for a pair of touchdowns and the Tennessee defense sacked Steelers' QB Kordell Stewart 5 times as Jeff Fisher's club held on for a 16-10 win.

While Pittsburgh has nearly doubled (38-23) the Titans' win total in this storied series (including 3-0 in playoffs), the Titans have now prevailed in the last 4 meetings dating back to the clubs' second encounter in 1997.

As for the Titans' last appearance in the Steel City (Week 9 of '98), RB Eddie George ran 34 times for 153 yards and a score, McNair threw 3 touchdown passes and the Tennessee defense picked off Stewart three times (including a 27-yard interception return for a touchdown by since-departed LB Lonnie Marts) as Jeff Fisher's team built a 41-15 lead enroute to a 41-31 victory.

Including playoffs, the Titans are just 8-22 lifetime at Three Rivers Stadium dating back to 1970.

Numbers: Titans RB Eddie George has carried 80 times for 315 yards (3.9 avg.) and 1 touchdown in his last 3 outings vs. Pittsburgh (1998-99), this after carrying just 64 times for only 166 yards (2.6 avg.) and 1 touchdown in his first 4 games vs. the Steelers (1996-97). The Titans have totaled 53 sacks in 15 games in '99, this after totaling just 30 sacks in 16 games in '98. After giving up just 5 touchdown passes in their first 7 games, Titans have allowed 43 TD passes in their last 24 contests dating back to 1998. The Titans have forced 3 or more turnovers, totaled 3 or more sacks in 3 straight games and limited the opposition to 17 or fewer points in 3 straight games.

In their last 71 home games (1992-99), including 8 playoff contests, the Steelers have rushed for 10,167 yards (143.2 YPG rushing), have 38 100-yard individual rushing performances (17 by RB Jerome Bettis, 15 by since-departed RB Barry Foster) and compiled a 52-19 record in those contests. Including playoffs, RB Jerome Bettis has rushed for 100 or more yards 41 times in his career (1993-99), 11 with the Rams (3-8) and 30 with the Steelers (23-7). Since 1996 (including playoffs), the Steelers are 27-6 when limiting the opposition to 17 or fewer points, 9-25 when giving up more than 17 points. After not committing a turnover in their first two games (2-0), the Steelers have committed 21 turnovers in their last 13 games (4-9) in '99. The Steelers have allowed 58 points in 6 wins, 215 points in 9 losses in '99.

Things to look for: Off their most complete effort in years, the Titans head into the playoffs with plenty of momentum and a chance of capturing home-field advantage in the AFC. Bill Cowher's team finally ended their slide with an inspiring victory over the frozen Panthers, but it's doubtful that RB Jerome Bettis and the Steelers' ground attack will enjoy the same kind of success against Tennessee's defense.

Etc.: The Titans are 12-3, tying the franchise record for most regular-season victories set in 1993 when the then-Houston Oilers finished 12-4. With a victory, Titans can win 13 games during the regular season for the first time ever. The Steelers are 6-9, and with a loss will lose at least 10 games for the first time since 1988, when they finished 5-11 under since-departed head coach Chuck Noll. The Titans have won 3 straight games. The Titans are 26-21 in their last 47 divisional games (1994-99), this after going 6-0 vs. AFC Central foes in '93. However, the Titans are 15-2 in their last 17 games vs. divisional competition dating back to '98 (8-1 in '99). Since '95, the Titans are 12-9 at home vs. AFC Central foes and 13-7 on the road in divisional contests. The Titans are 15-2 vs. AFC Central rivals, 5-9 vs. the rest of the NFL dating back to '98. The Steelers are 37-23 vs. AFC Central teams under head coach Bill Cowher (including 1-0 in playoffs), but have lost 5 straight games vs. divisional competition. After opening 7-4 in '98, the Steelers are just 6-14 in their last 20 contests. The Steelers are 2-7 in their last 9 home games dating back to '98, this after compiling a 163-55 record (.748) in their first 218 regular-season games at Three Rivers Stadium dating back to 1970.