By David Climer
September 8, 2013
Steelers running back LaRod Stephens-Howling (34) loses his helmet as he is stopped by Titans defenders Jurrell Casey (99), Bernard Pollard (31) and Sammie Lee Hill (94) during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field Sunday Sept. 8, 2013, in Pittsburgh, Pa.
PITTSBURGH — We all knew the pressure point would come sooner or later.
But did anybody expect the Titans to arrive at their first crossroads just three seconds into the season?
That’s how long it took for returner Darius Reynaud to field the opening kickoff, assess the situation and take a half step backward into the end zone at the north end of Heinz Field.
The officials huddled. Reynaud cringed. The ruling: safety.
With that, Pittsburgh led 2-0. Considering what happened last year when the Titans so often came undone at the smallest hint of adversity, you had to wonder if their season was unraveling just three seconds after it started.
“I’ve never seen a season start like that,” safety Bernard Pollard said, “but anything’s possible in this game.”
And maybe anything’s possible with this team. Rather than take the early gaffe as a sign that this game was over almost before it had begun, the Titans found resilience that has been lacking and beat Pittsburgh 16-9.
Granted, one game does not a season make. But the way the Titans handled the disastrous start hints at a different attitude and greater resolve.
In other words, these aren’t the 2012 Titans.
“Last year’s team gave in a lot,” defensive end Derrick Morgan said. “This time, we stood up to adversity.”
By game’s end, the Titans had imposed their will on the Steelers, living up to an offseason pledge of becoming a more physical, tougher team.
The result: all those Terrible Towels were flying at half staff, and the Titans were talking about their new attitude.
“Most of us haven’t been in a situation like that before — a safety on the opening kickoff,” cornerback Alterraun Verner said. “It was easier to let it go because it was so early and we had so much football to play.”
Indeed, that attitude permeated the Titans sideline. The game had barely begun so why panic?
“You’ve got to keep believing and stop the other team from scoring,” second-year linebacker Zach Brown said. “If you can win the game 3-2, then let’s go win the game 3-2.”
Of course, things might have gone differently if the Steelers hadn’t fumbled on the possession after the safety. On third-and-1 from the Tennessee 6-yard line, Ben Roethlisberger and Isaac Redman misconnected on a handoff, and the ball skittered into the end zone, where safety Michael Griffin recovered.
“I have to make sure I get the ball to him, point blank,” Roethlisberger said. “I take the heat on that one.”
While it’s fair to express concern over a lack of preparation that led to the Titans’ early mistake in the kicking game — Reynaud said they did not cover that situation at any point during training camp — we should credit the coaching staff for stressing the importance of resilience when things got tough.
“We’ve been talking about Old Man Adversity for a while,” wide receiver Nate Washington said. “We’ve been working on that. No matter what happens, we’ve got to finish the fight.”
And that was the story of this game. When you play the Steelers, particularly at Heinz Field, it’s one part football and one part street fight. If you back down, you’re done.
The Titans didn’t back down. In a 49-yard touchdown drive that pushed them up 7-2 late in the first half, they ran the ball on 11 of 12 snaps — 12 of 13 if you count a play that was nullified by a penalty. When was the last time somebody did that against Pittsburgh?
“It was a defining moment in the game, in my opinion,” quarterback Jake Locker said.
Right about here, it should be noted that it’s hard to get a read on these Steelers. They are coming off an 8-8 season that left some fans depressed, others angry. It didn’t help that they went winless in the preseason.
Likewise, the loss of center Maurkice Pouncey to a knee injury on Pittsburgh’s first offensive series was a big hit. Running behind a patchwork offensive line, Steelers backs managed only 32 rushing yards on 15 attempts.
Just the same, the Steelers normally find a way to win games like this. And in recent years, the Titans usually find a way to lose games like this. Instead, the roles were reversed.
Now the Titans visit division rival Houston on Sunday with a 1-0 record. What does that mean?
“The way we look at it, 1-0 is just 1-0. It’s one game. That’s all it is,” Morgan said. “We’re on a mission.”
And what is the mission?
“The mission is to be playing in January and to be playing in the Super Bowl,” he said.
Easy, now.
Like they say, one game at a time.
David Climer’s columns appear on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Contact him at 615-259-8020 ordclimer@tennessean.com.
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