THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
PITTSBURGH (2-2) AT TENNESSEE (1-4)
Time, TV: 7:20 p.m., NFL Network
Line: Steelers by 5 1/2
The skinny: When the Pittsburgh Steelers are around, flags fly. Despite playing one fewer game than most teams, the Steelers lead the AFC in penalties with 37. It's something they must clean up soon. Fortunately for Pittsburgh, the opponent this week is Tennessee, perhaps the most disappointing team in the conference. The Titans have yielded a league-high 181 points. The Steelers are 0-2 on the road and played their worst game of the season in a sloppy 34-31 loss at Oakland. The Titans again will start Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback while Jake Locker sits out because of a left shoulder injury. Pittsburgh will be without safety Troy Polamalu (right calf).
Key stat: The Steelers have won three in a row and six of nine in the series.
Notes: Ben Roethlisberger needs 300 yards passing to pass Terry Bradshaw (27,989) for most passing yards in Steelers history. ... The Titans have allowed opponents to complete 74.6 percent of their passes this season.
