John Fredericks: Back the Titans on Thursday Night Football

JOHN FREDERICKS: BACK THE TITANS ON THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL – As I now live in the ‘Burgh, I’m going to my first Steelers home game tonight.

Why am I going to sit in 20 degree weather and freeze my butt?

It’s Morning Again, Titans Fans

My Titans are in town, and for the first time since our disastrous seven-game skid to close out last season, we have hope. And a new spring in our step.

It comes in the form of one Will Levis, the former Kentucky QB who was projected to go in the first round’s top five picks in this spring’s NFL draft. Instead, he languished in Las Vegas with his family and slid down to the second day with no apparent takers. It was painful to watch.

In a rather bold and yet bizarre move, the Titans traded up in round two, giving up valuable draft picks needed to replenish a depleted and aging roster—to get Will Levis.

After being hurt for most of the pre-season and never having taken an NFL regular season game snap, he stepped in for the injured Ryan Tannehill and tied an NFL record with four touchdown passes in his first game, while amassing a QB rating of over 130.

So we have a new sheriff in town, and he has no fear.

Now he’ll go on the road – in the cold—and face the likes of the Steelers ferocious front four and Mr. Watt.

Is Will Levis a one-trick pony or is he for real? We’ll find out by 10:00 PM EST tonight.

The Pick

I like the Titans to win their first road game for really one reason: their defensive line has been the backbone of the team all year, and they’ll be harassing Kenny Pickett (if he plays) all night.

Tennessee will try and run the ball, the Titans hand-off Merry-Go-Round will be on full display.

The Steelers lost on Sunday at home to Jacksonville, and appear banged up, while coping with a very ineffective offense. Pickett, who said he’ll play with sore ribs, has one of the worst QB ratings in the league in terms of completion percentage, yards per attempt and passer rating.

Now he has to deal with Jeffrey Simmons.

This game has ugly written all over it. If the infamous words of Michael Douglas in Wall Street 2, “It’s ugly times ugly out there. And that’s when the ugly get going.”

The Titans are one ugly team. Take the points.

Pick: Titans +3