Titans Load Up in Tune-up

The Tennessee Titans are rolling into the playoffs the way the Indianapolis Colts and St. Louis Rams wish they were.

The Titans scored 17 points in barely a minute of the second quarter with Steve McNair and Eddie George already out, then wrapped up the franchise’s best season by beating Pittsburgh, 47-36, Sunday.

The Titans, who played as the Houston Oilers until 1997, are the first 13-3 team since divisional play began in 1970 to not win its division.

It will be the franchise’s first playoff game against Buffalo since the Bills rallied from a 35-3 deficit to beat the then-Houston Oilers, 41-38, in the 1992 season.

“Remember it? If I remember that pain, I would never play football again, so it’s out of sight, out of mind to me,” Titan guard Bruce Matthews said.

George, who gained 32 yards in eight carries before being taken out, predicted the Titans can go far in the playoffs--very far.

“We can’t get wrapped up in being 13-3, but we’re in the dance now and we have a very realistic chance to be in Atlanta,” George said. “We can play the entire month of January, but we have to be sure we’re not satisfied.”

Neil O’Donnell replaced McNair with the Titans ahead, 14-7, and threw two touchdown passes. Rookie Jevon Kearse and Denard Walker scored on two of the game’s three fumble return touchdowns. John Thornton also sacked Mike Tomczak for a safety as the Titan defense finished the season with 23 fumble recoveries and 16 interceptions.

Still, the Steelers (6-10) rebounded after falling behind, 31-7, scoring twice in 13 seconds late in the third quarter on Jerome Bettis’ one-yard run and rookie Joey Porter’s 46-yard fumble return.