NOTEBOOK From Heinz Field

Youngstown connection: Among the Titans' scratches was cornerback Mike Echols, the Ursuline High graduate who played for Wisconsin before being selected in the fourth round of the 2002 draft. The Titans running back coach is Sherman Smith, a Youngstown native who played collegiately for Miami (Ohio) and in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks and San Diego Chargers.
Series: The Steelers have a 40-29 record against the Tennessee Titans/Houston Oilers. Bill Cowher's record against the franchise is 10-12. The Titans have won 10 of the past 12 games, including a 34-31 overtime victory in Nashville on Jan. 11. "The last two years we've played them three times," Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox said. "Two out of three times, I feel we should have beat them." The Steelers' two wins in that streak came in 2001, the last year that the Titans and Steelers were division rivals (AFC Central).
Injuries: Steelers wide receivers Plaxico Burress suffered a hip pointer and Hines Ward is aching after a strong hit in the second half. "I don't know who hit me, but he really put a good shot on me," said Ward. "They played physical." Tight end Jerame Tuman suffered a concussion. Titans linebacker Peter Sirmon broke several bones in his lower back on a first-quarter play. Titans coach Jeff Fisher said the fractures don't involve "the spinal cord or paralysis. As far as we can tell, the X rays were clear." Fisher also said wide receivers Andre Dyson and Jake Schifino suffered mild concussions.
Moving up: Ward caught nine passes for 76 yards to take over second place on the Steelers' all-time receptions list. Ward has 361 catches in his six seasons, passing Louis Lipps with 358.
AFC North: The Steelers (2-2) remain tied with the Baltimore Ravens for first place in the AFC North Division. Trailing them are the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals with 1-3 marks. Next week, the Browns play the Steelers in the ESPN Sunday Night Game at Heinz Field.
Little rushing: Neither team offered much of a ground attack. The Steelers gained 69 yards on 25 carries with Amos Zereoue leading the way with 51 yards on 18 carries. Jerome Bettis had three carries for 6 yards and none in the second half even though the Steelers had a first-and-goal series from the Titans 1. Bettis said it wasn't a surprise that he didn't go in because "we were in a hurry-up offense and I was sitting on the sidelines for a whole half. Do you put a cold player in there? I don't think so." The Titans were limited to 40 yards on 22 carries, with Eddie George gaining 21 yards on 11 tries. Fisher wasn't surprised. "On most Sundays, you don't run the football against our defense nor do you run the football against their defense. Both defenses know how to stop the run. They showed that today and for the most part I feel we were pretty effective, too."
-- Tom Williams