NOTEBOOK | Steelers vs. Titans

Scare: Steelers offensive tackles Marvel Smith and Max Starks suffered minor injuries, but Coach Bill Cowher says both are OK. "Marvel twisted his knee; he wanted to go back in," Cowher said. "Max Starks has a low lateral ankle sprain -- he went back in; he's OK."
Series: The Steelers have a 41-29 record against the Titans/Houston Oilers. Cowher's record against them is 11-12. Sunday's victory snapped a three-game losing streak to the Titans.
More Cowher: Cowher's teams have a 7-7 record on opening day, including 4-4 at home.
Streaks: The Steelers have won 11 straight regular season games at Heinz Field, the third longest streak for the franchise. The team record is 14 (Oct. 29, 1978-Sept. 28, 1980). The Steelers, who lost January's AFC Championship Game, 41-27, to the New England Patriots, have won 15 straight regular season games. The NFL record is 18, set by the Patriots in 2004. New England's streak was snapped last Halloween by the Steelers.
Limited receptions: Steelers receivers caught nine passes against the Titans, with Antwaan Randle El, Hines Ward and Cedric Wilson leading with two apiece. "It's a good day because we won -- that's the biggest thing," Randle El said. "If I had [only] two catches and we lost, it would really feel like I could [do] more." Being on a team that favors the run means the wide receivers must show patience, Randle El said. "We know that may happen because we have [a strong] run game so that when the ball comes our way you have to take advantage." Randle El caught a 63-yard touchdown pass and tight end Heath Miller caught a 3-yard scoring pass. "I was a little more anxious," Miller said of his NFL debut. "The intensity has been up all week."
Youngstown connection: The Titans running back coach is Sherman Smith, a graduate of Youngstown's old North High School. Smith has been on Jeff Fisher's Titans staff since 1995 when the team was the Houston Oilers. In college, Smith was a quarterback for Miami (Ohio) and was a second-round draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 1976. He led the expansion Seahawks in rushing for four seasons and closed his NFL career with the San Diego Chargers in 1984.
Coming up: The Steelers travel to Houston to play the Texans next Sunday at 1 p.m. The Super Bowl champion New England Patriots will be the Steelers' next opponent at Heinz Field -- Sept. 25 at 4:15 p.m.
Tom Williams