Nov 11, 2014 5 min read

PITTSBURGH – If there is a common theme to the Steelers’ issues in road games, it’s a lack of scoring.

In five road games, Pittsburgh has six offensive touchdowns, three of which came Sept. 21 in a victory at Carolina.

Pittsburgh scored 37 points in that victory over the Panthers, also getting a touchdown from Robert Golden on a muffed punt. But the Steelers have 46 points in their other four road games, a far different story from a team that averages more than 35 per game at Heinz Field.

Solving those road issues will be a key this week as the Steelers (6-4) head to Tennessee to take on the Titans (2-7) Monday night.

The Steelers don’t feel preparation is an issue. But the team has clearly not been sharp on the road, where it lost 20-13 Sunday to the New York Jets.

“I’m sure we can bounce around a myriad of things regarding the mental element of it,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday. “I tend to focus on what’s really tangible, and with regard to Sunday, we turned the ball over a lot and we didn’t get any turnovers. And minus-4 is going to put you in a tough position to win regardless of who you’re playing or where you’re playing or what the circumstances of the game are.”

The four turnovers clearly were a deciding factor in that game. But a lack of offensive efficiency on the road also is an issue.

Jacksonville, Cleveland and the Jets – Pittsburgh’s last three road opponents – worked hard to take the deep pass away from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, often dropping seven or even eight players into coverage.

New York sent more than four pass rushers after Roethlisberger just eight times, focusing on taking big plays out of the Steelers’ arsenal. It worked well until Roethlisberger finally connected on an 80-yard TD pass with rookie Martavis Bryant with about one minute remaining in the game.

“We had run the scoreboard up and had some splash plays in recent weeks,” Tomlin said. “I have to give the Jets credit. I’m sure they spent a week preparing to minimize the explosive plays and they were very successful until the very end of the football game.”

Less pressure on Roethlisberger was a common theme in Pittsburgh’s losses. In four losses, Roethlisberger was blitzed – sending five or more pass rushers – just 19 times. In Pittsburgh’s victories, that number grows substantially to 71.

There’s a method to that madness. According to ProFootballFocus.com, when pressured, Roethlisberger’s passer rating is 140.8. When not pressured, it falls to 98.4.

Both ratings are excellent, but Roethlisberger clearly performs better when under duress.

Roethlisberger threw a pair of interceptions against New York, both of which came when the Jets did not blitz. He wasn’t pressured on either throw.

“Ben is a guy that, prior to Sunday, had thrown three interceptions on the season,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said. “He threw two on Sunday. It’s not reflective in his preparation or who he is. He’s been very good, if not great, for us, but it happened on Sunday. And when those things happen, then you’re going to have a tough time winning football games if you’re not getting (takeaways) and we didn’t.”

The Steelers might not have a similar issue at Tennessee. Titans defensive coordinator Ray Horton, a former Steelers defensive backs coach, is known for being a coach who likes to apply pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Fourteen different players have recorded sacks for the Titans, who have 24 as a team.

“Ray is very aggressive,” Tomlin conceded.

Tomlin said safety Mike Mitchell’s dive over the Jets’ offensive line when New York was kneeling out the clock was, “unprofessional.” Tomlin said he pointed the play out to the team in a meeting and said, “We don’t want to play football like that.” … Safety Troy Polamalu (knee), linebacker Ryan Shazer (ankle) and cornerback Ike Taylor (forearm) will not play Monday. … Tomlin said nose tackle Steve McLendon, who has a shoulder injury but played against the Jets, is questionable. … Safeties Shamarko Thomas and Ross Ventrone, both of whom sat out against the Jets with hamstring injuries, could play against Tennessee.