The Steelers are having an interesting season. It's sort of like the Vikings a year ago -- winning a lot of close games, not really looking good in any of them. They did it again last night, making enough plays to sneak by Tennessee, 20-16.

QUARTERBACKS

I for one have seen enough out of Will Levis to know the Titans need not put Ryan Tannehill back on the field. Kid's got an arm, for sure, and I thought he was pretty poised in nearly leading the road win last night. There were a couple of rookie glitches. One play where he was sacked and seemed to be trying to throw it away, a backwards pass that definitely would have been ruled a fumble (and might have gone for a defensive touchdown) had it not skittered out of bounds, and been ruled that he was already down anyway. Game-ending interception (and nearly another on the previous play), but he had to force a couple of throws in trying to win the game -- some rookies and veterans might have been settling for harmless checkdowns to pick up 10 yards there, he was trying to get the ball in the end zone. I can't say for sure where the Titans' mindset is, but to me Tannehill has looked pretty cooked and who knows when he'll be healthy. Levis will be the team's Week 1 starter next year (and should be their Week 10 starter).

Kenny Pickett...I don't know. Led the game-winning touchdown drive, with one really nice 32-yard pass. Has been the quarterback, and playing hurt, in a lot of close wins. Threw the winning score twice last night (Diontae Johnson dropped the first one). But I think a lot of the criticism of Matt Canada is overlooking the fact that Pickett himself is missing some throws that could result in big plays. Happened a couple of times last night, throws that he sailed high or was slightly off-target with that could have been 20- or 30-yard gains, or more. Maybe playing through a rib injury was a factor, but it's not like he's been tearing it up while healthy. I see a quarterback who maybe you can win some games with if everything is right around him, but not one that they're going to advance in the playoffs with. (And I'm not sure I'll start George Pickens again all season.) It should also be noted that the Titans pass defense is bad -- there were receivers running open for most of the night, and Pickett threw for just 160 yards.

RUNNING BACKS

I hope everyone is appreciating watching Derrick Henry play. Kind of a throwback workhorse running back who I get a little thrill out of when there's a hole in the line that he can rip off 6- to 10 yards through, thinking that maybe you're going to see him bust of 30 or more. Mabye he's lost a fraction of a step, but he looks damn good to me. Last night's touchdown was one of the more impressive 2-yard runs you'll see, since he was hit at about the 3-yard line but kept his balance and stretched his huge frame out to extend the ball across the goal line before his knees touched. I'm not sure a lot of other running backs score on that play. Yes he helped me win a parlay with his anytime touchdown, why do you ask? I'm glad the Titans didn't trade him...he should stay with one team. Last night's loss probably means the Titans are out of the playoff picture (I wonder if they'd have won if they kept Kevin Byard), but I like watching Henry play.

Tyjae Spears looks a little better than his stat line last night indicated. He's got some quickness and can catch; the timing with Levis was just off on a couple of plays. I think they'll get that sorted out. But he's not actually playing enough or touching the ball enough to be used with much confidence. If you have Spears, you're disappointed that Henry is still on the roster, I get that. But let's face it, the offensive line (which is banged-up and lost a couple more starters for a few plays or a lot of plays to injury during the game) isn't good enough for a non-Henry caliber back to be ripping off big numbers anyway. For the Titans and Spears to really be good, upgrading the line in the offseason will be job one.

Some would probably call me a Najee Harris apologist; certainly I've been a fan, perhaps feeling I owe him after his rookie season worked out so well for those of us who drafted him. But I'm also a realist, and I can see he's a pretty ordinary back. Last night was one of his better games (16 for 69, TD), but then you look at Jaylen Warren (11 for 88) and it's not hard to see which back should be playing more. Warren was unlucky to just barely step out of bounds on a late 22-yard run that set up the winning touchdown -- should have been a touchdown itself. He had several nice, spinning runs for extra yards that looked like they'd be stopped near the line, and they also ran this sweet little short yardage play where they gave it to him on an endaround. Since he's getting most of the chances in the passing game, it's pretty clear that Harris will only work out in a lineup if he scores, like last night, while Warren should give you 12-15 points in a lot of games (PPR of course). It will probably continue as a committee, but there's way less upside with Harris. Even his short-yardage runs (like at the end of the game near the goal line) don't look particularly good.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Nice game for Diontae Johnson. Last year there was a nice Pickett-George Pickens rapport, but looking at things right now it's very clear which throws Pickett is more comfortable making. He had a really nice sideline downfield throw to Johnson through a couple of defenders on 3rd and 6 on the winning drive, props to him for that. Without that throw, Pittsburgh probably loses. But the overall picture is that he's better at the shorter throws, and much more of a plus for Johnson than Pickens. The less said about Pickens' 2-catch for minus-1 yard stat line the better. That's 3 catches the last two weeks. Really talented guy who cannot be used. Allen Robinson and even Myles Boykin had more yards than he did last night. Ouch.

I think most of us with DeAndre Hopkins started him last night, you have to off a 3-TD game. Much quieter, predictably, with the Steelers getting a lot more pressure on Levis. But there were some open looks and near misses, and I think Hopkins will generally be usable the rest of the season. Eleven targets is nice, even though only 4 were completed.

Kyle Phillips came out of nowhere to catch 4 passes for 68 yards, despite playing the 5th-most (!) snaps at the position for Tennessee. Treylon Burks was carted off with an injury after landing hard on the sideline on the final drive, so his status is uncertain, which will maybe benefit Phillips going forward. But in general it looks like the Titans will be using a lot of different receivers along with Hopkins, and only the No. 1 will be viable. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine played 60 percent of the snaps and saw only 1 target, and that was on a busted play. At least based on last night, Phillips looks like the 2nd-best wideout, but I don't think he's a priority add or anything.

TIGHT ENDS

Chigoziem Okonkwo, who's one of the more athletic tight ends, and Connor Heyward, who isn't, put up similar stat lines last night. Maybe the Titans get Okonkwo going at some point, but it doesn't look particularly likely this season. Heyward just keeping the seat warm until Pat Freiermuth is back anyway.

DEFENSES

A quick note on defenses. Pittsburgh's continues to work out pretty nicely in fantasy leagues. Four sacks last night and they'd probably have had 7-8 had the Titans not kept committing holding penalties. Just the one late takeaway, but they were playing without Minkah Fitzpatrick. Tennessee...they just look bad. Last year and earlier this year they were tough on the run and leaky against the pass. Right now they're not doing much of anything well. The fact that Pittsburgh was sitting on 13 points until 4 minutes were left in the game is kind of an indictment of their offense.

MISCELLANEOUS

A pretty entertaining game, with a down-to-the-wire finish. Negatives are that there were a whole lot of penalties -- a combined 17 for 131 yards, according to the Gamebook, and it felt like more. I wonder if there are more penalties in general in these Thursday games; it feels like it.

Can all four AFC North teams make the playoffs? If the season ended today, I believe three of them would. Only the Ravens and Bengals look like realistic contenders to win a playoff game, though.

As for the Titans, well, they're headed for a losing record. And it's too early to call Will Levis one way or another. But early returns are good. Just maybe they've got a long-term answer at the most important position of the game. Even if they finish the year 7-10 or whatever, that choice looks like it might be a big win for them.