The primary topic of conversation with many media outlets after the Titans' 31-14 victory over the Steelers was not that Tennessee had clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. Nor was it that the Titans had dominated a team many considered among the league's best by forcing four turnovers and becoming the first team to roll up 300 yards total offense against the Steelers all season.

And it wasn't about the Titans having the chance to set a franchise record for single-season wins if they can win at Indianapolis this week.

No, the main conversation piece on Monday was about a yellow towel -- specifically the Steelers' Terrible Towels that were desecrated by Titans players at the end of Sunday's game at LP Field. There were several thousand Steelers fans in the stands waving the towels and cheering for the visitors.

For the record, linebacker Keith Bulluck, tight end Bo Scaife and running back LenDale White showed off to cameras stomping on the Terrible Towels, and defensive end Jevon Kearse was photographed blowing his nose on one.

Much of the furor on the topic came shortly after the game ended when former Steelers coach Bill Cowher, now a studio analyst for CBS, admonished the Titans players for their actions.

"That looks like a pregame talk the night before to me," Cowher was quoted by the Associated Press as saying. "If (we'd) meet in the postseason, I know what I'm pulling out the night before the game."

Cowher said of White, "You've got to learn ... I wouldn't do this, I wouldn't go there" and that that Bulluck should know better, saying, "You are a veteran, Bulluck."

Titans coach Jeff Fisher said he was unaware of the antics until Monday morning.

"We're not about those things, but I really think this: To our players, that's just a towel. That's all it is is a towel," Fisher said. "They don't understand the significance or the meaning of the towel itself to the organization, the Steelers history or the Steeler fans.

"So on one hand, I think they're just playing with a towel. It's not a shot at the organization, the staff or the fans. Our players have great respect for the Pittsburgh Steelers and what they've accomplished. Our players were talking about it in the locker room afterward about what a good football team that was. This was just a couple of guys playing around with a towel. It was unnecessary in my opinion."

Bulluck said he did not mean for the Steelers organization to take offense, but that the Titans are simply about attitude.

"I really don't care, and it's not disrespect to the Pittsburgh Steeler players or anything like that because there are a lot of great football players over there and coaches that I have a tremendous amount of respect for," Bulluck said. "But that's just our stand. Anybody that's going to come through here in the playoffs, we plan to stomp them out. That has to be our stand."

Pittsburgh cornerback Deshea Townsend said he hopes the Steelers can get revenge, if the clubs meet for the AFC championship on Jan. 18 in Nashville.

"Hopefully, if we do see them again we can right the wrong and not allow them to step on that towel," Townsend said. "I am sure they are very emotional over there. I am sure it was good to win and show a little respect for our towel. We won't forget it. I will say that."

Fisher said such actions shouldn't play much into any potential rematch.

"To be honest with you, I didn't know it had taken place until I got in this morning. I wasn't aware of it after the game," Fisher said. "I didn't pay much attention to it. If we're fortunate enough to see Pittsburgh again, and that's the motivation they need to play better, then that's OK."