Tennessee Titans

Oddsmakers be damned! Get ready for The Final Drive!(1-13) Indianapolis Colts 27
(7-7) Tennessee Titans 13

Oh Tennessee. How could you? You somehow managed to give their first lowly Colts a victory whilst in the midst of your own playoff hunt. For shame. While it’s nice to get a win (I’m sure), Jim Caldwell should still get effing fired.(6-8) Kansas City Chiefs 19

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 15, 2011"

e too many “respectable losses” on their record.(10-3) New Orleans Saints 22
(7-6) Tennessee Titans 17

If the Titans weren’t in the middle of a playoff chase, I’d say it was time to start Jake Locker. Though with Hasselbeck’s injury, it might happen anyway. Kudos to the Saints for not falling into the “Trap of the Week.”(5-8) Philadelphia Eagles 26

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 14, 2011"

Andre Johnson’s absence. 



(9-3) New Orleans Saints at
(7-5) Tennessee Titans

Boom. Trap it up. New Orleans is on the road after a pretty convincing whupping of the Lions last week. Tennessee is very quietly eking their way into the AFC playoffs with all-around solid team play. New Orleans may be trying to keep pace with the Niners, but they don’t NEED this game like the Titans do. Drew Brees could have one of his famous “Throw for 345 yards, 3 TD’s and 3 INT’s” days, giving the Saints points, but not a win.

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: Week 14, 2011"

way to 12 and an NFC contender tries to get by without one of their biggest stars.

 

(6-5) Tennessee Titans at
(5-6) Buffalo Bills

I gotta say, the only reason I’m putting this one on here is that the Titans could actually sneak their way into contention for a wildcard slot if the Jets and Bengals lose. That shouldn’t be a tremendous feat against the Bills, who are stumbling mightily.(0-11) Indianapolis Colts at

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: Week 13, 2011"

on in week 12, including another QB injury in Houston and more magic from Jebus and Teebs.

(6-5) Tennessee Titans 23
(4-7) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17
Hey… Chris Johnson showed up to the 2011 NFL season. Welcome.

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 12, 2011"

Green more. (5-4) Tennessee Titans at
(5-4) Atlanta Falcons

Yeah. What am I supposed to expect from these teams? The Titans are the definition of average, trading off decent wins for sucky losses several times throughout the year. Since they’re in Atlanta, I have to give the Falcons the edge here. (3-6) Philadelphia Eagles at

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: Week 11, 2011"

’t look like utter garbage, which is always helpful.

(6-2) Cincinnati Bengals 24
(4-4) Tennessee Titans 17

It may not have been an overwhelming victory, but the Cincinnati Bengals have to get a ton of credit for picking up another win in this surprising season. As for the Titans, they’re slowly slipping out of the picture. Thanks Chris Johnson.

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 9, 2011"

That alone might get me to tune in.(5-2) Cincinnati Bengals at
(4-3) Tennessee Titans

I’m putting this game on the list completely based on the records involved. I don’t have a great feel for either of these teams, but the Bengals have to handle this roadie if they’re going to be taken seriously in the AFC.(2-5) Denver Broncos at

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: Week 9, 2011"

What are you waiting for? The Final Drive starts right now!(4-3) Tennessee Titans 27
(0-8) Indianapolis Colts 10

I’m not even going to address the incompetence or impotence of the Colts. Instead, I feel like the semi-benching of Chris Johnson is compelling drama. CJ has fallen off the face of the rushing planet since signing his hefty new deal and is losing the lion’s share of the carries to Javon Ringer, who’s completely out-playing the Pro Bowler.

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 8, 2011"

quo;day to day” with ankle and knee injuries? Zoinks Scoob.(4-3) Houston Texans 41
(3-3) Tennessee Titans 7

Yeah… Chris Johnson is hot garbage right now. He’s still dancing around like he’s at a nightclub during the lock-out. Without him, the Titans are also hot garbage, leaving Houston at the top of the division be default.

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 7, 2011"

It’s a good idea.(3-3) Houston Texans at
(3-2) Tennessee Titans

These two teams are lining up to take the AFC South crown with little to no resistance from the rest of their division. This game could go a long way in establishing who emerges as the front-runner in a mediocre division.(1-4) Denver Broncos at

Continue reading "The Opening Drive, Week 7, 2011"

Let’s get into the games!

(3-1) Tennessee Titans at
(2-2) Pittsburgh Steelers
This seems like a pretty even match-up… which is really odd to say. But the Steelers defensive line will be missing tackle Casey Hampton and end Justin Smith, so look for the Titans to get Chris Johnson going early and often. I’m not all-in with the Titans, but Matt Hasselbeck could find weaknesses in this Pittsburgh secondary. With Ben Roethlisberger in a boot and Rashard Mendenhall set for limited action, the Steelers could be bent over for the kicking.

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: Week 5, 2011"

3-1 is a great start for a team no one thought would be anywhere near decent.(3-1) Tennessee Titans 31
(2-2) Cleveland Browns 13

WTF is up with Matt Hasselbeck? He looks like he’s 26 again, ready to tell Brett Favre what he’s going to do with the ball in overtime. Only this time he isn’t throwing interceptions. Even without Kenny Britt, the Titans lit up the Browns. Even Chris Johnson got in on the action with a 101-yard day. Welcome to the NFL  season Chris.(4-0) Detroit Lions 34

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 4, 2011"

I‘m not buying them as anything special yet, but they could rise above the scrap heap.(1-1) Tennessee Titans 26
(1-1) Baltimore Ravens 13

I assumed Baltimore would be in for an emotional letdown, but I wasn’t expecting them to lose to the Titans. Especially by letting Matt Hasselbeck wreck them for 358 yards through the air. Poor showing Ravens.(2-0) Washington Redskins 22

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 2, 2011"

Again.)
2010 Record: 6-10
2011 Prediction: 10-6

Tennessee Titans 

Let’s get this straight Titan fans, Matt Hasselbeck is not going to save your season. He’s going to hand it off to the “finally paid like he’s worth” Chris Johnson until Jake Locker gets to step in and sling it to the always arrested Kenny Britt. Aside from the aging Nate Washington, there’s no one to throw the ball to! Johnson gets to run behind an aggressive offensive line, with a talented left tackle in Michael Roos. Drafting linebacker Akeem Ayers goes a long way to shoring up their run defense, and Tennessee always manages to rush the passer, no matter who is at the end position. As with so many teams though, their defense just won’t be good enough to overcome their offensive liabilities. If Chris Johnson has a bad day, so do the Titans. I predict a disappointing start to the post-Jeff Fisher era.

Continue reading "Joe's 2011 NFL Season Preview: The AFC South"

In the last major week of preseason action for Chicago Bear starters, the signs of progress were clear. Even in a 14-13 loss to the Chris Johnson-less Titans, Bear fans finally saw a glimmer of hope for the coming season. Here are my takeaways from Saturday’s exhibition:

Continue reading "What I learned from the Bears' preseason ..."

Here’s what I’ll be looking for from tonight’s match-up with the Tennessee Titans.

Will Roy Williams catch a f*****g ball this preseason?

No seriously. Will he? I need to see the Bears’ newest receiver make an impact and form some sort of rapport with Jay Cutler or else the rumors of his quick demotion in favor of Johnny Knox are sure to come true in a hurry. Word from camp is that he’s been less than impressive and is slow to catch on in an offense that is very similar to what he excelled in during his Detroit days. Step up Roy.Major Wright: Major Mistakes?

Continue reading "Joe's 2011 Preseason Gameday Preview: ..."

Their defense McBlows.

Tennessee Titans

My prediction: 9-7
What actually happened: 6-10
My result: ***

Um… almost nothing good happened in Tennessee this year. Jeff Fisher and Vince Young are out and the team is going to have to rebuild starting at the quarterback position once again. Kerry Collins stop-gap anyone?

Continue reading "How Much I Effed Up: The 2010 AFC Edition"

Moving on!(6-9) Tennessee Titans at
(9-6) Indianapolis Colts

Flexed to the afternoon slot, Peyton Manning welcomes in the Titans for a must-win. As rough and tumble as these games are, I just can’t see Manning stumbling against a team he sees twice a year. Next!(5-10) Dallas Cowboys at

Continue reading "Joe's 2010 NFL Opening Drive: Week 17"

 

(6-6) Indianapolis Colts at
(5-7) Tennessee Titans

What a battle of losers. The Colts have dropped three straight while the Titans have lost five in a row to set up a make-or-break divisional game in Tennessee tonight. To win puts the Colts right behind Jacksonville with another meeting to be had, but the Titans are just trying to inch closer to .500 ball. There’s going to be a few interesting match-ups to look out for tonight. The Colt defense, noted for being soft against the run, gets Chris Johnson in the midst of a slight slump. However, the Indy speed on defense may be able to keep CJ in check better than they have against other runners.

Continue reading "Joe's Thursday Night Quickie: Colts at Titans"

why Marvin Lewis should get fired.

Getty Images

(7-5) Jacksonville Jaguars 17
(5-7) Tennessee Titans 6

So… I think it’s time to take the Jacksonville Jaguars seriously. Well, at least semi-seriously. They absolutely thumped the Titans by running it straight at them with Maurice Jones-Drew, who is quietly having a phenomenal season. Embarrassing a Jeff Fisher run defense is never east, but the Jags found a way and are rewarded with sole possession of the AFC South lead.

Continue reading "Joe's 2010 Final Drive: Week 13"

li doesn’t commit turnovers, the Giants can beat anyone.

(5-6) Houston Texans 20
(5-6) Tennessee Titans 0

I don’t care about the game. What I do care about is the wicked awesome fight in the fourth quarter between professional annoyance Cortland Finnegan (the NFL’s Ron Artest) and Andre Johnson. Johnson simply wailed on Finnegan with three solid punches. They only got fined $25,000 each however, a weaker penalty than I would have liked. While I can appreciate their tenacity, I don’t believe the NFL wants street fights erupting on the field.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 12"

(5-5) Washington Redskins 19
(5-5) Tennessee Titans 16

More significant than the result is the status of Titan QB Vince Young, who showed his petulance yet again on Sunday, verbally sparring with Jeff Fisher after the loss. Young had torn a ligament in his thumb, after which Fisher benched him, much to the chagrin of Young, who reportedly tossed his shoulder pads/jersey in the stands. Whether his thumb needs surgery or not, I can’t see Young with the Titans after this season.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 11"

right?

(5-4) Miami Dolphins 29
(5-4) Tennessee Titans 17

Miami went through three quarterbacks and a glut of wildcat plays, but they managed to keep their season afloat with a win. How bad do you feel for Chad Pennington though? Dude gets injured on his first play. There should be some sort of rule about hitting back-ups right away. It's just sad when they go down.

Continue reading "Joe's NFL Final Drive: Week 10"

Anything else would be ridiculous.

(5-3) Tennessee Titans at
(4-4) Miami Dolphins

This just screams loss if you're a Dolphins fan. Your team is at home, where they're 0-4 after losing to better teams, which Tennessee certainly is. Chad Pennington is starting his first game of the year against a Titan defense that rails on opposing QB's. Oh yeah, and Randy Moss is playing his first game for Tennessee... so there's that. Good luck!

Continue reading "Joe's 2010 NFL Opening Drive: Week 10"

s with Green Bay. Still, I'll give the Jets the edge the edge in this marquee match-up

(5-2) Tennessee Titans at
(2-5) San Diego Chargers

Don't ask me why I've still got games involving the Chargers and Vikings in the Opening Drive this week. The schedule is that weak. I expect Tennessee to run all over the San Diego defense, giving Vince Young a smooth transition back into the starting line-up. San Diego's already out of the hunt as far as I'm concerned and I don't see them going on a tear like they have in years past. They just don't have the talent.

Continue reading "Joe's 2010 NFL Opening Drive: Week 8"

With all of these un-met expectations, can Marvin Lewis save his job?

(5-2) Tennessee Titans 37
(4-3) Philadelphia Eagles 19

Well Kevin Kolb lost a game. I guess that means it's okay to go back to Michael Vick at quarterback, right? Jeff Fisher's Titans didn't play their typical game, only getting Chris Johnson 66 yards, but Kenny Britt's 225 yard outing is huge for a team struggling to find a deep threat. Now they have a receiver to go with CJ out of the backfield. Look out for the Titans.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 7"

Carson Palmer circa 2005, where are you?

(4-2) Philadelphia Eagles at
(4-2) Tennessee Titans

Kevin Kolb gets the start after two solid performances for Andy Reid, ensuring more QB controversy this week whether he plays well or not. The Eagle offensive line gets tested versus a Titan front seven that has been hitting the opposing QB with reckless abandon while their defense gets to see Chris Johnson. Yippee.

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 7"

Now you're even further behind the Atlanta Falcons.

(3-2) Tennessee Titans 34
(1-3) Dallas Cowboys 27

Let's be clear, this loss isn't all Tony Romo's fault. I mean, the guy did pass for over 400 yards. Maybe the Cowboy special teams shouldn't give up a near touchdown late in the fourth? Or perhaps the defense could have decided to hold the Titans to a field goal on just ONE of those touchdowns. Giving up over 150 yards on the ground isn't a recipe for success. And for an awfully predictable Titans offense, they're finding ways to win.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 5"

If Aryan Foster can explode like he did last week, the Giants are in for a rough afternoon.

(2-2) Tennessee Titans at
(1-2) Dallas Cowboys

This might be ugliest, most physical and most penalized game of the weekend. Both squads are undisciplined at times and are large up front. This one will come down to which quarterback can make the least mistakes, and my money is on Tony Romo (as yours should be) to outplay Vince Young. Should be a fun one to watch though.

Continue reading "Joe's 2010 NFL Opening Drive: Week 5"

Matt Ryan wasn't spectacular, but he avoided the big mistakes.

Associated Press

(2-1) Tennessee Titans 29
(1-2) New York Giants 10

This was a sloppy awful perfomance from the New York Giants. Dumb penalties, missed field goals and three ill-timed turnovers cost the Giants dearly despite outgaining the Titans by 200 yards (471-271). Chris Johnson's 125 yards and two scores helped take the pressure off Vince Young, who had to attempt only 16 passes. If Eli Manning can stop throwing ridiculous interceptions sometime soon, maybe the Giants can keep up in the NFC East. I mean, someone's knocking...

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 3"

Here are the games to watch this Sunday!

(1-1) Tennessee Titans at
(1-1) New York Giants

Both teams were embarrassed last week at the hands of the AFC's elite, so this game has to be a bounce-back win for somebody. Look for Chris Johnson to get back on track running the ball against a Giant defense that still hasn't clicked up front. That should keep Vince Young from making too many mistakes. As highly-ranked as the Titan defense is, they haven't gone up against a decent offense yet, beating Oakland and losing to a Roethlisberger-less Steelers. Eli Manning is the best QB they've faced so far.

Continue reading "Joe's NFL Opening Drive: Week 3"

to 0-2 and which ones made the 2-0 leap! Let's get it on!

(2-0) Pittsburgh Steelers 19
(1-1) Tennessee Titans 11

Even after passing for only 21 freaking yards, gaining only 127 in total and losing starting QB Dennis Dixon, the Steeler offense played good enough to win, especially since the Titans decided to hand out seven turnovers. Seven! Jeff Fisher had no choice but to put Kerry Collins in the game to try and spark his offense, but Collins was almost just as horrific. The real trouble for Tennessee was the lack of a running game as Chris Johnson gained a paltry 34 yards. With 3rd QB Dixon out three weeks, Charlie Batch or the newly re-signed Byron Leftwich is the man for the job... until he gets hurt.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 2"

-lines you should keep an eye on as the NFL kicks off! (1-0) Pittsburgh Steelers at
(1-0) Tennessee Titans Tennessee and Pittsburgh are remarkably similar in this week 2 match-up. Both teams work to establish their ground attack while playing tough defense and will start quarterbacks that have the ability to make plays with their legs at any given moment but aren't the most prolific of passers. Chris Johnson may only get one or two opportunities to break long runs against the always-highly ranked Steeler D, so he needs to make the most of them. This just screams low-scoring.  (1-0) Miami Dolphins at

Continue reading "Joe's NFL Opening Drive: Week 2"

this, expect another bad defensive showing this season, leading to major changes in Jacksonville.

Tennessee Titans

Obviously last year's Titans will be remembered for two things: fighting back to finish 8-8 after an 0-6 start (thanks to the return of Vince Young) and Chris Johnson's 2,000 rushing yards. This year's Titans are coming back with three rookie wide-outs in camp, looking for someone to add alongside Kenny Britt, Nate Washington and Justin Gage. Left tackle Michael Roos had a break-out season in 2009, helping Johnson reach the 2,000 yard plateau. 

Continue reading "Joe's 2010 NFL Season Preview: AFC South"

This is how Reid rolls: through the air.

  

(4-2) New England Patriots 59
(0-6) Tennessee Titans 0 

I was so excited to see my first snowy game of the year, but I got this ugly blow-out instead. I don’t care what Jeff Fisher says, the Titans gave up in this one. And who could blame them? It was 45-0 by halftime! The fact the Patriots didn’t get to 70 should be a moral victory for them even after Belichick brought in the back-ups. I think it’s safe to say Tom Brady is back. 

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 6"

rn things around expect a clean sweep of the coaching staff at the end of the season. 

(0-5) Tennessee Titans at (3-2) New England Patriots 

This is the last week you’ll see Kerry Collins starting for the Titans. When they lose to New England, they’ll be 0-6 and just looking for a spark on offense. Just like last week, Vince Young will probably fund his way into this one by the end if the score is out of hand. The Patriots may be having more issues than we expected this season, but they won’t give the Titans their first win. Tom Brady will dissect a secondary missing its two starting corners. Oh yeah, Junior Seau has un-retired again, without the Favre-like hooplah. 

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 6"

el sick.

 
Stop wearing the damn hoodie! 

(5-0) Indianapolis Colts 31
(0-5) Tennessee Titans 9 

Oh Peyton Manning, you’ll never fail me. As I said, this one was over by halftime thanks to a 93-yard, 47 second touchdown drive to end the second quarter. Even with early Colt turnovers, the win never felt in question. Tennessee brought Vince Young into the game in the fourth quarter, and I think they should start him against the Patriots in week six. You have to see what Young can do in a big game against a good team.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 5"

n the game of the weekend.

 
Happy times in Denver. 

Indianapolis Colts (4-0) at Tennessee Titans (0-4) 

Two teams at opposite ends of the AFC South will face off on Sunday night. Peyton Manning is MVP of the first four weeks, (alongside Drew Brees I say) leading his Colts to a 4-0 start yet again with his aerial assault. Tennessee is a disaster, with a porous secondary and middling pass rush. That spells death from above for the Titans on NBC. This one could be over by halftime.

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 5"

 
Seriously. Don't touch him. 

(2-2) Jacksonville Jaguars 37
(0-4) Tennessee Titans 17 

Um, what teams were on this field? David Garrard threw like the QB that earned his massive contract and Mike Sims-Walker is turning out to be the Jaguars’ best receiver. In Tennessee, things are a mess. Their defense is crumbling after the loss of Albert Haynesworth. If they lose to Indianapolis next week (and they should) and fall to 0-5, look for Vince Young to take over for Kerry Collins. Even if its not Collins’ fault, the team needs a spark.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 4"

ing one of the best QB’s in football.

(1-1) Houston Texans    31
(0-2) Tennessee Titans 24

I told you they needed this game, but that didn’t stop the Titans from giving up 357 yards passing and 4 touchdowns to Matt Schaub. After holding down the Steeler offense, Tennessee’s defense looked lost without Albert Haynesworth. Even Chris Johnson’s near 300 yards of offense couldn’t save them. Texans could be on the rise, but give it a week or two, then pass judgment.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 2"

doses of both teams’ running attacks.

Just stay down Jake.

Houston Texans (0-1) at Tennessee Titans (0-1)

In this AFC South contest, the Titans may need a win more than any team this week. The Texans are used to being mediocre, but Jeff Fisher’s squad is coming off a season with a 13-0 start. Falling to 0-2 behind the Texans and Colts would dig them a shallow but ugly hole.

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 2"

It's time for the return of the Opening Drive!

Tennessee Titans at Pittsburgh Steelers

In the Thursday night season opener, we get what should have been last season’s AFC Championship match-up. The eventual Super Bowl winner Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to make another deep postseason run, and they’re talented enough to do it. Running back Rashard Mendenhall is back after spending most of last year on IR with a shoulder injury. During this campaign he’ll begin to see more carries each week as an eventual successor to Willie Parker. Ben Roethlisberger may still have a lot on his mind, but beating the Titans on national TV may cure what ails him. (For now anyway.)

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 1"

w we got here with a look at last weekend’s action in the Final Drive.

Baltimore Ravens 13, Tennessee Titans 10

In a score reversal of their regular season meeting, the Baltimore Ravens imposed their will upon the top-seeded Titans. Despite being dominated in almost every statistical category, the Ravens found a way to win. Their defense created three Titan turnovers, all of which were in Raven territory, stopping drives that at least would have ended in field goals. In two post-season outings, the Ravens have forced the two best teams in terms of turnover differential (Dolphins 1st, Titans 2nd)   into eight giveaways. Cautious not to make mistakes, Joe Flacco and the offense never turned it over, opting instead to punt it eight times and win the field position battle. It turned out to be the formula for success against Tennessee. Well, that and knocking rookie sensation Chris Johnson out of the game. Johnson left late in the first half with an ankle injury and never returned. He was the focal point of the Titans offense, racking up 72 rushing yards on only 11 carries and catching a 28 yard pass from Kerry Collins. After his departure, Tennessee had no luck on the ground, and their only threat came from wide-out Justin Gage, who apparently was saving himself for the playoffs. This loss spotlights the need for more playmakers in Tennessee, because their offense as it stands is too predictable. Collins is not the answer at quarterback, their receivers are well-below average, and their running game can’t support them against great defenses. Baltimore gets to move on in the playoffs, buoyed by John Harbaugh’s fantastic coaching job and Flacco’s ability to manage the game. Now they get Pittsburgh for a third time this season. Congratulations.

Continue reading "Joey A's Final Drive: Divisional Round"

I get you ready right here, right now. 

Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans, CBS, Saturday 4:30 PM (ET)

Week five’s meeting between the Titans and Ravens was a defensive struggle, with Tennessee winning 13-10. Kerry Collins was a mere manager of the game while rookie Joe Flacco was finding his way early in his first season as a pro. This time around things are much different, as Collins has proved his ability to fling it when necessary and Flacco has completed his first regular season in impressive fashion. There are plenty of similarities between these two squads. They both feature a strong dose of running the ball on offense while stopping the run on defense, and their rankings in those categories correlate. Baltimore ranks 4th in rushing and 2nd in overall defense, while Tennessee ranks 7th in both. Each team’s passing game is suspect (Tennessee is at 27, while Baltimore sits right behind at 28), so there won’t be too many plays to be made through the air. I may trust Collins more than I trust Flacco, but the Ravens defense is too scary to ignore. Honestly though, can I really pick a rookie head coach in John Harbaugh over the wily veteran Jeff Fisher? This one is a “pick-em.” You can’t go wrong either way. Just sit back and watch a game that is sure to hearken back to the league’s olden days.

Continue reading "Joey A's Opening Drive: Divisional Round"

  Drew Brees won the AP Offensive Player of the Year award.  I can’t argue with that pick.  Anytime you come within a deep out route of Dan Marino’s single season passing record, you can be the Offensive POY.Mike Smith was Coach of the Year.  I can’t argue there either.  Any of the successful rookie head coaches, Smith, Sparano, and Harbaugh, could have won this award.  Smith had the toughest situation before the season started and led the Falcons to the playoffs.  The Patriots franchised Matt Cassell.  That was a no-brainer.  Sure, on the surface, $29 million next year for two quarterbacks seems steep.  But the salary cap is going up about $28 million next year.  Take away the $14 million they are giving Cassell and this still have about $14 million more to spend next year than they did this year.  They sure up the most important position on the offense.  Plus, if they trade him they get a 1st and 3rd round pick.  Who knows, there may be a team out there that is only a good QB away from going to the next level.  Hello Buffalo? (And if you think the Pats won’t let Cassell go to Buffalo talk to Lawyer Milloy or Drew Bledsoe.)Did you see Lil’ Wayne on 1st and 10 on ESPN2?  When I heard he was going to be on I set-up the DVR because I had to watch.  Get this….he was really good.  He knows his sports.  His points were lucid and made lots of sense.  He made some statements that were bold and polarizing, which is what you want out of a talking-head.  I must say this though.  Skip Bayless said he loves Lil’ Wayne’s music and thinks Tha Carter III is Weezy’s Purple Rain.  Am I to believe Bayless really listens to hip-hop?  No offense Skip, but you are probably most buttoned up lily white person on ESPN’s roster.  If you’re not, you are in the team photo with Woody Paige and Marty Smith. 

Continue reading "Quick Hits and Playoff Week 2 Picks"

When I was a sophomore in high school playing on the JV basketball team, we went into our Christmas break undefeated and feeling pretty good about ourselves. Over the break we were scheduled to play one game against a team from the division below us. We practiced a few times, nothing too serious, and went into the game feeling good. But the week and a half layoff killed us and we lost by four, our only loss of the season.

Continue reading "Picks for the NFL weekend"

So, evidently Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson is surprised he isn’t the Offensive Rookie of the Year. 

I don’t have the exact quote, but he said something like, “I found out yesterday that I am not the ROY.” 

Continue reading "Chris Johnson and the Rookie of the Year"

Than came Week 15 against rivals Tennessee Titans at home. A Texans fan couldn't seriously think the Texans had much of a chance against the first place Jeff Fisher coached team.

However, Kerry Collins had a bad day as he missed left and right and the Texans defense played and chipped away at the Titans offense the entire game. The Titans could have taken the lead late in the game with a 50 yard field-goal, but coach Jeff Fisher decided to go for it on a 4th and short. Titans drew up a passing play, but the Texans forced a incompletion. Fisher said the wind made him change his mind about having Bironas kick the field goal. Texans escaped with a narrow 13-12 victory. A close win, but a gigantic one at the same time!

Continue reading "Still Important"

d at Texas Stadium.

Winners - Dallas Cowboys

3) Pittsburgh Steelers @ Tennessee Titans

With a win in this game, the Pittsburgh Steelers would edge the

Continue reading "NFL Week 16 Predictions"

ir offense will not explode against a stout Dallas defensive front.

Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3) at Tennessee Titans (12-2)

In the first battle for conference supremacy, Pittsburgh and Tennessee are going to bring the pain and leave the noise at home. Pittsburgh has won five in a row thanks mostly to Roethlisberger’s late-game heroics. If they can pull out the victory over the Titans, they face Cleveland in their season finale, making it a strong possibility that they will claim home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. With Tennessee losing two of their last four, a win would propel them right back to the top of the heap, dispelling all of the problems of the past few weeks. Kerry Collins requires a solid running game behind him in order to lead his team to victory and the number one seed.

Continue reading "Joey A's Opening Drive: Week 16"

; playoff chances after being in the driver’s seat only a few weeks ago.

Houston Texans 13, Tennessee Titans 12

A fourth-quarter decision by Titans head coach Jeff Fisher to go for it on fourth down instead of letting All-Pro Rob Bironas kick a 49 yard field goal may cost his team the number one seed in the AFC. Into the wind or not, Bironas had made four field goals already on Sunday and should have been called on to give his team the lead. Next week the Titans get a rolling Steelers squad who play the same smash-mouth type of football. Houston has surged late this season, winning their last four contests. Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, and Steve Slaton are cornerstones of an explosive Texan offense that is no longer the laughing stock of the AFC South. With winnable games against the Raiders and Bears left on their schedule, a 9-7 record is not out of reach for Texas’ second team.

Continue reading "Joey A's Final Drive: Week 15"

A 1-point win never seemed so mammoth.

Yesterday the Houston Texans defeated the Tennessee Titans 13-12 in front of a jam-packed crowd at Reliant Stadium. With the win the Texans evened their season record at 7-7 and recorded their first 4 game winning streak in franchise history. Playoff chances have been done for weeks, but the Texans are still playing tough and like a team with a lot on the line.

Continue reading "Not This Time"

(You didn’t miss much.)

Tennessee Titans 47, Detroit Lions 10

The Titans logged 21 points in the first quarter off of two Chris Johnson runs and an interception return for a touchdown. They added two Lendale White rushing touchdowns in the second quarter, ending this game at halftime. Detroit was never in this game, as is expected from a team who is 0-12. Daunte Culpepper was average at best, but was never helped out by a Detroit running game that only totaled 23 yards. Tennessee ran over the Lions, racking up 292 yards on the ground. This blowout served as evidence for those who think Detroit should not be allowed to host games on Thanksgiving. Also, CBS’ Phil Simms should not be allowed to commentate on nationally televised games, period.

Continue reading "Joey A's Thanksgiving Day Recap"

Let’s get to the best of week twelve in this edition of the Final Drive!

New York Jets 34, Tennessee Titans 13

The balance of power has shifted in the AFC. The Jets are flying high on a five-game winning streak, the latest of which coming against the formerly undefeated

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;s week twelve in the NFL, and it’s previewed right here, right now.

New York Jets (7-3) at Tennessee Titans (10-0)

Giving the Titans their first loss of the season would go a long way in establishing the Jets as a heavy-hitter in the AFC and give them breathing room in a constricted AFC East race. Brett Favre may be given a lot of the credit for their turn-around, and he obviously deserves a portion of it. The bulk of their success should be attributed to their ferocious defense, which is exponentially improved from last season.

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This season goes down as a vast disappointment for Norv Turner and his squad.

Tennessee Titans 24, Jacksonville Jaguars 14

Jeff Fisher should find a game on the Titans’ schedule to lose, honestly. Not to a serious contender or a trash heap, but a mid-level team that could use the confidence but can’t do anything with it. We all saw what happened with the Patriots. Tennessee was down in this one early 14-3, but rallied with 21 unanswered to remain undefeated. Kerry Collins has been called on to win games, and he has delivered expertly. Vince Young wouldn’t have been able to do that. That's all I'm sayin'.

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top 5 draft pick!

Titans 24 Jaguars 14

Everything is working for the Tennessee Titans. They have kept their composure all season. Down 14-3 yesterday to AFC South rivals Jacksonville, they bounced back and continued what they've been doing all season: playing great defense, running the ball, passing with accuracy. I really thought the Jaguars would snap the streak at 9. I also thought Green Bay and Chicago had a shot the weeks before. But time and time again the Titans have proved me wrong. This team has the parts to go all the way. It's clearly shaping up to be a Titans/Giants Superbowl, but it's still way to early to predict that far down the road. We still have several weeks of football to be played.

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continues to get more disappointing.

Winners - Indianapolis Colts

2) Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars

The Titans have been the best team in football record wise all year now they take their undefeated record into Jacksonville to take on the 4-5 Jaguars. I've picked the Titans to lose the last two weeks in my yahoo picks, but for some reason my gut is picking them again to lose this week. Now if the Titans win again, I'll have to strangle my gut and put it in a choke hold. A couple of reasons I think the Titans could lose this one: 1) Titans will not go undefeated forever. 2) The Jaguars have had some shaky bumps in the road this season and I think the team will play hard for Coach Del Rio this week against Division opponents Tennessee.

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for the Bears on Sunday, fans naturally felt more relaxed at the prospect of facing the undefeated Tennessee Titans. The Bears forced a three-and-out on the Titans’ opening drive, then took the ball and went 75 yards to the end zone, taking the early 7-0 lead. It’s just too bad they had to play the rest of the game.  

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Lovie Smith and his Bears want to be among the elite in the NFC, their match-up versus the unbeaten Tennessee Titans on Sunday is the perfect opportunity to show it. Jeff Fisher’s Titans have been the most consistent team in the NFL in 2008, winning each week with a combination of hard-nosed defense and an outstanding running game. They are what the Bears often claim to be, but this season Chicago holds down first place in their division because of its passing game, which is in jeopardy due to the loss of Kyle Orton.  

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performs to their potential, the AFC North is far from decided. 

Green Bay Packers (4-3) at Tennessee Titans (7-0)

Pardon me for asking, but isn’t it just a little early to be rewarding Aaron Rodgers with a fairly hefty contract extension? With this new deal, Rodgers will stay in Packers green and yellow until 2014 and will be paid around $11 million a season. Call me crazy, but I prefer to see my quarterback finish one season before I lock up that kind of money. Rodgers has been impressive, no doubt, and he can justify his new money with a mistake-free performance against the unbeaten Titans. It won’t get any harder for the Packers this season, and since the Bears (with whom they share the division lead) face the pathetic Lions, Green Bay could easily fall from first.

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y by a loss, but the win would sure make things easier down the road.

Indianapolis Colts (3-3) at Tennessee Titans (6-0)

So when are the Colts going to right the ship and win the AFC South for the sixth consecutive year? The answer has to be Monday, October 27th versus the

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With everything that is going on in the NFL I am surprised the NFL doesn't fine owners, take away draft pick, or create penalty's for teams that sign these players that don't care about how there

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Donovan McNabb may have to shift into an even higher gear if his Eagles are to play in January.

Tennessee Titans 13, Baltimore Ravens 10

This game was a slugfest, featuring two defensive teams that play smash-mouth defensive football. That being said, it was a questionable penalty that gave the Titans the second chance to win. An awful roughing the passer call against Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs extended a Titan drive, which veteran QB Kerry Collins ensured ended in a touchdown. It was only fair, as two personal foul penalties led to both Baltimore scores. Tennessee should feel pretty good about their ranking after five weeks. Even though they’ll lose eventually, they’ve positioned themselves to hold onto the AFC South, and at the very least are locking into a wildcard berth. The Ravens can’t feel too bad after this tough loss. They’re 2-2, which is probably better than anyone would have predicted, and Joe Flacco is still ironing out his NFL game. He has some rough spots to work through still, but their defense will keep them in most games.

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orn must keep his team on target if they want to rise to 2-1 against their division.  

Tennessee Titans (4-0) at Baltimore Ravens (2-1)  

These teams would appear eerily similar on first glance: their defenses are stout and aggressive, their wide receivers are fairly average, and their quarterbacks need to play safe in the passing game. Look closer and you’ll see the huge advantage the Titans have. Their running backs are just plan outperforming the Ravens’ backfield. Lendale White and Chris Johnson are one of the best tailback combinations in the league, while Willis McGahee can’t stay on the field. That puts the pressure on Ravens second year man Le’Ron McClain and rookie Ray Rice to carry the load. Expect each team to stack eight men in the box to shut down the run until either quarterback makes the defense pay for it.  

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t of the play action pass, which needs a set-up from the running game.

Minnesota Vikings (1-2) at Tennessee Titans (3-0)

Minnesota finally got on the winning track last week against Carolina. Unfortunately, they now have to deal with the buzz saw that is the

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offensive line troubles, which will make their renowned running game more difficult to maintain.

Tennessee Titans (1-0) at Cincinnati Bengals (0-1)

The only reason this stinker is on the l

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Yesterday when I read the short article about how Vince Young's mom came out and said he really did not want to play football anymore as he did not like the negative press he got. Now I guess it is time for me to chime in on this one. First Vince got a nice signing bonus and if he did not want to be booed then just retire and hand back the money of course he will not do that. This is not college football and you cannot hide away forever Vince Young you must be accountable and you threw an interception trust me a lot worse things will happen in your life than a turnover.

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...First, the reality check. You're not quarterbacking the University of Texas anymore and you're not playing in the Big 12 anymore. You're in the pros, where things are SUPPOSED to get tougher. You're big, have a strong arm and have show lots of potential. Suck it up, and you'll be fine.

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elite force in the AFC?  Is this the team that can challenge the Colts to win the division?

Tennessee Titans – After taking a step back last year, can Vince Young take two steps f

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The Tennessee Titans run the ball so much. They usually go through 2 running backs a game and even their quarterback tucks the ball and scrambles around quite a bit. Lendale White is not in the greatest shape, but he makes things happen on the field. He is able to plow through the line and get yardage. His game as well as his stomach is big time. Spelling White this year will be Chris Henry who had a pretty decent year last year. He will have to step it up a bit to aid this offense as the number 2 back, but I don’t think that will be a problem. I am curious to see if the Titans first round draft pick in Chris Johnson out of East Carolina can provide some spark to the running game. He may never see the ball because of the way Vince Young plays. Its simple. Vince Young can’t play well when he throws the ball 40 or more times. Young will run. White will run. Henry will run. This team will try to run their way back into the playoffs.

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*Editor's Note: This piece was written Tuesday night but, due to Internet problems, is being posted just now.

Only the NFL can make headlines with the release of its regular season schedule. Granted, there are only a handful of games for fans to absorb, so the attention given to each week is natural. However, this speaks increasingly to the booming popularity of the league.

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