Titans Bye Week Makes for Eventful NFL
Hey all…this is Sports Producer Nathan…
Yes, the Titans may have had a much needed bye this week, but that didn’t mean the rest of the NFL took the week off. In fact, this was one of the more exciting game days that I can recall.
In case you missed it, the last two teams to play to a scoreless tie back in 2002 came close to equalling that feat today, but Michael Vick was just too much as he led the Falcons past the defending Super Bowl Champion Steelers 41 to 38. Vick threw for a career high four touchdowns, and “old man” Morten Andersen kicked a game winning 32 yard field goal. Andersen is the second-oldest player in NFL history. Meanwhile, Ben Roethlisberger could only stand on the sidelines and shake a towel in support of his teammates after he was knocked out of the game in the third when he was struck in the head while being tackled.
If that game wasn’t enough, the Eagles lost for the second week in a row, and once again to a team they probably should have defeated. Last week, it was John Carney hitting a 31 yard field goal as the Saints beat Philly. This time, it was Matt Bryant (who???) doubling that distance with a 62 yarder-the third longest in NFL history-for the victory as time expired.
Wait, we’re not done yet…Kansas City wasn’t expected to compete with San Diego, but the Chiefs built a 27 to 13 lead into the fourth quarter before coming out victorious 30-27. Former rugby kicker Lawrence Tynes nailed a 53 yarder with six seconds left.
Needless to say, it was an eventful weekend in the NFL, not to mention the Bengals hanging on to beat the Panthers, or the Raiders getting their first win over a hapless Arizona Cardinals squad.
With winter approaching, there’s nothing better than sitting at home and watching such wonderful football action. That’s not to mention World Series Game 2 tonight in Detroit. Happy tv watching! By the way…go Cards…St. Louis that is.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS………
I gotta say, Friday night is my favorite night of the week to work, especially during football season. Nothing, I mean nothing beats getting out and covering high school football.
Sure to some, they could care less that we devote 5 miinutes on Friday night to high school football, but to a lot of parents and grandparents and uncles and aunts, and especially the players and coaches, Friday night means everything to them.
Went out to the Friendship Christian vs. Trousdale County game Friday night. FCS is located near Lebanon and a little drive from Nashville. But once I got there, the place was packed, the stands were packed, people standing all along the fence line just to see the game. The smell of hamburgers was everywhere, being cooked on the grill, the bands playing non-stop, just a great atmosphere on a Friday night.
And that scene is played over and over at hundreds of schools around the state, the south and the country every Friday night. Sure we get caught up covering the Titans and the Predators and Vandy, but every Friday getting out to cover high school football is such a welcome transition. The kids, the coaches, have true passion for playing on Friday night and it always shows.
Collins a True Pro
Spoke with Kerry Collins this week and I have to say this guy is the epitome of an old school professional. Collins was thrown into a fire covered in gasoline earlier this year and he nearly led the Titans to a season opening win over the Jets and then again in Miami.
I asked him how he was doing and handling his new role as a backup. He says he’s doing everything he can to help this team win. I know that is a cliche, but this guy really means that. He didn’t come here to be the season opening starter, but he was, and he took a lot of flack from the fans and media. He understands that comes with the job description. He also understands his job now is to help mold Vince Young. He may not be the best guy you can think of to mentor a young quarterback, but he sure is doing a great job. Aside from the Dallas loss, the Titans could easily be 2-1 with Vince as the starter. You can tell Vince repsects this guy because of what he’s been through as an NFL quarterback. When you respect someone you can a learn a lot from them.
Oh, and one other thing. Kerry Collins has not complained one second since he’s been in Nashville.
He deserves a tip of the cap.
Chris Stout
Winning Weekend!
What a weekend for sports in Nashville. Vandy knocks off Georgia in Athens, the Preds pick up their first win Saturday night, and then the Titans put the icing on the cake with their first win.
The Titans 25-22 win over the Redskins should get those calling for a house cleaning to chill out. Jeff Fisher has told us for several weeks now that his team is improving. He wasn’t kidding. When a young team can erase an early defecit and then hold off a dangerous offense on the road, good things are coming. This was not some fluke win. This team now knows and believes they can win.
There is still a lot of maturing to do. But this Titan squad showed Sunday it’s going to be a fun ride watching them grow.
Chris Stout
Just win baby!
Nashville needs a win! Just one little win. The Titans are 0-5, the Preds are 0-2. A Titans win certinaly carries a lot more weight than a Preds win in October, but a Preds win tonight in Chicago would taste pretty good for local fans. Most our viewer emails center around losing.
Oh to talk about a win tonight at 10pm! This business of covering professional teams is just as cyclical as any other business. You’ve got to take the good with the bad. But I can tell you it is a lot more fun to talk about a win than a loss. The athletes are happier, the coach is happier, the fans are happier. And let me guess, viewers aren’t going to sit around biting their nails waiting for me to talk about another loss. Most viewers have other stuff to do.
Can the Preds win tonight? You bet. But they’ve got to start playing defense and give Tomas Vokoun some help. If that happens they’ll probably snag their first win tonight.
Can the Titans win in DC Sunday? You bet. If they can somehow manage to play with the same intensity they played with in Indianapolis and execute their game plan they’ll be 1-5 headed into the bye week.
Chris Stout
ASK THE COACH? COLTS 14 TITANS 13
So close yet so far away!
For three and half quarters the Tennessee Titans looked like the might pull off one the most shocking upsets of the NFL season. In the end though Peyton Manning and the Colts offense came alive to break the Titans hearts and keep the squad winless on the year at 0-5.
Sunday’s loss to the Colts is the 7th straight win for Indy over the Titans and the 12th straight win for the Colts over an AFC South foe. Despite the loss, there’s no question this is the best game the Titans have played all year. The defensive scheme shut down the Colts offense for the most part and the running game, behind a 123 yard performance by Travis Henry, looked great.
In his second NFL start Vince Young looked calm and poised capping off the Titans first offensive possession with a 19 yard touchdown run that ended an 88 yard drive. Despite a good running attack, completions through the air were few and far between. Even though it’s a loss, hopefully it’s a sign of things to come.
Jeff Fisher and his Titans will now turn their focus towards the Washington Redskins next Sunday in the nations capital.
If you have a question for Titans Head Coach Jeff Fisher….post your comment below and we will see you Friday Night at 7:00 for Titans On 2!
Don’t forget, if you want to be a part of the taping of the show, come to Buffalo Billiards, Thursday nights, no later than 7 pm. See ya there.
I’m Sorry!
Albert Haynesworth learned a valuable lesson Sunday. It’s too bad that lesson has given the Titans a boat load of bad publicity. What stinks about this foot stomping escapade is that Albert seemed to have turned to corner from spoiled athlete to a solid team leader. His maturation process got slammed into reverse after his actions Sunday.
We will never be able to find an excuse to excuse what he did. I don’t care if Gurode grabbed his male parts and twisted 20 times Sunday. A lot of things happen at the bottom of an NFL pile. But thousands of players before Albert have retaliated during the course of play or at the bottom of the pile after the whistle has blown.
If Albert is really sorry for what he did he should start a foundation for underprivileged kids in Nashville and whatever foundation Andre Gurode would like to start in Dallas.
Chris Stout
ASK THE COACH QUESTIONS DALLAS 45 TITANS 14
Love it or hate it! The future is now and Vince Young will be the starting quarterback the remainder of the season. In his first career start, number 10 looked every bit a rookie. In the first half Vince didn’t do anything to hurt his team, but in a way didn’t do a whole lot to help them either. In the second half that’s where all the rookie mistakes started to show. Two interceptions and a fumble led to 21 points for the Dallas Cowboys giving Vince his first career loss in the NFL and the Titans fourth straight to open up the season.
The game also took a turn for the worst when Titans Defensive Tackle Albert Haynesworth was ejected from the game for kicking Cowboys center Andre Gurode in the face in one of the worst acts seen on an football field in quite sometime. Gurode received 30 stitches on his forehead and below his eye. The league should rule by Wednesday or Thursday on Albert Haynesworth punishment.
It was just another black eye for the Titans in what has been a dismal start to the 2006 season! It’s very easy to see that frustration is mounting and will probably continue until this team can finally gel and at least get one “W” in the win column. If you have a question for Titans Head Coach Jeff Fisher just post your comment below and we will do our best to get it on this friday night.
Titans will win Sunday
Seeing practice and being in the lockeroom this week I’m calling for a Titans win Sunday against the Cowboys. The Titans left Miami with a sour taste in their mouths and I feel it is the perfect recipe for a win Sunday. Another reason I feel they’ll win Sunday is that the lockeroom has been a jovial place this week. When lockerooms are loose, good things happen. Let me also throw in the fact that the Cowboys had a plethora of distractions this week and play at Philly next week(TO’s return to the city that hates him). They probably think they can show up at LP Field and pick up an easy win.
Maybe I’m being too optimistic. And, I’ll be man enough to take the punches if the Cowboys win.
See you Sunday on Sports Xtra at 10:30pm where we go 1-on-1 with Jeff Fisher.
ASK THE COACH QUESTIONS MIAMI 13-TITANS 10
No matter how you look at the Titans 3rd loss in a row to open up the season, it was ugly for both teams. The fact is the Titans had more than enough chances to take this game, but 2 Kerry Collins interceptions, a fumble by Bo Scaife at the Dolphins 2 yard line and a number of penalities, like the one on Pac-Man Jones Punt Return for a Touchdown, kept the Titans from there first victory of the season. The Titans Defense did their part in this game holding the Phins to only one touchdown! No question the offense looked better as the game went along.
Collins threw for 269 yards and connected with Bo Scaife for his 1st Touchdown of the season, but still looked out of sync and behind on throws with a number of his receivers. Travis Henry looked great at times in the first half piling up over 50 yards, but only finished the game with 60 yards on 21 carries!
Just how much longer do the Titans continue with Kerry Collins, thinking he is the best chance for this team to win, before it’s time to let Vince Young take his licks in his rookie season? Number 10 didn’t see the field in Sunday’s loss. Some will argue that the Titans could be 2-1, but they are not! They are 0-3 and 1-12 in road games since November of 2004. If you have a question for Titans Head Coach Jeff Fisher please post a comment below.
