Titans vs. Jaguars Game Review

The Tennessee Titans slept walk through yet another game as they lost 17-6 to division leading Jacksonville. The Titans now have lost 5 in a row and seem to be intent on handing the playoffs away. The addition of Kerry Collins back to the lineup was supposed to provide a spark for the offense but to now avail. Tennessee hasn’t scored an offensive touchdown in 13 quarters of football now. This doesn’t resemble the team that started 5-2 and had the second leading scoring offense as of week 6.

The Titans are in the midst of a three-game season defining stretch against division foes and have begun that journey by going 0-2 to Houston and Jacksonville. They face the struggling Colts next week at home. The Titans has had chance after chance to take control of the fleeting division with the aforementioned Colts and also the lowly Texans. Jacksonville is the only team that seems to have risen to the occasion.

As for the game itself, The Jaguars dominated the Titans on the ground, out rushing the once vaunted Titans run game 258-57. The Jaguars pinball running back, Maurice Jones-Drew pounded Tennessee for a career high 186 yards on 31 carries. The Jags scored on their first drive, a 12 play 77-yard drive capped with an 11-yard run by Rashard Jennings. The Jags would score again midway through the second quarter as they kept it on the ground again and QB David Garrard scored on a 4-yard run to end a 13 play 57-yard drive that put Jacksonville up 14-0. The Jags would add a FG at the end of the second to make it 17-0 heading in to halftime. Jacksonville dominated the ball in the first half, recording 21 minutes of possession in the half.

The recently diagnosed cancer patient, Mike Hermindinger was relegated to the booth instead of the sidelines and it showed. The Titans struggled all day against the defensive front of the Jags. Kerry Collins would finish the day 14/32 for 169 yards and two interceptions. Chris Johnson didn’t fare much better as he finished his day with 53 yards on 13 carries. The Titans were able to put together a couple of drives in the second half that would lead to a couple of field goals but they could have been much more. On one particular scoring chance in the red zone, Kerry Collins made a low throw to Randy Moss, who wasn’t able to haul it in. Bo Scaife had a chance for a touchdown but forgot to catch the pass before heading to the end zone. The Titans wouldn’t even get on the board until the third quarter but this game was never much in doubt as Jacksonville physically dominated the Titans for the entire afternoon. Maurice Jones-Drew repeatedly ran over the defense, including a couple highlight reel stiff arms on Cortland Finnegan and a vicious one at the end of the game on safety Michael Griffin. “They ran it and we didn’t stop it, and they stopped our run and that was the difference in the ballgame.” said Coach Jeff Fisher.

I see a team that didn’t show up and looks to be in total disarray at this point. The drama that is surrounding them is well noted. Maybe mentally and physically the team is tired. No team in the league has had to deal with as much off the field problems as the Titans and it seems to be taking toll. As I wrote in an earlier column, this team had but two directions to go after the Young-Fisher fiasco and it seems that have trended downward instead of up. This was a key stretch that was going to define their season as all three division opponents traveled to LP field. The division was and still is up for grabs this year with the way it has played out. I have a lot of questions for this team. Why hasn’t Randy Moss been able to be more of an effective weapon? Why has Chris Johnson averaged 30 yards the last two games? Has this team given up on Coach Jeff Fisher?

This much is for sure with the Titans. They are now 5-7 after starting 5-2. They still have a shot at the division crown as they are just two games back of Jacksonville with four to play. The game next week against the Colts will feature two desperate teams that need a win to stay in the thick of the race. Peyton Manning has been struggling and has 11 interceptions in his last 3 games. He had four against Dallas this week alone. If there was ever a time catch the Sheriff while his pistol was down, the time would be now. If the Titans can somehow get out of the funk they have been in. Once again let’s hope for the best as the Tennessee still has heartbeat but its beating very softly at this point.



Game Notes: The Titans and Jags split the season series. The Titans had won six of the last eight in the series. The Titans were held to a season low in ball possession as they held the ball for just 20 minutes and 6 seconds.

Sportaholic NFL Power Rankings Week 10

After all the games on Sunday, I think the best performance came on Monday night. In the speed drill demolishing of the Washington Redskins 59-28, Micheal Vick was almost flawless. His stat line is mind-boggling, he completed his first 10 passes and finished 20 for 28 for 333 yards with four touchdowns. Vick also ran eight times for 80 yards and two scores and now and he also moved into second all-time for rushing yards by a QB. The numbers don't even do this game justice. This was a Monday night massacre. Most casual fans probably turned the channel by halftime. Vick and the Eagles were just dominant in every phase of the game.

Vick's pocket presence now is unbelievable. He throws with pinpoint accuracy in the pocket and on the move. Vick is the most dangerous weapon in the NFL right now. How do you stop a guy who runs in the 4.2, 4.3 range, can drop a pass into tight coverage, can throw on the run, and has playmakers like Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin? (Both have at least 4.3 speed, Jackson maybe 4.2) The answer to that question is you don't. And with the NFC wide open this year, the Eagles have as good a chance as any team to come out of the conference. Vick gives them a transcendent star, one that no one has ever seen on the football field. He has finally has combined his freak athleticism with the ability to read and dissect coverage. This is what everyone envisioned when he was drafted out of Virginia Tech. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned but after his jail sentence, it seems Vick has finally taken his game to the next level. NFL be on lookout because the ultimate weapon will be coming to a town near you.

Now for the power rankings:

1.New York Jets (7-2) - This is simply by default. The two teams I had ahead of them both loss. The Jets are just beating the teams they are suppose to, albeit if its closer than it should be. The Jets seem to lack focus at the beginning of game and turn it on in the end to win. You can do that with the likes of Detroit and Cleveland but you can't do that against good teams. Mark Sanchez has to be commended on his performance. He gutted out the win with a bad calf. Santanio Holmes's grab in OT was all about sheer will as he took it to the house. And Rex Ryan don't you ever do this again: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1011/did-you-see-that-1112/content.6.html

2.New England Patriots (7-2) - So they go and get clobbered by the Browns and turn around clobber the Steelers? That's just the kind of unpredictable year it has been in league. Tom Brady was just masterful against the Steelers D, going 30/43 for 350 yards and no INTS. You just don't see those type of numbers against Pittsburgh. It's the first time in a long time I actually felt sorry for them. Brady had it all working and was throwing lasers all over the field. The 19-yard TD pass to Rob Gronkowski pretty much summed up the night for the Steelers. Pittsburgh scored a few garbage time touchdowns but the game was never really in doubt. Brady and the hoodie just has the Steelers number.

3. Philadelphia Eagles (6-3) - That was just a scary good performance from the Eagles last night. They are the fastest team in the league and seem like they could field a track team if they wanted to. With Vick they are the best team in the NFC. Yeah, I said it. If their defense can at least give them decent play, I see no reason why that can't make a Super Bowl run.

4. Atlanta Falcons (7-2) Yet another team that I have been resisting to put in the rankings, but they showed in defeating my previously top ranked Baltimore Ravens, that have what it takes. Matt "Matty Ice" Ryan is the real deal. The guy is 17-2 at home and if they could find a way to get home-field advantage in the playoffs, they will definitely be a factor. Roddy White has finally stepped up on a consistent basis and is making his claim as one of the best receivers in the game. What is up with the NFC south division? Can't anyone win the division two straight years for once please? I'm looking at you New Orleans Saints.

5.Baltimore Ravens (6-3) - The top team from last week, the Ravens are a bit of an enigma to me. They have a offense that should be better than they have shown thus far. The defense still has that reputation of the last few years but that no longer needs to apply to them. As I watched the Thursday night game, I remember saying to myself "This isn't that great intimidating Ravens D anymore" Matt Ryan and Roddy White just undressed their secondary. Ed Reed can say they gave that one away all he wants, the fact of the matter is that the Ravens offense is now better than its defense. Just don't tell Ray Lewis I said that.

Other News and Notes from the around the league:

Its getting real Chilly in Minnesota - You could just tell this was going to be an epic fail of a game for the Vikings, and that's exactly how it turned out. After arguing and bickering the whole week, with anonymous sources saying the likes of " I hate playing for him" and the always popular " I know he doesn't have my back so why should I have his", the Vikings imploded on Sunday. The Vikes now stand at 3-6, as Brett looks older with each passing game and his body is breaking down in sections (Ankle, Jaw and now shoulder), Percy Harvin continues to have concussion and migraine issues, and the team has mutiny written all over it. What a sad waste of Brett last season. I just don't see how this team can make the playoffs with so much negativity surrounding them.

Garrett's great debut - So how bout them Cowboys? I've been wanting to say that all season and finally have a reason. Jason Garrett was handed the keys to the team and looks to have way more control than Wade "Aw Shucks" Phillips had. They actually played with a sense of urgency, something that has been on a milk carton in Dallas. I won't jump to far with this but to me it just goes to show you what good coaching and player accountability will do for your team. Garrett is demanding his players be great and expects nothing less from himself. He has to win at least 5 games in my opinion to have the interim title removed. All in all good win and Garrett now has as many wins as Phillips did this whole year.

The Jags get the last laugh - The funniest part about that Hail Mary pass is the way it was set-up for Jacksonville. It was just a bad series of events for the Texans. Houston took over the ball with 1:33 left in the game. Matt Schaub was able to get them down to the Jags 40 with 22 seconds left and he spiked the ball. This is the point where tight end Joel Dreessen made two critical mistakes that help set up the Jaguars' winning play. He was called for a false start that pushed the Texans back to their 45 and then Dreessen caught an eight-yard pass, and promptly fumbled.

If he doesn't fumble than the clock more than likely would have run out. The Texas would have been able to run a few more plays and at worst take it to overtime but as it stood the Jags got the ball on 34 yard line. Houston decided to play soft coverage and allowed an 11-yard pass to Marcedes Lewis. A (for lack of better word) stupid offsides penalty by the Texans Antonio Smith placed the ball at the midfield. From there David Garrard was able to launch a pass in the end zone and instead of catching the ball or batting it AWAY from the offensive player, Glover Quin knocks it right into the hands of Mike Thomas for the TD catch. End of game. The game was an important one too as it put the Jags ahead of the Texans in the division. What a way to lose.