Colts Shock Titans, Win First Game Of The Season

By: Tyler Ward

Well, there will be no 0-16 team this season. The Colts, at home at Lucas Oil Stadium, shocked the Tennessee Titans (7-7) with their 27-13 win, which marks their first win of the 2011 campaign.

The last time the Colts won was Jan. 2, when they coincidentally beat the Titans in Indianapolis.

Since losing franchise quarterback Peyton Manning for the season after having neck surgery, the Colts talked former Titan Kerry Collins out of retirement, immediately listing him as the team's starting quarterback. However, Collins struggled and was benched just a few weeks into the season.

Indianapolis then handed the starting reins to Curtis Painter, a former Purdue quarterback, who had held Manning's clipboard since arriving in the NFL. He would openly struggle after head coach Jim Caldwell named him the starter and was benched after horrendous starts against New Orleans, Atlanta and Jacksonville. Painter was benched in favor of Dan Orlovsky  -- who was on the 2008 Lions 0-16 squad -- after their loss against the Carolina Panthers after throwing two key interceptions in the endzone.

Orlovsky, who had never won an NFL game, almost led the Colts to an amazing comeback against the Patriots two weeks ago after throwing for a career-high 353 yards. The Colts would lose the following week to the Ravens after Orlovsky was anything but spectacular.

However, entering Sunday, there was an aura in the air in Indianapolis and many fans felt that Sunday was their best opportunity to win a game this season. And they did, failing to become the second team in NFL history to go 0-16 in a season -- something current Colts linebacker Ernie Sims and Orlovsky were apart of.

The Colts jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on an Adam Vinatieri 47-yard field goal -- the first time they had led a game in the last nine weeks. The lead didn't last long, as Titans kicker Rob Bironas kicked two field goals in the second quarter to give the playoff-hopeful Titans a 6-3 lead at halftime.

Tennessee received the ball to start the second half with the Colts quickly forcing them to punt. Titans rookie Tommie Campbell got called on an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the play, giving the Colts the ball at the Titans' 43-yard line.

The 0-13 Colts quickly drove down the field in seven plays, scoring on an 18-yard touchdown reception by Reggie Wayne. That gave the winless team a 10-6 advantage and they would not look back.

Matt Hasselbeck would get intercepted by Jacob Lacey a few minutes later, which was returned 32 yards for a touchdown, the second touchdown of Lacey's career. The Colts held a 17-6 lead and it looked like that they would win their first game in almost a year.

On the ensuing kickoff, Titans returner Marc Mariani tried to field the ball, only it didn't work out to his advantage -- the ball seemingly bounced off his foot and went out of bounds at the Titans' 1-yard line. The Colts forced another punt and running back Donald Brown broke off a 39-yard run that eventually set up a 40-yard field goal by Vinatieri, giving the Colts a 20-6 lead with less than thirteen minutes to play.

Later in the quarter, Hasselbeck was benched in favor of rookie Jake Locker, who saw a good amount of playing time against the Saints last week. Locker would drive the Titans down the field, throwing a 7-yard pass to Nate Washington, their only touchdown of the game with less than four minutes to go. They would only be down seven after the touchdown and it looked like the Titans could make a comeback.

However, on the Colts' following possession, Donald Brown would somehow break off an 80-yard touchdown run, when it seemed like he would suffer a multiple-yard loss. This gave the Colts a 27-13 lead that they would not relinquish and the game would finish with that same score.

Although throwing for just 82 yards in the win, Orlovsky led the Colts to their first win in fourteen games, dating back to last season. Brown, perhaps the game's hero, carried the ball 16 times for 161 yards and that key touchdown at the end of the game that put it away for the Colts.

However, the Titans have no one to blame, but themselves. They committed three costly turnovers in the game, including two interceptions by Hasselbeck -- one in the Colts' endzone by Pat Angerer -- and a fumble by tight end Jared Cook.

Former Seahawk Matt Hasselbeck completed 27-for-40 passes for 223 yards and those two costly interceptions. Chris Johnson acted like his 2011 self, running the ball 15 times for 55 yards. He also caught eight passes for 54 yards.

With the loss, it appears the Titans will not make the playoffs this season -- with the loss, the Steelers will officially make the playoffs, giving the AFC just one seed to fill.

If they had won their last three games, it would look like they would make a playoff appearance. But with their slip-up against Indianapolis, they will most likely be watching the 2011 playoffs from home, with the Houston Texans representing the AFC South in the playoffs.

Tennessee Titans: Ultimate Chris Johnson Highlight

By: Stephen Patterson

A Look Back: Cortland Finnegan Vs. Andre Johnson (On-Field Fight Video)

By: Stephen Patterson

This is definitely one of the better fights in recent memory during a game in the NFL and for that reason I felt it was worth sharing to refresh everyone's memory.

These two jawed back-and-forth for at least two or three plays leading into this confrontation, and as you will see, it was a pretty one-sided affair.

You have to give it to Cortland Finnegan though, his mouth was definitely still working after he took that beat-down.

Jaguars' Complete Ineptitude Continues In 30-3 Defeat

By: Stephen Patterson

Where exactly do you start to break down why the Jacksonville Jaguars continue to be atrociously bad on both sides of the ball? Is it the coaching? The inconsistent (at best) quarterback play? The fact that their defense seems to bleed points left and right? There are almost as many holes in this franchise as there are interceptions in Brett Favres' career. I'm honestly not sure there is a GM in the league that could make this team a legitimate playoff threat in less than three seasons. I'm honestly starting to feel bad for Jaguars' fans, and that's kind of sad considering the Bills and Browns are the only current teams in that category.

Their 30-3 loss at the hands of the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night Football put every single one of their flaws wide out in the open for a nationwide audience to see. The worst part it is, it was a complete and total team effort to reach the levels of horrendously bad play that they displayed tonight. It was a concerted effort from coaches and players alike.

Neither one of their quarterbacks could put points on the board, although some of that blame falls on the shoulders of the horrible effort of their receiving corps with costly turnovers. To put that in perspective, Tim Tebow, the quarterback that dominated the NCAA at nearby University of Florida and overwhelming local fan favorite, scored more touchdowns (1) than both of the Jaguars' current quarterbacks did Monday night against the Titans. David Garrard, knocked out with a concussion in the second quarter, and Trent Edwards, his inept back-up that is one of a very select group that makes Jake Delhomme look like a beast, posted QB ratings of 33.0 and 40.3, respectively.

Maurice Jones-Drew, the only legitimate superstar on the offensive side of the ball for Jacksonville, had a meager 57 yards rushing on 17 attempts for an average of 3.4 yards per carry. To put that one in perspective, Edwards, career full of ineptitude and all, ran with the ball 5 times for 16 yards and an average of 3.2 yards per carry. That's only a 0.2 difference in YPC between the franchises' superstar running back and their back-up quarterback that's only on the roster because he was no longer good enough for the Buffalo Bills. How can you not be good enough for that team? And how do you find a job after being labeled with that title "Not Good Enough For The Bills"? The good news is that MJD is usually much more reliable than this. The bad news is that when he isn't, this team isn't good enough to get within single digits of winning a ball game.

Their receiving corps is also one of the worst in league. Marcedes Lewis is the only real bright spot out of the group. He is already tied for the franchise single-season record for receiving touchdowns (5) by a tight end with 10 games left to play. Even he couldn't be relied upon tonight, however, as he coughed up a fumble at the Titans' 10 yard line late in the first half which Tennessee recovered. Mike Thomas, Mike Sims-Walker, and Tiquan Underwood are the teams best options, although the order is completely up in the air as far as which one is the best among them. Sims-Walker is supposed to be "the guy", but against Tennessee he put up this whooping stat line: 2 receptions (on 8 targets) for 16 yards. That's a very solid effort for a teams' fifth or sixth best receiver, not their top guy. For the season, Jacksonville is tied for 25th in the league in team receptions (88), 26th in team receiving yards (909), and 28th in yards per reception (10.3). Those numbers aren't going to win very many games.

Their defense is just as inept as the offense, only they have a couple more bright spots on their side of the ball. Only seven teams in the NFL have given up more points than Jacksonville this season (137). Those teams? The Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos, and Houston Texans. Not exactly the company you want to be in when it comes to this conversation. Really, almost any conversation, with the exception of Houston, who has a pretty decent team overall with the exception of the horrendously bad secondary. They have been outscored by a ridiculous 96-19 margin in their 3 losses this season to Tennessee, San Diego, and Philadelphia. The only thing close to an upside is the fact they have several relatively young players such as Tyson Alualu, Justin Durant, and Derek Cox who will hopefully continue to improve over the next few seasons.

The fourth quarter of their loss to the Titans exposed Jack Del Rio's poor coaching abilities, as continuously had MJD rush the ball and burn away time while his team trailed by three possessions. It got to the point where the crowd was loudly booing the play-calling as they kept wasting time even as they got into the red-zone and down near the goal-line. When they finally decided to pass the ball, the Titan's knew it was coming and Vincent Fuller ripped the ball from Underwood's hands in the end-zone. While it's understandable Del Rio would want to turn to his best player, that's not exactly the best way to go about erasing a 20 point deficit with less than 10 minutes to go in the game. He is 58-56 since taking over as head coach for the 2003 season and has managed a 1-2 record in the postseason during that time. Toss in the fact that they haven't won the division once, and only came in second twice, and this could easily be Del Rio's last season in Jacksonville if he can't get this team near a .500 finish and out of last place in their division.

Jacksonville has been consistently bad over the past decade, only reaching the playoffs twice and never living up to their expectations. Considering they play in a loaded division with three teams that are clearly better than them at most positions, and one of those teams has a guy named Peyton Manning, I don't think the Jaguars are anywhere near being a contender in their own division, much less in the AFC. I don't think Del Rio or Garrard will be around the next time this franchise sees the postseason, and it could be a very long wait until they are serious threats to get to the Super Bowl. Unless MJD goes off for 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns and the rest of team magically learns how to play football in the next 10 games, don't bank on the Jaguars being anywhere near the playoff picture at the end of the season.

AFC South Preview

By: Tyler Ward and Stephen Patterson

1. Indianapolis Colts (Head Coach: Jim Caldwell)

Key arrivals: CB Deshea Townsend, LB Jerry Hughes (draft), LB Pat Angerer (draft)

Key departures: CB Marlin Jackson, LB Freddy Keiaho, DE Raheem Brock, LB Tyjuan Hagler

TW: Surprisingly, the Colts didn't do much this offseason (like they do every year). But, somehow, the Colts continue to be one of the top teams in the league year in and year out. Peyton Manning, arguably one of the best quarterbacks of all-time, is back for another season and looks to lead the Colts back to another Super Bowl. The Colts are also stacked at wide receiver with Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, and Austin Collie, along with tight end Dallas Clark. They are getting back Anthony Gonzalez, too, so look for Manning to have another 4,000 yard season. However, their running game could hurt them, as they were one of the worst last season. Joseph Addai will look to redeem himself this season and Donald Brown, their first-round draft pick last season, could take over the starting role at some point this season. They lost a lot defensively, but that seems to never really stop the Colts. With young players like Jerry Hughes, Antoine Bethea, Clint Session, and Jerraud Powers, they can have a formidable defense in a few years. The drafting of Hughes can also take pressure off of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, who consistently get double-teamed. The Colts may have some trouble, but I think in the end, they will come out as AFC South champions.

- TW's Prediction: 12-4

SP: The Indianapolis Colts are returning a majority of the players that led them to the Super Bowl last season. While there division is far from weak, there is an extremely good chance they will continue their dominance over the division they have had for a majority of the past decade. With 3-time MVP Peyton Manning again leading the way for this team they will definitely excel once again this season. Their running game is a  little shaky in my opinion, but as long as they are moderately successful then the team should be fine. Their defense may be the only question mark for them, but if they can stay healthy, I expect them to do fairly well this season. Houston and Tennessee are each capable of winning this division if the Colts slip up, but even without taking the division title, Indianapolis will definitely be around in the postseason as long as Manning is playing and healthy. Considering his ridiculously long streak of consecutive starts, I'm pretty sure that's a safe bet to make.

- SP's Prediction: 12-4

2. Houston Texans (Head Coach: Gary Kubiak)

Key arrivals: FB Justin Griffith, CB Kareem Jackson (draft), RB Ben Tate (draft)

Key departures: CB Dunta Robinson, OG Chester Pitts, QB Rex Grossman, S Brian Russell, RB Chris Brown

TW: The Texans could be a sleeper this season - I think Matt Schaub could be a Top 5 QB in the league and will have another 4,000 yard season this season, but I expect him to have more touchdowns. They have the best wide receiver in the league. And with tight end Owen Daniels coming back, he could possibly be due for a 1,000 yard season, like he was last year before landing on the injured reserve list. They are going to need more help from Steve Slaton, who was a fumble machine last season. They drafted Auburn running back Ben Tate in the second round, but it was announced on Monday that Tate will miss the entire 2010 season due to a broken ankle. The Texans are now rather thin at running back and will have to depend on Arian Foster for help on the ground game. Last season, Houston had a winning record for the first time since their inaugural season in 2002. They also potentially have a Top-10 defense in the league with Brian Cushing, DeMeco Ryans, rookie Kareem Jackson and former #1 overall pick Mario Williams. I look for Houston to have the same record as they did last season, but they will definitely be a playoff contender as long as Schaub and Johnson are on the team.

- TW's Prediction: 9-7

SP: The Houston Texans had their first winning season at 9-7 last season and will look to improve upon that this year. With Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson headlining the offense, this team will be absolutely lethal every time they have the ball. If Kareem Jackson can play well and be a solid addition to a weak secondary, the defense will also be once of the best in the division. With Mario Williams, Brian Cushing (who will miss the first four games of the season due to suspension), and DeMeco Ryans leading the way, Houston is very capable of racking up takeaways against almost any team. As long as their secondary can step up and play solid this season, expect to finish with a Top 10 defense in the league. The only problems I have with the Texans are 1) Their running game never seems to turn our, regardless of who they have at the positions and 2) The team seems to have difficulty winning in important games, especially on the road, and often in must-win situations. Even though the team had their best record in franchise history last season, they still fell short of the playoffs. With that being said, I think this team is due for a breakthrough season and with Schaub and Johnson leading the way offensively, along with a solid defense, I expect the Texans to finally reach the postseason.

- SP's Prediction: 11-5

3. Tennessee Titans (Head Coach: Jeff Fisher)

Key arrivals: LB Will Witherspoon, CB Tye Hill, DE Raheem Brock, DE Derrick Morgan (draft)

Key departures: LB Keith Bulluck, RB LenDale White, DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, DE Jevon Kearse, C Kevin Mawae, TE Alge Crumpler

TW: Yes, they have Chris Johnson, who will probably have another big season. But, the one thing that kills the Titans is their quarterback position. Vince Young is a playmaker, but he is not one of those quarterbacks that can lead a team, in my opinion. Like most mobile quarterbacks, Young is inaccurate and will be lucky to complete 60% of his passes. If the Titans want to win games, Young will have to play incredibly well. The Titans also lost out defensively, cutting ties with Kyle Vanden Bosch, along with fan favorites Keith Bulluck and Jevon Kearse. They also cut ties with LenDale White, who didn't have that great of a career with Tennessee - they will probably only miss him when it's a goal line situation. I think the Titans could struggle this year, but will hover around the .500 mark.

- TW's Prediction: 8-8

SP: The Titans definitely made the right decision to get Chris Johnson on the field and avoiding a Revis-like holdout with their best player. Johnson has publicly stated on several occasions that his goal for this season is to rush for 2,500 yards, and while it's extremely unlikely he will accomplish that feat, I do predict he will become the first running back in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 in consecutive seasons. With Vince Young heading into the season as the team's starting QB, Johnson will form a lethal running threat with Young that will certainly help add even more yards to his totals. While Young may have a questionable arm sometimes, he is a very respectable threat on the ground due to his mobility and if he turns the corner and makes a pitch to Johnson in stride... well just hope your team has an outstanding defense or a lucky play. The Titans could still use help in their receiving core, and while Kenny Britt and Nate Washington are fairly solid receivers, they are pretty low on the list compared to some of their AFC counterparts. The Titan's defense will be a big question for them heading into the season after losing Kyle Vanden Bosch, Jevon Kearse, and Keith Bullock. Derrick Morgan, Will Witherspoon,  and Raheem Brock will need to step in for their departures and have an immediate impact for the team on the defensive side of the ball. While I expect some great individual performances for some members of the team, I don't think they will have a very good season overall.

- SP's Prediction: 7-9

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (Head Coach: Jack Del Rio)

Key arrivals: DE/LB Aaron Kampman, LB Kirk Morrison, LB Freddy Keiaho, OG Justin Smiley, DE Tyson Alualu (draft)

Key departures: DT John Henderson, LB Clint Ingram, OT Maurice Williams, LB Quentin Groves, WR Torry Holt, WR Reggie Williams, OT Tra Thomas, DE Reggie Hayward

TW: The Jaguars are on the decline, plain and simple. David Garrard is not the quarterback he was when he threw 18 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Maurice Jones-Drew is their MVP and will more than likely have another great season like he did in 2009. Their receiving game is more than questionable, with Mike Sims-Walker, Mike Thomas, and Troy Williamson being their starting three receivers. They lost Maurice Williams and Tra Thomas to free agency, so their offensive line could be a problem (they did add Justin Smiley, however). Jacksonville also released John Henderson, arguably their best defensive player in franchise history. Their defense is top-half-of-the-league material, but I don't think their offense can keep up. Jones-Drew is a great player, but they're going to have to rely on the passing game throughout some games.

-TW's Prediction: 5-11

SP: Jacksonville consistently fails to live up to expectations, and I don't expect this season will be any different for the franchise. Maurice Jones-Drew is the sole bright spot for this team, and in my opinion, most of the roster needs to be overturned and built around him. If coach Del Rio can't find a way to have this team winning fairly early in the season I expect him to be one of the first coaches to be fired this year. Anything short of .500 by Week 10 will mean his job, in my opinion. He has never been able to bring in the players necessary to compete in a very talented division and they proved it once again by not drafting a new quarterback to replace Garrard, who has clearly shown he is not capable of winning consistently and being the leader this team desperately needs it's QB to be. They could have definitely used an upgrade at the wide receiver position during the offseason, as well, with options including Terrell Owens and Antonio Bryant being available. They have a fairly decent defense, and Aaron Kampman and Kirk Morrison will definitely be solid improvements at the LB position. Sadly, I don't think the defense or MJD can do enough this season to turn it into a winning year and save their coaches job.

- SP's Prediction: 6-10

Chris Johnson Lightens Stance

By: Stephen Patterson

While he is still planning to sit out until he gets a new deal, Chris Johnson has softened his stance on his contract negotiations with the Tennessee Titans. Speaking at the ESPY's last night, Johnson said he would agree to a short term deal to get him back on the field if the team didn't want a long term commitment. If the Titans don't get Johnson back on the field and signed after this, they have to be crazy in my opinion.

Last season, Johnson became just the sixth running back in NFL history to rush for more 2,000 yards in a single season,  and also broke Marshall Faulk's record for all-purpose yards in the process. Johnson has publicly stated that his goal for this season is to rush for 2,500 yards. While it's unlikely his body will allow him to complete the feat, the Titans would now be foolish if they don't come to some sort of agreement with the disgruntled back.

Although most players come off as being selfish or egotistical when they are holding out for a new contract, Johnson has handled his situation very well and hasn't caused any major distractions to the franchise or made any outlandish demands on his new deal. He is arguably the best running back in the NFL and is only due to earn $555,000 this season after his performance last year. Considering playing the RB position takes a huge toll on the body, often leading to shorter careers compared to players at other positions, that's not much money for a player of Johnson's caliber to be earning.

Talks Progressing Between Titans, Johnson

By: Stephen Patterson

The Tennessee Titans are attempting to "sweeten" Chris Johnson's deal in an attempt to get him on the field in time for training camp. Johnson has said for months that he would sit out the 2010 season before he played under his current deal, which has him slated to earn $550,000. While I normally disagree with players sitting out over deals, Chris Johnson is much more valuable to the Titans than what he's being paid.

The Titans have talked about adding around $1 million to Johnson's deal this season, and extending him two seasons with 25% increases over the final two years. While this deal still doesn't fit his production in my opinion, it is a good offer considering he's only played at a high level for two seasons. Until he has been in the league a few seasons playing at the same pace, he probably won't make the money he deserves.

Johnson has definitely been productive for the Titans in his two seasons in the league. He has been selected to two Pro Bowls and started on both occasions. This past season, Johnson became just the sixth back in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season. He also broke Marshall Faulk's record for total yards in a season, racking up an astonishing 2,509 yards. Johnson is also one of the fastest players in the league once he hits the open field, as last season saw Johnson rush for three touchdowns of 85+ yards, more than any other player in NFL history has for their career.

Without Johnson, the Titans would probably be a 4-12 team this season, and getting him back on the field has to be the team's number one priority at this point. With quarterback Vince Young occasionally struggling on the field, Johnson provides the team with a home run threat every time he touches the ball. He also opens up the field a lot more, which in turn helps Young find open receivers much easier. If the Titans can't figure out a solution and get Johnson on the field, expect a very disappointing campaign for Tennessee.

It's Already Been A Year

By: Tyler Ward

Today marks the one year anniversary of Steve McNair's tragic death. It's hard to believe it's already been 365 days and it seems like yesterday McNair was named co-MVP with Peyton Manning.

McNair was shot in Nashville last year - the incident happened near 2nd Avenue South and Lea Avenue in downtown Nashville. The call was placed to police somewhere around 1:35 PM. According to the police, there was no attempt of a robbery or anything of that magnitude. McNair suffered two gunshot wounds in his body and head, with one of the four shots being closer than three feet.

It would be revealed later that McNair had a relationship with 20 year old, Sahel Kazemi. She had a single gunshot wound to the head, and was pronounced dead at the scene. It is not known exactly what happened, but some can only assume that Kazemi was the one who shot McNair, and then turned the gun on herself.

Two days prior to the incident, McNair and Kazemi were pulled over in a 2007 Cadillac Escalade. The vehicle was registered to both of them. Kazemi was charged with a DUI, but McNair was not arrested. He would later go on to bail Kazemi out of jail. On July 6, policed informed the media that the gun that killed McNair and Kazemi was purchased by her after she had been arrested a few nights before.

The Titans held a ceremonial service for McNair at LP Field, commemorating him for what he had done for the city of Nashville. It showed highlights of McNair's career and fans were given the opportunity to sign books that were later given to McNair's family.

He left behind a wife, Mechelle, and four sons: Steve LaTreal McNair, Steven O'Brian Koran McNair, Tyler and Trenton.

McNair was taken 3rd overall in the 1995 draft by the Houston Oilers. He went to Alcorn State, where he set numerous NCAA and Division II records. He played sparingly during his rookie season, but he would soon be the franchise's quarterback.

He achieved many things during his NFL career, and almost upset the St. Louis Rams in the 1999 Super Bowl. The Titans had just moved to Nashville and fell one yard short of winning their first championship ever.

In the 2003 season, McNair was named co-MVP with Peyton Manning, after leading the Titans to a 12-4 record (two of those losses coming against Manning's Colts). The Colts won the division because of their two regular season wins against the Titans. Tennessee would go on to lose to eventual Super Bowl champion, New England. McNair would fail to lead the Titans back to a momentous season, and the Titans allowed McNair and his agent, Bus Cook, to talk to the Baltimore Ravens on a possible trade following the 2005 season. On June 7, he was traded to Baltimore in exchange for a 2007 4th round pick. He did well for the Ravens, but was still never able to win a championship. In April 2008, McNair announced his retirement, following thirteen quality seasons in the NFL.

I'll admit that I wasn't the biggest fan of McNair, but it was sad to see that he had passed. I hated him on the field, but off the field, I respected him and wished him well in his future endeavors after his retirement. It's sad to see anyone die, especially someone that millions of people looked up to.

My heart goes out to the McNair family, as I know they are having a difficult time on this day, which should be a celebration. Steve McNair taught us that if you put your mind to it, you can succeed in this world. Rest in Peace, Air McNair. You are sorely missed and I hope you're looking down on us with that courageous smile.