I also like the fact we will be coming in healthy off a bye and they will be coming off what could be a hard fought Monday Night game. The Titans have had a fortunate schedule against teams with a combined record of 12-28 thru sunday with the Jags and Baltimore having the best record of anyone they have faced at 3-3.

Baltimore, in it's own right, has only beaten what amounts to three lousy teams themselves and Jacksonville still has yet to play like many thought they would this year.

I agree that I would like for them to beat Indy although Indy will be fighting for their lives here. If they lose this game the Titans will have to completely fall apart in the second half of the season not to win the division.

In that respect we catch them basically in a letdown spot if they do beat Indy Monday Night. Some here won't agree but I can tell you that the timing of when you catch teams definately makes a difference.

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Oh i definitely agree. This league has talent everywhere. In my personal opinion two things make the difference in win losses.

game plans and urgency. the team with the best of both of those almost always wins. and thats why any team can win on any given sunday. If we come off the bye knowing we need to beat Tennesse and Tennessee comes in feeling on top of the world and virtually locked into a playoff spot.... we have a good shot.

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Tennessee has an outstanding defense and a terrific run game. This will surely be a huge challenge for us. That being said, with the way our corners are playing, I'm confident we can sell out to stop the run and dare Kerry Collins and their sub-par WR corps to try to beat us. We also need to come out fast and get up to an early lead, because they're certainly not built to play from behind.

I think we have a good shot, but it'll be a close one.

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Well, a week ago I thought we'd get stomped by Indy, so maybe I'm not the best guy to ask...

The thing is: we're pretty good against the pass - even without Harris and Bigby - and that's how we beat Indy. Against Tennessee we'll have to stop the run - easier said than done for us so far this year. And the Flaming Thumbtacks have the best defense in the NFL right now.

So... once more it'll come down to the lines of scrimmage. Our o-line will have to slow down their passrush and open holes for Grant, and our d-line will have to stop the run. If we do that, yes, of course we can win.

We've got two weeks to prepare and they'll have a short week coming off a Monday night game that will be very emotional, win or lose. That can only work in our favor.

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i think that last line is key. They are not built to play from behind.

oddly enough neither is Indy. Getting up early on either team is crucial. force your will and be more physical and we got this one.

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Can we beat them... sure, any given Sunday.

Couple things of importance if we want to accomplish this feat..

1) Contain Albert inside.. dude is in a contract year and in my opinion is the defensive player of the year to date.. think Kevin Williams from MN with more girth.

2) We have to play run defense.. we truly need to force this team to pass the rock.. they are the AFC version of the Vikings with a better passing offense.. but that is most definately their weak of the units.

3) You have to get a hat on Bullock.. guy is playing like a larger version of Derek Brooks from a few years ago.. very active in run and pass.. sideline to sideline.

4) Challenge Nick Harper.. Finnegan is a dynamite young pass defender.. plus spread this secondary out.. I think we can expose them if the line can keep Rodgers clean.

5) I know this is taboo.. but this is the one game I earmarked early that is it vital that our pass protection is superb.. This team has a nasty defense.. they will tee off on Rodgers if they get the chance.. This is the game that if Rodgers comes out healthy.. I will breath a sigh of relief.

6) We can't come out flat from the bye week.. if they get a lead in this game.. they are going to pound the rock at us.. we need to jump on them early and be very aggressive out of the gate. This is a bully type team.. if they smell a little timid play.. they will turn up the notch a little.


This is the second best "team" we have played this season.. they are solid across the board.

Measuring stick game.. and one we need to emerge from healthy.

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Beg to differ. Indy may play better from behind than any team in the league. They just couldn't get it done on Sunday...

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ewww. they thrive on jumping out early on teams. Get an early lead and be very physical with the Colts. Thats been the game plan to beat the Colts since Peyton and Dungy have been there.

and it wasn't just Sunday either. Very few teams have beaten the Colts the past few years... but the Pats have owned them and thats exactly how they did it. Scoring first and then grinding it out on them to keep the offense off the field.

No doubt they can score points, and even when behind. but if you get an early lead and grind on them the offense doesnt see the field. Its the same type of game plan we need for the Titans was my point.

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I dunno. Great QB, great receivers and a gameplan that thrives on a quick-strike, vertical passing game... that's the way you come from behind in this league.

I agree with the "getting physical" part. The Colts can definitely be bullied - as we saw Sunday.

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Don't even think about overlooking the Titans. Some of the responses in this thread refer to the Titans as OVERrated. That's absurd. They are UNDERRATED. They have one of the NFL's best defenses in addition to a dynamic run game. We won't be able to stop their run -- the best we can hope for is to contain the darn thing. If we can control the clock with a run game of our own and still have some explosive passing plays, we can absolutely go in there and win. But this is one of the toughest games we have on our schedule.

Interesting factoid: Charles Woodson, Nick Collins, Tennessee CB Cortland Finnegan and S Michael Griffin are all tied for the NFL lead in interceptions (4 interceptions).

Takeaways could be a BIG part of this game. I'm just worried about the Thunder/Flash (Lendale White/Chris Johnson) duo. C'mon guys. We're talking about Tennessee. Small market teams that play well are always underrated -- we of all should know that. Go back and watch highlights of their defense.

Keys to the game: 1) Carries AND production from Ryan Grant
2) Limit penalties and turnover
3) Try to make Kerry Collins beat you. DT, LB, and S play will be KEY in shutting down the run. DEs need to generate a pass rush.

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