Titans quickly turn attention to Packers

Short week leaves no time to celebrate win
By Jim Wyatt THE TENNESSEAN October 29, 2008


Buzz up! The Monday Night Football trucks have rolled out of town. The Code Blue T-shirts have gone through the washing machine and are probably out of the dryer by now.

And in one of the more anticipated games at LP Field in years, the Titans disposed of the Colts 31-21 in an emotional and exhausting evening for players, coaches and fans alike.


Now the Titans (7-0) have to turn around and play again in four days against an unfamiliar and dangerous opponent, the Green Bay Packers (4-3).

That's the next challenge facing the NFL's only undefeated team.

"The Monday night game is all well and good and the experience was terrific,'' Coach Jeff Fisher said Tuesday. "The fans and just everything associated with the event was tremendous. It's a great thing for Nashville nationally. And now it's over and now we have the challenge of a short week and it's against a good opponent. So we'll put that in perspective and move on.''

The Titans are certainly riding high after scoring 25 straight points to bury the Colts, perhaps for the season. The Titans have a 4-game lead over the Colts, Jaguars and Texans (all 3-4) in the AFC South.

So how do the Titans, with such a big lead in the division, keep from losing their edge?

"Put the Green Bay tape on,'' Fisher said. "We've got 12 interceptions; they've got 13. They're running the football, they're scoring a lot of points, throwing touchdown passes, returning kicks for touchdowns. They're a good football team. They beat the Colts a week ago.

"So our challenge is a short week after an emotional game, keeping things in perspective and getting ready to play the next game.''

Recent history shows the Titans haven't fared well coming off Monday night games and facing a short week they've lost the last four such games, including a blowout loss at Cincinnati last season.

The Titans last met Green Bay in the regular season in 2004, a 48-27 Monday Night Football win. As for this season's Packers, they've won back-to-back games after a slow start and quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a 12-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio. They're coming off a bye week.

"We still have got a long way to go,'' Titans safety Michael Griffin said. "We have to continue to work hard and get ready for Green Bay. We can't look too far ahead.''

The Titans said they delivered a message to the rest of the NFL on Monday night: we're for real. But the coaching staff and the veterans were quick to point out there are still nine games left in the regular season, and division crowns aren't won in October.

"Obviously, we are happy with where we are, but we can't be happy," quarterback Kerry Collins said. "I think that's what allowed us to put this streak together is the fact that regardless of what happened the week before, we are able to put it behind us and move on to the next opponent.''

Reach Jim Wyatt at 615-259-8015 or jwyatt@tennessean.com.

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rshead wrote:

In hind sight now, since the Titans defeated the Colts, I am glad that KVB was off to let his groin heal up. Maybe if he would have been held out of the KC game he would have been ready for the Colts. Anyway, I think we're going to be ok, though I wonder about the schedulers that had the MNF game for us on a week that Green Bay was on a bye, then have the Titans on a short week play the Packers. It's a difficult situation for sure, but this team should be able to handle it. My prediction, TN 27 GB 17
10/29/2008 8:55:53 AM In hind sight now, since the Titans defeated the Colts, I am glad that KVB was off to let his groin heal up. Maybe if he would have been held out of the KC game he would have been ready for the Colts. Anyway, I think we're going to be ok, though I wonder about the schedulers that had the MNF game for us on a week that Green Bay was on a bye, then have the Titans on a short week play the Packers. It's a difficult situation for sure, but this team should be able to handle it. My prediction, TN 27 GB 17 rshead
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SteveTitan wrote:

I'm worried about the "The Pack" this Sunday! I am afraid they will take us down after all of the Monday night festival. We then have to go on the road for the next three out of four games which should really tell us where we are as a team. The NFC East still looks like the division to beat for the Super Bowl. Does anyone really think Vince Young could have led to us to victory like Kerry Collins did in the second half of the game? VY is so poor as a quarterback in so many ways and it is so apparent to anyone who sees a REAL pro QB read defenses, throw on target, and manage a long drive without making a bonehead play. If we lose Collins it will be the same (our offense) as when we lost Haynesworth last year and our defense fell apart. It will then be apparent to everyone (even the GO VINCE idiots!) that this guy is NOT the franchise QB that has always been talked about in the past and to some the future. I understand that VY is really only costing us about $ 2 million this year and next (which is about the price for a adequate backup QB) but in 2010 his contract will be up and he probably will be cut or released. We have already paid this guy (Vince) the majority of his guaranteed $60 million with bonus money and salaries.

10/29/2008 8:21:07 AM I'm worried about the "The Pack" this Sunday! I am afraid they will take us down after all of the Monday night festival. We then have to go on the road for the next three out of four games which should really tell us where we are as a team. The NFC East still looks like the division to beat for the Super Bowl. Does anyone really think Vince Young could have led to us to victory like Kerry Collins did in the second half of the game? VY is so poor as a quarterback in so many ways and it is so apparent to anyone who sees a REAL pro QB read defenses, throw on target, and manage a long drive without making a bonehead play. If we lose Collins it will be the same (our offense) as when we lost Haynesworth last year and our defense fell apart. It will then be apparent to everyone (even the GO VINCE idiots!) that this guy is NOT the franchise QB that has always been talked about in the past and to some the future. I understand that VY is really only costing us about $ 2 million this year and next (which is about the price for a adequate backup QB) but in 2010 his contract will be up and he probably will be cut or released. We have already paid this guy (Vince) the majority of his guaranteed $60 million with bonus money and salaries. SteveTitan
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SteveSimms wrote:

Both teams beat Indy, but which team is better? The Titans will lay it on the line again on Sunday at high noon in this country western town in LP (Look-out, Packers!) Field.
10/29/2008 8:03:57 AM Both teams beat Indy, but which team is better? The Titans will lay it on the line again on Sunday at high noon in this country western town in LP (Look-out, Packers!) Field. SteveSimms
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JackBauer wrote:

This will indeed be a huge battle and General Fisher does need to have the troops ready to fight. This is the type of game that most NFL teams have trouble with....a short week after an emotional Monday night game. Go Titans!
10/29/2008 5:40:44 AM This will indeed be a huge battle and General Fisher does need to have the troops ready to fight. This is the type of game that most NFL teams have trouble with....a short week after an emotional Monday night game. Go Titans! JackBauer
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This is what McCarthy was talking about last year regarding handling success. If your intensity level isn't the same every week the results won't be the same either and it's easier to reach for that when your backs against the wall then it is when your riding the high road.

This would be like us coming off a big win against the Bears and taking over the division. I would be very nevous about that next game against a good team that really needs the win more than we do.

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I went over to one of their discussion boards. While some think that we are annointing ourselves (they have been lurking on some of our forums) the best 4-3 team ever, somewhat derisively. most are in agreement that we will be a tough team to beat. An over-riding theme with respect to what we think about them is that we are wrong in assuming that stacking the box against the run will work. Many have commented on how this strategy has been to the detriment of their opponents, especially the last two games. Those folks are very confident in the idea that Collins can toast us.

While I don't think Collins can toast us, I don't think that stacking 8 in the box will "work" either. It's going to be a tough game for both teams, I think. I think it will be low scoring. I think they will definitely win time-of-possession. I think they will have sustained drives and we will have plenty of 3-and-outs. I think the game will be decided by our ability to create big plays, offensively and defensively. If we can do that, I think we win. If we don't, I think they win.

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I have to say this will be a tough game, but I am pretty convinced that we will take this game. The Colts weak run defense held the running Titans team to under 100 yards. With the Packers strong secondary play, we can stop the pass that the Colts could not. The commentators kept saying they wanted to see the Titans play from behind and they did...so what, they were down by 3 or a touchdown at most.
I think we are going to be one of the toughest teams that the Titans face this year. We are underrated/overlooked because of our 4-3 record.
Packers take this one and beat them the same way they beat the Colts. We will be the first team to not let Kerry Collins look like the new Tom Brady.

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Get the SS in the box. Or take out the SS and put in a 4th LB like the COlts did some of.

I really think that Woodson, Collins, and Harris or Williams can shut down the WR by them selfs pretty easily. The TEs maybe a little harder but put Chillar or a S on them. And get Barnett to shadow the RBs in the pass game. That should shut down the pass game right there which the Colts couldn't do.

If you can shut down the pass than teams can solely focus on that run offense and stop it.


Also the Titans can be beat be the TE if the TE can spread the middle deep. Or WR in a 4 or 5 WR sets could do that same thing.

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Yeah that sounds like something they could do. Correct me if im wrong, so you're saying pretty much try playing man-to-man on the receivers, and have the safeties help with the run and do some safety blitzes. And of course then this is where bigby will come in hand. After watching the titans/colts game i noticed the titans rarely threw the deep ball. So alot of this would make sense.

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Well I didn't say blitz. This team isn't a blitzing team, they look bad when they do. Not sure if it's bad coaches bad system and/or both I wouldn't say blitz anybody other than maybe one of OLBs a hand full of times or less.

But basically I'm saying keep Collins deep let both CBs play man to man. Let the SS and/or OLB(s) worry about the TE(s) and Barnett should stay with the RB.

I think that should stop most of the Titans passing game unless the pass rush completely sucks.


Also spread the Titans defense out with 3 or 4 guys that can go deep weather it's WR or TE just have 3 or 4 guys that can go deep in ever plays and try to strech the defeners away from another and tyr to make it as many one on ones as you can.

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Read the article abou the psychology.

They just put on a display on nationally telivised MNF.

They beat their big nemesis and now have a 4 1/2 game lead in their division.

They are set up for a fall. Overconfidence, not much incentive, little riding on the game for them, they are at home again, etc.

The Packers are in a divisional race coming off a bye week and should have more intensity, motivation, and health.

The Packers will be the stronger psychological team Sunday. The ntanginles are in the Packers favor.

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My thing is not about pounding our chests at how much better we are but looking at the situation and seeing clearly we are in a better place coming off a bye and going up against this team off a big win in a short week.

As far as Collins goes I think he will find defenders a lot closer to his receivers than he did Monday Night but to me for the most part Collins looked like the Collins I have seen for years and that doesn't throw any fear in me that's for sure.

I see another two picks coming our way because our coverage is going to make him throw it into a much tighter circle than just pushing out there to the sidelines where somebody is wide open. Not very good things happen for Collins when he has to throw it in tight places. Never has.

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