Week 16 Titans @ Bills
Who would have thought that this Christmas Eve game would have playoff implications for both teams. With the Bills leading all the 7-7 teams and having tie breakers over 2 of the 4 8-6 teams as of right now, a win and a little help could put Buffalo in the drivers seat. That's right, a Bills win coupled with a Jacksonville loss to the Patriots, a Bengal loss to Denver and a Jet loss in Miami allows Buffalo to control their own destiny. Is that too much to ask? New England still needs to clinch the division, Cincinnati needs to go into Mile High and the Jets just aren't good.
What should we think about the 7-7 Tennessee Titans? They have rolled off 5 straight versus some pretty good teams. They have beaten Jacksonville, Indianapolis, New York Giants, Philadelphia, and Houston. The first 4 teams named are all current playoff teams. It has been an unbelievable run. Vince Young is straight up winning football games. BUT let's face it people. The Tennessee Titans have been the luckiest team in football over this stretch. They go into Philadelphia and are fortunate enough that Donovan McNabb gets hurt which crushed the entire team and city. The Giants completely blew a 21-0 lead in one of the biggest self destructions since the Titan franchise blew a 32 point lead in 93. Tennessee didn't come back and win this game, the Giants and Eli Manning gave it to them. The beat Indy by playing a great defensive game and they got a 60 yard field goal to win it. Last week versus Jacksonville they had 5 first downs the entire game, 98 yards of offense, and they had the ball for less than 20 minutes. Yet David Garrard forgot what team he was on twice in throwing 2 balls right to Titan defenders and then he carelessly fumbled the ball inside the 10 leading to another touchdown. How lucky can you be to get 3 return TD's on defense of over 60 yards in one game.
Everyone needs to calm down a little bit about Vince Young. I keep hearing this talk about how Vince Young is a "winner." I guess he had control over Eli Manning's self destruction and David Garrard's turnover barrage. I am sure Vince had a part in tearing McNabb's ACL and Rob Bironas' 60 yarder. Give me a break NFL media. Vince Young has a 65.9 QB rating. Take it for what it is worth, but the only man he is better than is Andrew Walter. His completion percentage is 51.8%, again only better than Andrew Walter. He has also thrown more TD's than picks. Even worse, this guy is a pro bowl alternate. You have got to be kidding me. a pro bowl alternate? That is the biggest disgrace in the history of the NFL and I have lost nearly all respect for the NFL with that one. Everyone around the league is talking up Vince Young but take a look at his opposing quarterback. JP Losman is quietly putting together a very good year. He is completing over 63% of his passes and is the 9th highest rated quarterback in the NFL at 88.5. He has 17 tds and 10 picks and is closing in on 3000 yards. Where is all the credit due to him, why isn't he a pro bowl alternate? Maybe it has something to do with Losman not getting as lucky as Young. I mean, Bironas hit a 60 yarder vs the Colts, Lindell missed a 40 yarder, inside a dome from the dead center of the field. Too bad LT didn't tear his ACL when we played the chargers or too bad the Bears didn't completely blow their 20-0 halftime lead. Maybe we would be talking about the 11-3 Bills and homefield advantage...who knows?
Alright, keys to victory
Who would have thought that this Christmas Eve game would have playoff implications for both teams. With the Bills leading all the 7-7 teams and having tie breakers over 2 of the 4 8-6 teams as of right now, a win and a little help could put Buffalo in the drivers seat. That's right, a Bills win coupled with a Jacksonville loss to the Patriots, a Bengal loss to Denver and a Jet loss in Miami allows Buffalo to control their own destiny. Is that too much to ask? New England still needs to clinch the division, Cincinnati needs to go into Mile High and the Jets just aren't good.
What should we think about the 7-7 Tennessee Titans? They have rolled off 5 straight versus some pretty good teams. They have beaten Jacksonville, Indianapolis, New York Giants, Philadelphia, and Houston. The first 4 teams named are all current playoff teams. It has been an unbelievable run. Vince Young is straight up winning football games. BUT let's face it people. The Tennessee Titans have been the luckiest team in football over this stretch. They go into Philadelphia and are fortunate enough that Donovan McNabb gets hurt which crushed the entire team and city. The Giants completely blew a 21-0 lead in one of the biggest self destructions since the Titan franchise blew a 32 point lead in 93. Tennessee didn't come back and win this game, the Giants and Eli Manning gave it to them. The beat Indy by playing a great defensive game and they got a 60 yard field goal to win it. Last week versus Jacksonville they had 5 first downs the entire game, 98 yards of offense, and they had the ball for less than 20 minutes. Yet David Garrard forgot what team he was on twice in throwing 2 balls right to Titan defenders and then he carelessly fumbled the ball inside the 10 leading to another touchdown. How lucky can you be to get 3 return TD's on defense of over 60 yards in one game.
Everyone needs to calm down a little bit about Vince Young. I keep hearing this talk about how Vince Young is a "winner." I guess he had control over Eli Manning's self destruction and David Garrard's turnover barrage. I am sure Vince had a part in tearing McNabb's ACL and Rob Bironas' 60 yarder. Give me a break NFL media. Vince Young has a 65.9 QB rating. Take it for what it is worth, but the only man he is better than is Andrew Walter. His completion percentage is 51.8%, again only better than Andrew Walter. He has also thrown more TD's than picks. Even worse, this guy is a pro bowl alternate. You have got to be kidding me. a pro bowl alternate? That is the biggest disgrace in the history of the NFL and I have lost nearly all respect for the NFL with that one. Everyone around the league is talking up Vince Young but take a look at his opposing quarterback. JP Losman is quietly putting together a very good year. He is completing over 63% of his passes and is the 9th highest rated quarterback in the NFL at 88.5. He has 17 tds and 10 picks and is closing in on 3000 yards. Where is all the credit due to him, why isn't he a pro bowl alternate? Maybe it has something to do with Losman not getting as lucky as Young. I mean, Bironas hit a 60 yarder vs the Colts, Lindell missed a 40 yarder, inside a dome from the dead center of the field. Too bad LT didn't tear his ACL when we played the chargers or too bad the Bears didn't completely blow their 20-0 halftime lead. Maybe we would be talking about the 11-3 Bills and homefield advantage...who knows?
Alright, keys to victory
- The Titans defense is terrible. They are dead last in yards allowed at 366.6 ypg. They are 29th in the league against the run and 26th against the pass. Buffalo's improving offense should have no major problems especially on the ground with Willis McGahee who I am sure is pumped to face his former teammate. If Buffalo does not turn the football over in this game they should win.
- Keep Vince Young in the pocket. If Buffalo can keep this guy between the tackles and make him throw the football the Titans offense has no chance to succeed. Young needs to depend on his legs because he cannot pass the ball effectively. Tennessee's offense isn't much better than their defense. They are ranked 27th overall and are 30th against the pass. However, the Titans do run the ball well, averaging 133 per game. Without a passing threat or a real threat at wide receiver, the Bills can stack the line to stop Henry and keep a guy spying Young at all times.
posted by Bills Fan at 11:43 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home