Tenn Titans vs NYJets
(Sports Network) - The Titans try to remain in the running for a first-round
playoff bye when they travel to the Meadowlands for a Monday night game with
the Jets.
Tennessee remained in a three-way tie for the AFC's second playoff seed and a
game off Kansas City's conference-leading pace with a huge comeback at Atlanta
last week. The Titans fell behind 21-0 after one quarter but beat the Falcons
38-31 with backup quarterback Billy Volek playing the entire second half.
Volek passed for 116 yards and a touchdown in relief of McNair, who left with
a sprained right calf. Justin McCareins had a punt return touchdown and a
touchdown reception, and the special teams recovered a fumble to set up
another score. RB Eddie George stepped up in McNair's absence with 26 carries
for 115 yards.
The Jets did not get in the end zone until the final minute against
Jacksonville, but Chad Pennington's three-yard pass to Santana Moss was enough
for a 13-10 win. The Jets failed on fourth-and-four from their own 40 with
3:29 to play, but Pennington got one more chance and took the Jets 96 yards
for the win.
The dramatic ending drew comparisons to Joe Montana from Jets coach Herman
Edwards.
"[Pennington] has a little bit of that aura, everyone thinks he's going to do
it," Edwards said. "He just has a different way of how he goes about keeping
guys poised. Players step up. The offense wanted to go out there and do it. He
might not get it done every week, but he will make it interesting."
Someone who is used to getting it done every week is McNair. Tennessee is 19-3
in its last 22 regular-season games thanks mainly to McNair. The seemingly
indestructible QB has played with broken bones before, making a mockery of the
injury list, but he hasn't played on a badly injured calf. With an AFC South
showdown with the Colts looming in Week 14, McNair may actually sit out to
heal up for the big one in two weeks.
"We know what his history is," said head coach Jeff Fisher. "He wants very
badly to play in this ball game. The last time we played in the Meadowlands,
he did not practice and still played, and he played well."
McNair has played in pain and while injured so often, his teammates expect him
to be able to go Monday night.
"Steve might not be able to walk after a game and not practice all week long,
then has an MVP performance on Sunday," defensive end Kevin Carter said.
"We're definitely not going to rule him out, even if he doesn't start, he
could make a special appearance."
Last year against the Giants in the Meadowlands, McNair took a pain-killing
shot before the contest for a rib injury that prevented him from practicing
during the week. He rallied the Titans in the fourth quarter and eventually
won the game in overtime.
SERIES HISTORY: The Titans franchise has a 20-13-1 lead in the series and has
won five of the last six meetings.
The teams have not played since 1998. The Jets won that November 22 game 24-3.
Curtis Martin had 123 yards and a touchdown in the game. The last time the
teams played in the Meadowlands was on December 1, 1996. The then-Houston
Oilers won 35-10. George had 141 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns, while
McNair threw for two touchdowns in the game.
Fisher is 3-1 against the Jets. Edwards has never coached against Tennessee.
MONDAY NIGHT SPOTLIGHT: The Titans have won three straight in prime time and
have a 16-13 record on Monday Night Football. The Jets are 14-19 all-time on
MNF but have won four out of their last six MNF matchups.
If McNair somehow can't play, or Fisher decides to hold him out to be ready
for the Indianapolis game, Volek will make his first NFL start
I like Tenn to win the game with the incentive of a first round bye in the playoffs.Mcnair just might play but if he doesn't tenn backup qb is not that bad and should do well along with tenn running game.Pennington and the jets will be tough but look for the titans to do just enough and get the win and roll into indy flying high.
Tennessee -3
(Sports Network) - The Titans try to remain in the running for a first-round
playoff bye when they travel to the Meadowlands for a Monday night game with
the Jets.
Tennessee remained in a three-way tie for the AFC's second playoff seed and a
game off Kansas City's conference-leading pace with a huge comeback at Atlanta
last week. The Titans fell behind 21-0 after one quarter but beat the Falcons
38-31 with backup quarterback Billy Volek playing the entire second half.
Volek passed for 116 yards and a touchdown in relief of McNair, who left with
a sprained right calf. Justin McCareins had a punt return touchdown and a
touchdown reception, and the special teams recovered a fumble to set up
another score. RB Eddie George stepped up in McNair's absence with 26 carries
for 115 yards.
The Jets did not get in the end zone until the final minute against
Jacksonville, but Chad Pennington's three-yard pass to Santana Moss was enough
for a 13-10 win. The Jets failed on fourth-and-four from their own 40 with
3:29 to play, but Pennington got one more chance and took the Jets 96 yards
for the win.
The dramatic ending drew comparisons to Joe Montana from Jets coach Herman
Edwards.
"[Pennington] has a little bit of that aura, everyone thinks he's going to do
it," Edwards said. "He just has a different way of how he goes about keeping
guys poised. Players step up. The offense wanted to go out there and do it. He
might not get it done every week, but he will make it interesting."
Someone who is used to getting it done every week is McNair. Tennessee is 19-3
in its last 22 regular-season games thanks mainly to McNair. The seemingly
indestructible QB has played with broken bones before, making a mockery of the
injury list, but he hasn't played on a badly injured calf. With an AFC South
showdown with the Colts looming in Week 14, McNair may actually sit out to
heal up for the big one in two weeks.
"We know what his history is," said head coach Jeff Fisher. "He wants very
badly to play in this ball game. The last time we played in the Meadowlands,
he did not practice and still played, and he played well."
McNair has played in pain and while injured so often, his teammates expect him
to be able to go Monday night.
"Steve might not be able to walk after a game and not practice all week long,
then has an MVP performance on Sunday," defensive end Kevin Carter said.
"We're definitely not going to rule him out, even if he doesn't start, he
could make a special appearance."
Last year against the Giants in the Meadowlands, McNair took a pain-killing
shot before the contest for a rib injury that prevented him from practicing
during the week. He rallied the Titans in the fourth quarter and eventually
won the game in overtime.
SERIES HISTORY: The Titans franchise has a 20-13-1 lead in the series and has
won five of the last six meetings.
The teams have not played since 1998. The Jets won that November 22 game 24-3.
Curtis Martin had 123 yards and a touchdown in the game. The last time the
teams played in the Meadowlands was on December 1, 1996. The then-Houston
Oilers won 35-10. George had 141 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns, while
McNair threw for two touchdowns in the game.
Fisher is 3-1 against the Jets. Edwards has never coached against Tennessee.
MONDAY NIGHT SPOTLIGHT: The Titans have won three straight in prime time and
have a 16-13 record on Monday Night Football. The Jets are 14-19 all-time on
MNF but have won four out of their last six MNF matchups.
If McNair somehow can't play, or Fisher decides to hold him out to be ready
for the Indianapolis game, Volek will make his first NFL start
I like Tenn to win the game with the incentive of a first round bye in the playoffs.Mcnair just might play but if he doesn't tenn backup qb is not that bad and should do well along with tenn running game.Pennington and the jets will be tough but look for the titans to do just enough and get the win and roll into indy flying high.
Tennessee -3
