The Carolina Panthers are coming off their bye week, looking to the Titans game as a chance to respond to their latest close loss in a 2-6 season. Two weeks ago, the Panthers lost at home to the Minnesota Vikings, 24-21. The Vikings kicked the eventual game-winning field goal with 2:47 to play, and Olindo Mare missed a chance to send the game to overtime from 31 yards out with :29 left in the game.
What I saw from the Panthers in that game, and the others of theirs I've watched, after the jump: no comments
What I saw from the Panthers in that game, and the others of theirs I've watched, after the jump: no comments
There is both good news and bad news as the Tennessee Titans own a 4-4 record at the halfway mark of their season.
The good news is that the Titans have won four games, more than most people expected at this point, won three of their first four games and are in second place in the AFC South.
My midseason MVPs, and more good and bad news, after the break.
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The good news is that the Titans have won four games, more than most people expected at this point, won three of their first four games and are in second place in the AFC South.
My midseason MVPs, and more good and bad news, after the break.
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In preparation for this Sunday's Tennessee Titans/Carolina Panthers matchup, per the norm, we'll have some questions answered by a blogger who muses about this week's Titans' opponent.
Have any questions you'd like to have answered? Feel free to make your contributions in the space below.
After racing out to a 17-7 halftime lead, the Tennessee Titans were shut-out in the second half as they relinquished 17 unanswered points in their disappointing 24-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
With the loss, the Titans now find themselves sitting at 4-4, an appropriate mark for a team that's been a bit Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde through the midway point of the season.
More on today's defeat to the Bengals...after the jump.
In this week's question and answer exchange, we're fortunate to be joined by sports journalist, publisher, editor and author Dave Biddle, who writes about the Cincinnati Bengals and Reds on Three-Way Chili.
Following are Dave's answers to our questions, after the jump.
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Following are Dave's answers to our questions, after the jump.
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For the first time in a long while, the Titans are coming off a team not playing a close game. The Bengals last week went to Seattle and came away from Qwest Field with a 34-12 victory over the Seahawks. It was actually a five point game with five minutes to play, then a Mike Nugent field goal, Brandon Tate punt return for a touchdown, and Reggie Nelson interception return for a touchdown made the final score look uncompetitive.
This is actually the third time I've watched the Bengals for this feature, as the Broncos and Colts played them in the games I wrote about. I took a few notes about them when they played the Colts, but these notes are based primarily on the Seahawks game.
What I saw from the Bengals, after the jump:
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This is actually the third time I've watched the Bengals for this feature, as the Broncos and Colts played them in the games I wrote about. I took a few notes about them when they played the Colts, but these notes are based primarily on the Seahawks game.
What I saw from the Bengals, after the jump:
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I could write about Chris Johnson's play against the Colts, but with last week's piece I fundamentally answered in my mind the interesting question. Johnson looked okay at times against the Colts, and less than okay a lot of other times. I didn't see enough that contradicted my existing impression, even on a second viewing, to make writing about his play worthwhile. The Titans are going to rotate him and Ringer; that's not quite what Mike Munchak is saying, but it's what they did against the Colts and it makes sense.
I considered writing about Ringer, but frankly, he's not a very interesting guy to write about. If there are yards there to be gotten, he does a decent enough job of gaining them. Any big plays are likely to be the result of some particularly good play by the other guys on the field, combined with some help from him. In the long long ago, in my breakdown of the Titans-Eagles game back in 2006, I wrote about how Travis Henry managed a 70-yard score on a play that was well-designed and -blocked, and also included Henry stiffarming a defender. That's the play that sticks in my mind when I conceive of a Ringer big play (and he did go 50-plus last year).
In my recap of this past Sunday's game, I referred to the Titans "righting the ship," which seemed somewhat more enthusiastic than I think most people's impressions of the game, who saw it as seemingly the most desultory possible 17-point win in the NFL. Frankly, the Titans did better than I thought they'd do.
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I considered writing about Ringer, but frankly, he's not a very interesting guy to write about. If there are yards there to be gotten, he does a decent enough job of gaining them. Any big plays are likely to be the result of some particularly good play by the other guys on the field, combined with some help from him. In the long long ago, in my breakdown of the Titans-Eagles game back in 2006, I wrote about how Travis Henry managed a 70-yard score on a play that was well-designed and -blocked, and also included Henry stiffarming a defender. That's the play that sticks in my mind when I conceive of a Ringer big play (and he did go 50-plus last year).
In my recap of this past Sunday's game, I referred to the Titans "righting the ship," which seemed somewhat more enthusiastic than I think most people's impressions of the game, who saw it as seemingly the most desultory possible 17-point win in the NFL. Frankly, the Titans did better than I thought they'd do.
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As we do every week here on Total Titans, we'll reach out to someone who blogs about the Titans next opponent. What questions do you have about this week's opponent, the Cincinnati Bengals? Please post them in the comments section below.
Also, we have a new poll up, asking who you think should get the most touches for the remainder of the season. Would you prefer for it to be Chris Johnson, Javon Ringer, or should it be about equal? Just scroll down any page on Total Titans and the poll will be in the right sidebar.
As always, thanks for your questions for our Q&A exchange and thanks for voting in our poll. no comments
Also, we have a new poll up, asking who you think should get the most touches for the remainder of the season. Would you prefer for it to be Chris Johnson, Javon Ringer, or should it be about equal? Just scroll down any page on Total Titans and the poll will be in the right sidebar.
As always, thanks for your questions for our Q&A exchange and thanks for voting in our poll. no comments
The Tennesseee Titans today returned to the winning ways at LP Field by beating the winless Indianapolis Colts by a final of 27-10.
While the Colts started very slowly, the Titans got a big pass to Damian Williams to set up a long field goal by Rob Bironas to open scoring in the first quarter, then got another big break when Patrick Bailey blocked a Colts punt in the end zone and Jason McCourty got his first and probably easiest ever NFL touchdown by simply catching the ball. Another long pass to Williams set up another long Bironas field goal to make it 13-0, then the first good offensive possession of the game at the end of the first half ended in a Nate Washington touchdown to give the Titans a 20-0 halftime lead.
Offensively, the Colts had a lot more success in the second half, at one point halving the deficit, but a Curtis Painter pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage by Jason Jones and went right to Barrett Ruud. Seven plays later, Nate Washington had his second touchdown of the game and the Titans were up 27-10. The Colts moved the ball after that, but the game was never in any real doubt again.
After the jump, more thoughts on the game and the players who stood out and didn't:
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While the Colts started very slowly, the Titans got a big pass to Damian Williams to set up a long field goal by Rob Bironas to open scoring in the first quarter, then got another big break when Patrick Bailey blocked a Colts punt in the end zone and Jason McCourty got his first and probably easiest ever NFL touchdown by simply catching the ball. Another long pass to Williams set up another long Bironas field goal to make it 13-0, then the first good offensive possession of the game at the end of the first half ended in a Nate Washington touchdown to give the Titans a 20-0 halftime lead.
Offensively, the Colts had a lot more success in the second half, at one point halving the deficit, but a Curtis Painter pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage by Jason Jones and went right to Barrett Ruud. Seven plays later, Nate Washington had his second touchdown of the game and the Titans were up 27-10. The Colts moved the ball after that, but the game was never in any real doubt again.
After the jump, more thoughts on the game and the players who stood out and didn't:
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The inactives for today's game against the Colts are trickling out, and here they are:
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: OT Anthony Castonzo, OT Ryan Diem, WR Anthony Gonzalez, CB Jacob Lacey, QB Peyton Manning, DT Drake Nevis, G Joe Rietz
While Joseph Addai is active, Delone Carter gets the start at RB. I'd expect Addai to play a fair amount, especially in shotgun and obvious passing situations. Kevin Thomas starts at CB for Lacey. With the offfensive line injuries, starting LG Seth Olsen and RG Mike Tepper are making their first NFL starts. Ojinnaka starts at RT.
TENNESSEE TITANS: DT Zach Clayton, DE William Hayes, S Chris Hope, LB Colin McCarthy, QB Rusty Smith, TE Craig Stevens, OT Byron Stingily
One notable change for the Titans, as Craig Stevens sits this week after playing a small amount after being listed as questionable last week. Hope and McCarthy were out, and William Hayes is not here to save the run defense this week. After last week's defensive line issues, I thought Clayton might get into the lineup just for change's sake, but apparently not to be. Jake Scott does play after being listed as questionable.
Feel free to leave your comments here during today's game. I'll be chiming in from time to time on twitter. no comments
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: OT Anthony Castonzo, OT Ryan Diem, WR Anthony Gonzalez, CB Jacob Lacey, QB Peyton Manning, DT Drake Nevis, G Joe Rietz
While Joseph Addai is active, Delone Carter gets the start at RB. I'd expect Addai to play a fair amount, especially in shotgun and obvious passing situations. Kevin Thomas starts at CB for Lacey. With the offfensive line injuries, starting LG Seth Olsen and RG Mike Tepper are making their first NFL starts. Ojinnaka starts at RT.
TENNESSEE TITANS: DT Zach Clayton, DE William Hayes, S Chris Hope, LB Colin McCarthy, QB Rusty Smith, TE Craig Stevens, OT Byron Stingily
One notable change for the Titans, as Craig Stevens sits this week after playing a small amount after being listed as questionable last week. Hope and McCarthy were out, and William Hayes is not here to save the run defense this week. After last week's defensive line issues, I thought Clayton might get into the lineup just for change's sake, but apparently not to be. Jake Scott does play after being listed as questionable.
Feel free to leave your comments here during today's game. I'll be chiming in from time to time on twitter. no comments
