Titans’ performance shows they can hang with the NFL’s best
NFL fans expecting the Titans to curl into the fetal position against the defending Super Bowl champion Colts on Sunday were in for a shocker.
The Titans showed they can play with one of the league’s elite teams as they came about 10 yards short of trying a game-winning field goal in the closing seconds.
‘We consider ourselves a great team,’ said running back Chris Brown, who ran for 34 yards. ‘They are a great team and we are a great team. We know we can go out there and play with anybody as long as we go out and execute our game plan and do what we are supposed to do.’
Under the leadership of quarterback Vince Young, who won a national championship in college, the Titans rebounded from an 0-5 start to finish 8-8 last year.
This year’s solid start has stirred optimism the team may be headed back to its glory days. The Titans made the Super Bowl in the 1999 season and finished with the best record in the league (13-3) in 2000.
‘The down years for the Titans are over,’ said defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who had one of the Titans two sacks. ‘We’ll go toe-to-toe with anybody, even the world champs.’
Much of the credit goes to Young, who has already achieved NFL star status in his second year. Young’s accuracy isn’t on the level of Peyton Manning ‘ he overthrew a wide open Bo Scaife at the 5 for what appeared to be a certain touchdown ‘ but he’s showing progress.
Young finished with a touchdown and 184 yards passing and he didn’t throw an interception. He added another 53 yards rushing, including a 21-yard scramble that ended with a body-sacrificing dive to set up a second-quarter field goal.
‘The thing I say about Vince Young, he has given them the thought that they are going to win every time they go on the field, every time no matter what the circumstance,’ said Colt coach Tony Dungy. ‘What they do, since Vince has got there, is so similar to when Steve McNair was here. They just believe that the games are close and they keep you out of the end zone that they have a chance to win.’
In addition to Young’s performance, the Titans defensive line grabbed attention with two sacks on Manning ‘ an NFL rarity. Defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch had one of those sacks and he drilled Manning on another play to force an interception. Haynesworth had the other sack.
‘Any time you get Peyton down is good because he is a guy who avoids a lot of hits and gets rid of the ball really quick,’ said Haynesworth. ‘So when you get a sack you have to cherish it.’
After two tough division games to open the season, the Titans (1-1) don’t get a break in week three. They travel to New Orleans to face the surprisingly winless Saints (0-2).
It’s the Saints’ home-opener and it will be on the grand stage of Monday Night Football. The Saints struggled mightily on Sunday, falling 31-14 to Tampa Bay.