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Titans to battle Texans tonight on Monday Night Football in search of their fourth consecutive win
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(Photo By: Jonathan Mohan/2009)
The Tennessee Titans are on the road tonight to do battle with AFC South foe Houston on ESPN's Monday Night Football. In an nationally televised rematch from Week Two's explosive matchup, where the Texans edged the Titans 34-31, the game will be broadcasted live from Reliant Stadium on ESPN as well as WTVF/CBS. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 CST.
The game will feature Houston native Vince Young manning the Titans, who are riding a recent three-game winning streak, after starting the season 0-6, and Matt Schaub, who is enjoying his career year as starting quarterback for the Texans.
Schaub, who is among the league leaders in yardage, completion percentage, touchdowns and quarterback rating, is experiencing the best statistical year of his six-year career. After three seasons in Atlanta as the backup to Michael Vick, and two injury plagued years in Houston, Schaub has finally arrived in the eyes of the NFL's elite. Schaub passed for a career high 357 yards and four touchdowns in his Week Two victory against the Titans in Nashville at L.P. Field en route to being named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week.
During this Tennessee streak Young has posted a quarterback rating above 90 in each of the wins; the first Titan to accomplish this feat since the late great Steve McNair did during his MVP season of 2003. In this three game stretch Young has completed 44 of 62 passes for 507 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
Houston wide receiver Andre Johnson is among the top NFL elite pass catchers. Johnson is currently fifth in the league with 800 yards and is on pace for his fourth 1,000-yard receiving season in seven years. During Week Two's previous meeting, Johnson torched the Titans secondary for 149 yards and two scores.
Titans running back Chris "Every Coaches Dream" Johnson is on pace for one of the most memorable performances in the history of the NFL. Currently leading the league in rushing with 1,091 yards and overall yards from scrimmage with 1,353, Johnson has now set his sights on the elusive 2,000 yard mark; a feat reached by only five previous players. (O.J. Simpson: 1973, Eric Dickerson: 1984, Barry Sanders: 1997, Terrel Davis: 1998, Jamal Lewis: 2003)
Last time these two teams faced off against each other Johnson ended up sending his shoes to the NFL's Hall of Fame. CJ finished the day with 284 combined yards rushing and receiving for a total of three touchdowns. Johnson became the first player in NFL history to rush for a touchdown of more than 90 yards, another for more than 50 yards, and a TD reception longer than 60 yards.
The Defense has finally decided to come alive
While still ranking among the bottom in almost every statistical category of passing defense, in recent weeks the Titans secondary has been playing exceptional football. After allowing five out of six quarterbacks to pass for over 300 yards in their first six games, the Titan defense has allowed an average of 195 passing yards per game. In these three consecutive wins, Tennessee has recorded seven interceptions with newest Titan Rod Hood leading the way with three on the year.
Talk is usually cheap, but sometimes it can be priceless
Titans line backer Keith Bulluck said last Thursday that the Texans treated their 34-31 win over Tennessee more like the AFC Championship Game than Week 2 of the regular season. He also pointed out Houston has never sniffed the playoffs so that must be why any win over a fellow AFC South team is treated like a postseason victory.
"We're a 3-6 team with nothing to lose. I know they have playoff aspirations and everything, so we're really looking forward to come down to Houston and destroying all playoff thoughts and aspirations they have. Thank you. Because my season is not going the way that I intended it to," Bulluck said.
Check out my Vince Young redemption story HERE
Crunching the Numbers
Total Yards Per Game: Titans: 332.0 Texans: 374.9 Edge: Texans
Passing Yards Per Game: Titans: 170.2 Texans: 284.1 Edge: Texans
Rushing Yards Per Game: Titans: 161.8 Texans: 90.8 Edge: Titans
Points Per Game: Titans: 21.0 Texans: 23.9 Edge: Texans
Third Down Conversions: Titans: 41.8% Texans: 40.5% Edge: Titans
Time of Possession: Titans: 28:00 Texans: 32:29 Edge: Texans
Final Thoughts
Although the Houston Texans rank 13th in the league against the run, allowing an average of 108.7 yards per game, the Tennessee Titans are right behind them at the 14th slot allowing 109.3 per contest. With Chris Johnson on a monster tear as of late, paired with Vince Young behind center, along with Texans backs Slaton and Moats, you could see most of the game won on the ground within the trenches. With the Tennessee secondary playing perfect football, look for Houston to attempt to wear down the Titans defense by alternating their equally dangerous backs.
[ Prediction: Titans 31, Texans 24 ]
2009 Team Offensive Leaders
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Tennessee Titans (3-6)
Passing Cmp Att Yds TDs
Kerry Collins 108 197 1071 5
Vince Young 44 67 507 2
Rushing Car Yds Avg TDs
Chris Johnson 170 1091 6.4 8
LenDale White 59 204 3.5 1
Receiving Rec Yds Avg TDs
Kenny Britt 22 351 16 0
Justin Gage 22 302 13.7 1
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Houston Texans (5-4)
Passing Cmp Att Yds TDs
Matt Schaub 220 326 2653 17
Rushing Car Yds Avg TDs
Steve Slaton 116 359 3.1 3
Ryan Moats 54 220 4.1 3
Receiving Rec Yds Avg TDs
Andre Johnson 54 800 14.8 4
Owen Daniels* 40 519 13 5
* - Injured, out for the season
Tennessee Titans: Injuries and In-actives
Justin Gage, WR, Back, Out
Colin Allred LB, Hamstring, Out
Kevin Kaesviharn, S, Not Injury Related, Questionable
Jason Jones, DT, Shoulder, Questionable
David Thornton, LB, Hip, Questionable
Houston Texans: Injuries and In-actives
Antwaun Molden, CB, Quadricep, Out
Dominique Barber, S, Ankle, Doubtful
Jacoby Jones, WR, Calf, Questionable
James Casey, TE, Knee, Probable
Brian Cushing, LB, Foot, Probable
Game Broadcast: DirecTV: 206 | TV: ESPN & CBS/HD | Radio: 103.3 KDF
Game Time: 7:30 PM | CST Kickoff
Game Forecast: 64º | Partly Cloudy
- Hometown hero Vince Young returns to Houston on Monday Night Football
- Titans owner Bud Adams gives the Buffalo Bills the one-fingered victory salute
- Titans rout Bills 41-17 Sunday to win third consecutive game on the year
- Tennessee Titans host UTC alumni Terrell Owens and the Buffalo Bills on Sunday
- Tennessee Titans defeat the San Francisco 49ers 34-27 for second win in a row
- San Francisco 49ers host Titans Sunday as Tennessee goes for two (Game Preview)
- Titans opponent Q&A: San Francisco 49ers Examiner Samuel Lam
- Titans Pro-Bowl running back Chris Johnson named AFC Offensive Player of the Week
- Maurice Jones-Who? The Tennessee Titans run away with first win of the season
- Vince Young, Bud Adams and the Tennessee Titans host AFC South rival Jacksonville
- Vince Young replaces Kerry Collins as Tennessee Titans starting QB
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