I wouldn't call today's matchup against the Jets the toughest of the season for the Titans, but any given Sunday and all that, I don't think many people would be altogether surprised if New York stopped Tennessee's winning streak at 10.
But assuming the Titans win No. 11 -- and Vegas thinks it'll happen (or, more specifically, those betting think it will happen) -- 14-0 is basically a done deal. Yes, the Bengals showed the Jags and Eagles -- and proved to everybody else -- that you can't take an opponent for granted, but here's what's on tap for the Titans after today's Jets tilt: the Lions, Browns and Texans. Three teams who are a combined 7-23.
Assuming Tennessee emerges unscathed from three not-really-but-sorta bye weeks, they'll face the Steelers and Colts to close the season. Then the question becomes: do the Titans rest their starters for the playoffs or try to match the record already set by the '72 Dolphins and last year's Patriots.
Again, none of this will matter if the Jets prevail today, but it's worth noting, nonetheless; less than 12 months ago, certain segments of the media couldn't proclaim the Patriots the BEST TEAM EVA! loudly enough, and we all saw how that turned out. For the Titans, an outfit that seemed loss with Vince Young under center, to start the year with 10 straight victories, thanks in part to the resurgence of 35-year-old Kerry Collins is, well, mind-blowing.
As for Collins' future with the team, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports that the Titans very much want to re-sign him and Chris Simms for next year. Obviously, Collins has done a swell job, but the club is also impressed with Simms. Oddly, there was no mention of what this all means for Young, which, in a way, is more telling than if the organization had actually addressed his future directly.
If Titans Beat Jets, 14-0 Is a Distinct Possibility originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 23 Nov 2008 11:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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