San Diego vs. Tennessee -- Playoffs

[JK17]

So we did it, we got the number three seed and now we get Tennessee coming to us at home. I'm not all that concerned with Tenneesee, but I am concerned with how much of a toll it may take on us physically (remember all the injuries we had last time we played the Titans)...I'd imagine its better for us if Vince can't go, the Statue Collins in the pocket would make our defenses job much easier...plus we already have beaten them, in a game where, although inexcsable, we played like **** for three quarters...

What are all your thoughts on the game?

[SuperKevin]

So we did it, we got the number three seed and now we get Tennessee coming to us at home. I'm not all that concerned with Tenneesee, but I am concerned with how much of a toll it may take on us physically (remember all the injuries we had last time we played the Titans)...I'd imagine its better for us if Vince can't go, the Statue Collins in the pocket would make our defenses job much easier...plus we already have beaten them, in a game where, although inexcsable, we played like **** for three quarters...

What are all your thoughts on the game?

Personally I think this is a much better matchup than the Browns. I think the Chargers will be able to put a ton of pressure on Vince and make him try to do something on the run which will lead to him either being hurt or make a bad decision. It's also comforting knowing you won't have to go up against Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow Jr

[Average OT LB]

I thought rivers played shaky the for quite some time then got into a groove.. if anything thats what ive come to learn.. rivers just seems like 'that guy'.. you know.. 'that guy' who taunted cutler... 'that guy' who challenged raider fans... 'that guy' who throws floaters to our receivers and because they're so big and strong they can just stand there and jump and make the catch and whoopee doo and make rivers look good and then LT scores and then we win! good sentence eh?

oh btw for all the pro rivers special buddy pen pal fans ... can't spell bolts without LT...

I tried spelling it with 'PR' and it doesnt seem to work..

all in good fun btw ^^

[JK17]

I thought rivers played shaky the for quite some time then got into a groove.. if anything thats what ive come to learn.. rivers just seems like 'that guy'.. you know.. 'that guy' who taunted cutler... 'that guy' who challenged raider fans... 'that guy' who throws floaters to our receivers and because they're so big and strong they can just stand there and jump and make the catch and whoopee doo and make rivers look good and then LT scores and then we win! good sentence eh?

oh btw for all the pro rivers special buddy pen pal fans ... can't spell bolts without LT...

I tried spelling it with 'PR' and it doesnt seem to work..

all in good fun btw ^^

I thought he was 'that guy' who has a 25-7 record over the past two years...or 'that guy' who hasn't thrown an interception in the past 3 games...or 'that guy' who led us to a comeback win on the road down two scores in the fourth against the team we are playing...or 'that guy' who actaully ended up with decent numbers for the season, and a not awful TD:INT ratio at 21:15...or 'that guy' who posted a 100+ QB rating the past 3 games.

All in good fun, ;)

Actaully though, as much as Rivers is a key to the postseason for us, I don't think it should be overlooked that we do have the advantage IMO in this game when it comes to QB's. I'll take Rivers over VY or Collins anyday. Say what you want about VY, he makes more mistakes then Rivers, has about a 1:2 TD/INT ratio, thrown more interceptions in less time (injuries for part of the year), and his only saving grace is completing 2% more of his passes. Anything you say about VY winning can also be said about Rivers, so in a battle of QBs, I do feel much more confident in ours.

[sdpads24]

I think the key as always will be the play of Rivers. If he doesn't make any key mistakes, I think we win easily. Its going to be a pretty intense game and hopefully we can get some early points on the board because I don't see Tenn scoring more than 20 points.

[Average OT LB]

I thought he was 'that guy' who has a 25-7 record over the past two years...or 'that guy' who hasn't thrown an interception in the past 3 games...or 'that guy' who led us to a comeback win on the road down two scores in the fourth against the team we are playing...or 'that guy' who actaully ended up with decent numbers for the season, and a not awful TD:INT ratio at 21:15...or 'that guy' who posted a 100+ QB rating the past 3 games.

All in good fun, ;)

Actaully though, as much as Rivers is a key to the postseason for us, I don't think it should be overlooked that we do have the advantage IMO in this game when it comes to QB's. I'll take Rivers over VY or Collins anyday. Say what you want about VY, he makes more mistakes then Rivers, has about a 1:2 TD/INT ratio, thrown more interceptions in less time (injuries for part of the year), and his only saving grace is completing 2% more of his passes. Anything you say about VY winning can also be said about Rivers, so in a battle of QBs, I do feel much more confident in ours.

Well since you gave rivers a win/loss record like a pitcher in baseball, i guess that means you believe quarterbacks are the, to use the common word, 'key' to victory. Now let me correct your stats for a second.. vince youngs TD/INT ratio is 12/17.. hardly 1:2...

and if we're comparing quarterbacks.. vince young earned his 'winner' title because he found ways to win games on a bad team.. rivers has had a total of what? about 20 probowlers ... hes been surrounded by arguably most talented team ever (chargers broke the record last year for most probowlers sent in one year), his entire career. that is what you can say for vince young that you cant say for rivers; he did it all by himself.

Vince young went his rookie year, with nobody else.. .and the titans have 3 this year and now they're a playoff team.. like a pitcher in baseball, quarterbacks get judged on the ability to win the game.. Vince has shown that... to say we have the advantage may be correct, i wont deny it.. (especially considering Vince may be hurt) but to say PR is better ("I'll take Rivers over VY any day") is blind ignorance...

[bergo23]

Its the D, not VY

I will chime in of what I have seen of VY so far in his career....the Titans D has carried this team the last two years not VY. Sure he won a game or two last year against the likes of Houston on big runs......but if you shut down his run game (and he may have shut it down himself with the quad injury).....and he doesn't scare ANYBODY.....the guy is a HORRIBLE passer, did you see that pass to Cro in our last game........Cro was the only guy in that ZIPCODE!!! I agree, I would have been much more worried about the Browns, or even Kerry Collins playoff experience........remember he has taken a team deep into the playoffs with the Giants. Lastly, I don't like his attitude, he is a primadonna (ask Norm Chow).....this guy isn't leading the Titans to any SuperBowls, his makeup and 6 on the Wonderlic doesn't help him any.

I am not worried about Vince Young, but rather that MONSTER DLine Tennessee has...but Haynesworth and that hammy is not what he is at 100%, course Haynesworth at 75% is better than most Dtackles at 100%.

[Average OT LB]

I will chime in of what I have seen of VY so far in his career....the Titans D has carried this team the last two years not VY. Sure he won a game or two last year against the likes of Houston on big runs......but if you shut down his run game (and he may have shut it down himself with the quad injury).....and he doesn't scare ANYBODY.....the guy is a HORRIBLE passer, did you see that pass to Cro in our last game........Cro was the only guy in that ZIPCODE!!! I agree, I would have been much more worried about the Browns, or even Kerry Collins playoff experience........remember he has taken a team deep into the playoffs with the Giants. Lastly, I don't like his attitude, he is a primadonna (ask Norm Chow).....this guy isn't leading the Titans to any SuperBowls, his makeup and 6 on the Wonderlic doesn't help him any.

I am not worried about Vince Young, but rather that MONSTER DLine Tennessee has...but Haynesworth and that hammy is not what he is at 100%, course Haynesworth at 75% is better than most Dtackles at 100%.

i agree with the last part of that entry-- the scarry thing about the titans is the d-line not vince young. Thats just like what i would say as a titan fan, the scarry thing about hte chargers is LT and the defense.. i would be lickin my chops seeing the immobile incompetent qb we got.. Next year will really settle the debate as to who is better, young or rivers. Young is all about running and being dynamic.. he wasnt doing too hot before his injury, but when he tweaked the quad things got really ****** up for him.. hes at least got an explanation for sucking.. that and the madden curse...

Whats rivers explanation for sucking? they asked him to throw more... and he took a step back.. basically we asked rivers to step up his production, we gave him more chance to succeed.. and he somehow turned that, coupled with 8 probowlers, and slumped... i just cant explain that...

we'll find out next year...

[KRS1]

i agree with the last part of that entry-- the scarry thing about the titans is the d-line not vince young. Thats just like what i would say as a titan fan, the scarry thing about hte chargers is LT and the defense.. i would be lickin my chops seeing the immobile incompetent qb we got.. Next year will really settle the debate as to who is better, young or rivers. Young is all about running and being dynamic.. he wasnt doing too hot before his injury, but when he tweaked the quad things got really ****** up for him.. hes at least got an explanation for sucking.. that and the madden curse...

Whats rivers explanation for sucking? they asked him to throw more... and he took a step back.. basically we asked rivers to step up his production, we gave him more chance to succeed.. and he somehow turned that, coupled with 8 probowlers, and slumped... i just cant explain that...

we'll find out next year...

Were you even watching this season? If you had you might be able to explain it easily. Rivers struggled because they stopped running and throwing to LT and forgot how to pass block. Rivers is not mobile that's not a secret (he came into the season still suffering from a bad ankle injury at the end of last season) but when defenses don't have to worry about the best player in the league (because the coach was not calling play for him) and the o-line was over matched by the extra guys being sent how do you put all the blame on Rivers? He was running for his life at the start of the season. Once defenses started playing honest because LT's number was getting called again Rivers play stepped up as well. He obviously didn't play well but with the scheme being run early this year what did you expect? I don't think anyone is mistaking Rivers for Joe Montana at this point but it's really unfair that all these people in San Diego seem to really harp on the guy this season. He came into the season not 100% he's playing on a sprained knee now his offensive line is having a crappy year protecting him and his overall number are not nearly as bad as you would think listening to all the idiots running around San Diego right now.

[TitanHope]

I will chime in of what I have seen of VY so far in his career....the Titans D has carried this team the last two years not VY. Sure he won a game or two last year against the likes of Houston on big runs......but if you shut down his run game (and he may have shut it down himself with the quad injury).....and he doesn't scare ANYBODY.....the guy is a HORRIBLE passer, did you see that pass to Cro in our last game........Cro was the only guy in that ZIPCODE!!! I agree, I would have been much more worried about the Browns, or even Kerry Collins playoff experience........remember he has taken a team deep into the playoffs with the Giants. Lastly, I don't like his attitude, he is a primadonna (ask Norm Chow).....this guy isn't leading the Titans to any SuperBowls, his makeup and 6 on the Wonderlic doesn't help him any.

I am not worried about Vince Young, but rather that MONSTER DLine Tennessee has...but Haynesworth and that hammy is not what he is at 100%, course Haynesworth at 75% is better than most Dtackles at 100%.

Last year, we had the last ranked defense in the league. The wins this year aren't all Young's doing, but he had a big part with last year's record. And I'm afraid you underestimate his passing ability. Anyway, you are right about our DLine. It's been our bread and butter this season.

Anyway, I'm not expecting the Titans to do very well. Do I think they can win? Yes, but due to all the injuries we've had (5 starters on IR), including to Vince Young and Nick Harper, both of which could miss the game, I'm not banking on it. I am banking on an extremely physical game though. Last game, there were no harsh feelings between the teams and it was a brutal game. But after Merriman's comments on Jeff Fisher allegendly ordering a hit on him, I think the Titans players may use that as bulletin material. It doesn't matter who wins this game, because the winner will be too beaten and bruised to win the next week.

[KRS1]

Last year, we had the last ranked defense in the league. The wins this year aren't all Young's doing, but he had a big part with last year's record. And I'm afraid you underestimate his passing ability. Anyway, you are right about our DLine. It's been our bread and butter this season.

Anyway, I'm not expecting the Titans to do very well. Do I think they can win? Yes, but due to all the injuries we've had (5 starters on IR), including to Vince Young and Nick Harper, both of which could miss the game, I'm not banking on it. I am banking on an extremely physical game though. Last game, there were no harsh feelings between the teams and it was a brutal game. But after Merriman's comments on Jeff Fisher allegendly ordering a hit on him, I think the Titans players may use that as bulletin material. It doesn't matter who wins this game, because the winner will be too beaten and bruised to win the next week.

Honestly I would be more worried about Shawne Merriman using this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubfb8OM6Mzw as motivation than the Titans with his comments. The NFL fines on Mawae and David Stewart pretty much speak for themselves. Merriman would scare the hell out of me on sunday if I was a Titan fan.

[Average OT LB]

Were you even watching this season? If you had you might be able to explain it easily. Rivers struggled because they stopped running and throwing to LT and forgot how to pass block. Rivers is not mobile that's not a secret (he came into the season still suffering from a bad ankle injury at the end of last season) but when defenses don't have to worry about the best player in the league (because the coach was not calling play for him) and the o-line was over matched by the extra guys being sent how do you put all the blame on Rivers? He was running for his life at the start of the season. Once defenses started playing honest because LT's number was getting called again Rivers play stepped up as well. He obviously didn't play well but with the scheme being run early this year what did you expect? I don't think anyone is mistaking Rivers for Joe Montana at this point but it's really unfair that all these people in San Diego seem to really harp on the guy this season. He came into the season not 100% he's playing on a sprained knee now his offensive line is having a crappy year protecting him and his overall number are not nearly as bad as you would think listening to all the idiots running around San Diego right now.

Now im sure your upset about all the san diego fans harping on rivers, and you want for all that senseless garbage and rambling to stop... but what explanation have you given? LT stepped up his play and rivers got better? now you say I havent been watching? The way to beat the chargers is to put guys in the box to stop LT, and to blitz rivers cause hes one of the worst quarterbacks in the league when under siege. WEll just so happens those things are the same thing--- all you gotta do is put guys in the box and we struggle. Now you say LT stepped up his game and Rivers got better? so, wait... Rivers went from not being able to help himself, to having all the time in the world to throw so therefore he cant mess up ... and why? because of LT...

Perhaps you just say my comment and wanted to take a shot at me.. i get that.. but my stance all along on rivers isnt that he is so terrible we should trade him cut him blah blah.. not that hes the worst qb in the league.. not even bottom 10 or 15.. NOOO.. my stance is and always has been - that its LT that makes the team go. Rivers is a pawn. I see him as big ben on the superbowl steelers.. So when i see JK17 (sorry to call you out bud) giving reasons to why Rivers is good.. i just cant stand that.. the man isnt a real probowler.. not last year.. not this year.. maybe down the road, hes still young.. but the guy isnt better than brees, hes not an elite qb, and he doesnt deserve praise for just not messing up....

[KRS1]

Now im sure your upset about all the san diego fans harping on rivers, and you want for all that senseless garbage and rambling to stop... but what explanation have you given? LT stepped up his play and rivers got better? now you say I havent been watching? The way to beat the chargers is to put guys in the box to stop LT, and to blitz rivers cause hes one of the worst quarterbacks in the league when under siege. WEll just so happens those things are the same thing--- all you gotta do is put guys in the box and we struggle. Now you say LT stepped up his game and Rivers got better? so, wait... Rivers went from not being able to help himself, to having all the time in the world to throw so therefore he cant mess up ... and why? because of LT...

Perhaps you just say my comment and wanted to take a shot at me.. i get that.. but my stance all along on rivers isnt that he is so terrible we should trade him cut him blah blah.. not that hes the worst qb in the league.. not even bottom 10 or 15.. NOOO.. my stance is and always has been - that its LT that makes the team go. Rivers is a pawn. I see him as big ben on the superbowl steelers.. So when i see JK17 (sorry to call you out bud) giving reasons to why Rivers is good.. i just cant stand that.. the man isnt a real probowler.. not last year.. not this year.. maybe down the road, hes still young.. but the guy isnt better than brees, hes not an elite qb, and he doesnt deserve praise for just not messing up....

See you have part of the scenario correct, LT does make this team go. He determines our success. The other part is where you are all jacked up. For starters putting guys in the box is not the way to stop the Chargers. Every game teams stack the box and LT still gets his yards and gets his TD's. Do you think teams didn't stack the box last year? Watch the games, they did and they still do. The problem is that early this season LT was getting 15 touches and the rest was left to Rivers. What happens when they stack the box and blitz and you continue to try and throw the ball while getting poor pass blocking? YOUR QB PLAY SUFFERS. I never said LT stepped his play up what I said was "Once defenses started playing honest because LT's number was getting called again Rivers play stepped up as well". Let me break that down for you. Basically once the ball stopped going to LT opposing defenses only had to account for Rivers. Once LT started getting the ball again opposing defenses couldn't do that so Rivers play improved. What's harder to do cover 1 guy or cover 2? Take a look at last season, Teams ignored Rivers and focused completely on LT and Rivers had an outstanding year. It works both ways.

I'm not trying to take shots at you at all but I think it's dumb of you to sit here and ignore some pretty glaring facts of this season. Yes Rivers played like crap early but look at the reasons why and it cannot be totally blamed on him. I blame most of the struggles on coaching. Turner completely ignored the run (and LT as a receiver) at the beginning of the season so what did opposing teams do? They went straight after Rivers. He sucked for a reason. Since we started giving LT the ball 20 to 30 touches a game and since we got Chris Chambers Rivers play at QB has been fine. Not spectacular but completely acceptable.

[TitanHope]

Honestly I would be more worried about Shawne Merriman using this as motivation than the Titans with his comments. The NFL fines on Mawae and David Stewart pretty much speak for themselves. Merriman would scare the hell out of me on sunday if I was a Titan fan.

http://www.titansonline.com/news/new...php?PRKey=5523

"I think the situation of the things happening before was really blown out of proportion, really" Merriman said Wednesday, when the AFC West champion Chargers (11-5) began preparing to face a Tennessee team they beat 23-17 in overtime on Dec. 9. "If any payback is due, the league already took care of it. I'm over it. I'm ready to go out and play football."

Merriman is a great player. One of, if not the, best pass-rushers in the league. That alone is worrisome. But, don't make him out to be some unstoppable, rampaging force. He'll probably be double teamed due to Young's quad injury.

Besides, due to Merriman's accusation of Fisher, I bet the officials will be calling this game very closely. No one's gonna get away with anything.

[KRS1]

http://www.titansonline.com/news/new...php?PRKey=5523



Merriman is a great player. One of, if not the, best pass-rushers in the league. That alone is worrisome. But, don't make him out to be some unstoppable, rampaging force. He'll probably be double teamed due to Young's quad injury.

Besides, due to Merriman's accusation of Fisher, I bet the officials will be calling this game very closely. No one's gonna get away with anything.

I don't think he is going to try to get away with anything and in the way of unstoppable rampaging defensive players goes I would put Merriman right up there with anyone in the league. Obviously he can be stopped and targeted but that leaves opportunites for the line and backers to succeed. I personally don't think the Titans will try to throw a whole bunch anyways. If they double team Merriman, Shaun Phillips on the other side will eat them alive. Vince is not a great passer at this point in his career and his legs may not be in the best shape for him to run around and do what Vince Young does so I expect a heavy dose of Lendale White, Henry and Brown.

All I was responding to was your comment that the Titans players would use Shawne's comments as bulletin board material. My point is that after the cheap shot Mawae and Stewart took on him, he is the one who will be extra jacked up for this game. Words are one thing to get mad about but those guys making a legit attempt to hurt him is something else all together.

What worries me is Haynesworth and Vanden Bosch. McNeil, Dielman and Manumaleuna are going to have to figure out a way to stop them. The only point we got any relief last time was down the stretch when Vanden Bosch was winded and Haynesworth was rotating plays on and off the field.