TITANS SHOW THE AFC WHO IS BOSS

Don't look now, but the Tennessee Titans have finally bucked the AFC "non-challenged" moniker, off of their backs. On Monday Night Football, in prime time, the Titans smacked the Indianapolis Colts, 31-21. The Titans season began, in a very auspicious way, with the physical and emotional injury to franchise QB, Vince Young. Sportswriters, then began with quips like, "they have not played anyone" and "wait until the Colts come to town." Well, the Colts have come and gone, and the Titans are 7-0.

Monday Night, the Titans were hitting on all cylinders, with a mounting offense, hard hitting defense, and even some highlight reel plays (which most feel is odd, as the Titans are not looked at, as an offensive team). The beginning of the game started off with an "uh-oh" type feel, with Peyton Manning hitting Dallas Clark with two TD throws, in the sending the Colts out to a 14-6 lead (with the Titans only getting two Bironas FGs), just into the third quarter. Then everything change. It really was not like the defense wasn't doing their job, in those opening quarters, they were just missing. An interception slipping out of Michael Griffins hands, Haynesworth and the D-line just missing Manning in the pocket, and they were "keeping things close."

Then the Titans showed the rest of the country what they already knew, at this point in the season, "they are the team to beat in the AFC." Given, this is not the same NFL, as it has been over the last three to four seasons (with Brady's leg injuries, the Cowboys imploding, Peyton having "timing issues" and the list goes on), but every Sunday to this point the Titans have gotten it done. After the Dallas Clark TD, the Titans went on a 24 point run. Big LenDale White had two TD runs, one was a spectacular goal line play, where he just stretched over the goal line, after a Manning INT. Then the "D" came into the game, big time, where Chris Hope came up with his first two INT's of the season, in the second half. The second interception sealed the game for the Titans. Kerry Collins was solid with a 193 Yard night (with no ints/no TDs), Chris Johnson rushed for 77 yards and a game ending TD, while LenDale White put two into the end zone, as stated.

Going into the second half of the season, the Titans are ahead of the other AFC teams by a full two games. The Bills, Steelers, and Patriots are all at 5-2, and in their own division the Houston Texans are 3-4. The Titans are a lock to win their division and are looking to go deep into the playoffs. For the first time since Steve McNair's retirement, the Titans fans have something to cheer about, besides the "Music City Miracle" season. They have a defense that will not quit, two dominate running backs (Chris Johnson looking for rookie of the year status, possibly), and a veteran QB who does not do to much and makes very little, in the way of mistakes. The Titans have the possibility to beat any team in the NFL, now. Monday night proved, they can win games with scores which are more than 14-10, or the low scoring games. As long as they stay healthy, the Tennessee Titans are in it to win it. It is just a matter of "any given Sunday," now.

Sphere: Related Content

IS 100 YEARS ENOUGH, FOR THE CUBS?

Novelties, like the car, phones, indoor plumbing, radios and the home run were first coming to the people, one hundred years ago. World War I had not begun, the last time the Chicago Cubs won the World Series, in 1908. Defying imagination, the Chicago Cubs have been the "darling losers," in all of sports, for one hundred years. Some blame a goat ("The Curse of the Billy Goat"), others blame fate, and still others feel every year, "this is the year, we are going all the way."

Coming into June, this year, the Cubs have the best record in all of baseball. The last time they had the best record, in the big leagues (coming into June), was in 1908. Mordecai Brown was the staff ace (29-9, 1.47 ERA, 27 Complete Games, 9 Shutouts, 312.1 Innings Pitched, & 5 Saves) and Joe Tinker (SS) was the "offensive standout" (157 games, .266 avg., 146 hits, 6 home runs, 67 RBI's, and 30 stolen bases). Pitching was the 1908 Cubbies strong suit, but "team attitude and team gel" was what won them a World Series.

In 2008, the Chicago Cubs have many high profile players and some all-stars. Carlos Zambrano is a dominate force on the hill, barring a huge set back/injury, he has a legitimate shot at being a hall of fame pitcher. Ted Lilly, Dempster, and Kerry Wood (who is turning out to be a savior and a solid closer) in the pen, make up a very good rotation, for playoff contention. Offensively is where the Cubs will excel and separate themselves, from most teams. Alfonso Soriano, Derek Lee, and Aramis Ramirez anchoring the lineup, things are very bright offensively. Throwing in the position and role players, of Soto (C), Fukudome (Of), DeRosa and Theriot, they have versatility.

World War I, World War II, The Korean War, Vietnam, Civil Rights, Woodstock, and countless other things over one hundred years, but the Cubs have not won the big prize, a World Series Ring. It almost defies comprehension, when looking at dynasties and common place winners: the New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, Celtics, Lakers, Dodgers, Yankees, Tigers, Edmonton Oilers, Duke Blue Devils and North Carolina Tar Heels (NCAA basketball), the Cubs could not win, even one, World Series. Even, the Red Sox broke out of their own "jinx." Fluke teams, like the Royals (1985), Cardinals (1983), and the other "one season wonders" have managed to put it together, to win their respective titles.

In an age of sports, where teams can buy a title (Yankees, Red Sox, Lakers, Patriots), the Cubs still fail. However, the Cubs do have several things on their side this year. They have offense, defense, young and veteran talent, a rotation that is more than solid (plus, in a five and seven game series, would dominate), a bullpen that is second to none, and lastly they are playing and have a lightness about them. In the hundred years of failure, they have experienced (on the South side) "The Black Sox Scandal," the "Steve Bartman" incident (in the playoffs), and possibly a "billy goat jinx." Yet, in 2008, maybe one hundred years, a great baseball team and coaching staff, and a little bit of luck will make this year "the year," for the Cubs first World Series Ring. The "lovable losers" will become, the lovable winners, of the North side of Chicago?

Sphere: Related Content