TED SUNDQUIST'S WEEK TWELVE GAME REVIEWS: JETS AT TITANS

[Editor's note:  Former Broncos G.M. Ted Sundquist looks at Sunday's impressive win by the old Titans over the new Titans.] 
“All good things must come to an end” (or so they say), and so goes the 10-game win streak of the Tennessee Titans. In all fairness no other team was more equipped to come into Nashville and take on the unbeaten behemoth than Brett Favre and the New York Jets. Favre was playing in games like these when a number of players on the Tennessee roster were still in middle school and the Jets have a defense that’s quietly gone about its business for most of the season. New York improved to 8-3 to remain on top of the AFC East (1 game ahead of New England) and the Titans probably did themselves a big favor in getting the “undefeated” mantra off their backs.
As stated in the pregame report, Tennessee had built 2.5 months of victories with a formula of stout defense, solid running and efficient QB play. It was the past two weeks that gave many Titans fans visions of a balanced attack with the play of the veteran Kerry Collins against Chicago and Jacksonville. Collins was overly effective in passing for 500+ yards and 5 TD’s in the two-game span.
Despite their newfound “air attack” Tennessee would preferably run on 1^st down, and usually does. The Jets had shown their own penchant for putting up a “stone wall” on first and were leading the League in doing so.
KEY #1 was for the Titans to stick with what got them here and find some cracks in the Jet defensive front. New York had surrendered a few more yards on average when run at from the right and I felt heavy emphasis would be placed on Titans OC Kevin Mawae and OL’s Jake Scott and David Stewart in opening up some holes inside.
The Titans weren’t able to do this (though not for trying). Tennessee’s Chris Johnson rushed for 46 yards on 10 carries and Lendale White had a single carry for minus one.
The Titans did stay middle/right to the tune of 7 carries for 33 yards. But take out the long rush of the day (24 yards) and Tennessee was held to 6 for 9 yards attacking right. NT Kris Jenkins proved to be a load inside and LB’s Eric Barton and David Bowens combined for 9 tackles. There was no room.
Brett Favre had carried his “Packer magic” east and was now adding to his 18 year career in green. New York’s offense was the direct beneficiary of Favre’s poise and playmaking ability. The Jets were sustaining drives, controlling the clock and putting up points as well as anyone in the League.
So to control New York, Tennessee would have to control Favre and putting pressure on the Jets’ QB was KEY #2.
Though the stats will show 2 sacks and 2 hurries (1 sack forcing a fumble by Favre), New York added to its impressive offensive prowess of 3 drives over 10 plays (13, 13 & 12, with another 9 play drive), 3 drives over 5:00 (7:50, 6:54 & 7:34, another of 4:48) and 34 points to add to their already 3^rd best 254.
Edge pressure never really emerged, though DT Albert Haynesworth (TEN leader in sacks) came away with 1.5 and DE Kyle Vanden Bosch add the other half. Favre threw a pick but was for the most part comfortable and calm passing for 25 of 32, 224 yards & 2 TD’s. His 103.6 rating was his fifth performance over 100+ this season.
With New York’s defense playing effectively against the run, Tennessee would need to turn to its playmakers in the passing game; Justin Gage & Brandon Jones. Collins had leaned on these two significantly the past two games and would need their downfield production to back off the Jets at the LOS.
New York had been a bit suspect to the “big play” pass (27 of 20+ yards). TE Bo Scaife and RB Chris Johnson were the leading receivers, but KEY #3 would be the ability to spread the ball around to the entire corps of skilled personnel and hopefully create some “big plays” of their own off play action.
Tennessee hit nine different receivers on the day, covering 21 receptions. The Titans had numerous “drive killing” drops in the first half and really didn’t kick things into gear until the second 30 minutes. Gage’s lone reception was a 37 yarder and Jones would haul in 4 for 40 (23 long). The Jets appeared content to keep the rest underneath the coverage and break on the receivers with some solid tackling in space. Gage’s deep catch help set up a TD in the fourth quarter but it proved to be a little too late for the Titans to really threaten New York with any consistency.
With Nick Harper deactivated due to an ankle injury, Tennessee was playing somewhat shorthanded in the secondary. KEY #4 would be the ability to matchup on Jet WR’s Laveranues Coles and Jericho Cotchery.
DC Courtland Finnegan had 4 picks on the season and sub DC Chris Carr would need to pick up the slack of the missing Harper.
It wasn’t to be.
Coles and Cotchery were their usual efficient selves. Laveranues had 7 catches for 88 yards, a long of 25 & a TD. Jericho would add 6 for 55.
A sidebar was the production of TE Dustin Keller. With emphasis on stopping New York’s productive WR tandem, I felt Keller (20 for 251 yards over 4 game win streak) might play a major factor for Favre as the outlet. Keller added 6 receptions for 42 yards, long of 16. But it was the situations where he was able to turn first downs on scoring drives and draw two pass interference penalties and an illegal contact that really stood out. This type of production will keep Favre looking his way as the season wears on towards the playoffs.
KEY #5 was to be the explosive “big play” ability of Jet returner Leon Washington. Washington didn’t get many opportunities and the beleaguered Titan coverage units did a good job keeping him bottled up on the day. Washington had 2 punt returns for 8 yards and 2 kickoff returns averaging 19.5. But it wasn’t on special teams that the speedy Washington did his damage, it was out of the backfield.
After a Tennessee field goal cut the lead to 20-6, Washington broke free from the Jets’ 39 and raced the distance to put the game out of reach with 11:07 to go. The 61-yard scoring run proved to be the final “dagger” in the heart of the undefeated hopes of the Nashville nation.