Just over a month ago, Tennessee Titans Head Coach Jeff Fisher made headlines by wearing a Colts jersey to a charity event. As he revealed Peyton Manning’s familiar #18 across his chest, Fisher declared to the receptive crowd, “I just wanted to feel like a winner.”
At the time the Titans were 0-6 and unquestionably the biggest disappointment in the League. The following week, at the urging of team owner Bud Adams, Fisher made a switch to his starting lineup, reinstating former-quarterback-of-the-future Vince Young behind center. It was a move many interpreted as a waving-of-the-white-flag by Fisher, forfeiting hope on a season that began with Super Bowl aspirations.
Since the switch, the Titans have won five straight.
Of the five wins, none has been more impressive than Sundays against the Cardinals. Laugh as you may at the Cardinals history of ineptitude or the less-than-intimidating looking bird on their helmets, they are still the defending NFC Champs, boast a 7-4 record, and are the safe bet to win their division for the second consecutive season. Never mind that that division is the woeful NFC North… the Cards are, for all intents and purposes, a contender.
So when Cardinals LaRod Stephens-Howling downed a punt at the 1 yard line with 2:37 remaining and the Titans in a four-point deficit, Jeff Fisher probably wasn’t feeling too good. It seemed a safe assumption Coach Fisher would go home that night, throw his Peyton Manning jersey on his back, stand in front of his bedroom mirror and pretend to be a winner, because there was no way the Titans were leaving that game victorious.
But this week… just as has been the case every week since Fisher made his “feel like a winner” statement… the Titans came out on top. The other similarity between this Sunday and the other four weeks that Tennessee has been winners? The man starting at quarterback: Mr. Vincent Paul Young.
With less than two minutes to play, Young and the Titans faced a fourth and four from INSIDE THEIR OWN TEN. With both feet in his own end zone, Young delivered a perfectly thrown ball to receiver Kenny Britt, keeping his team alive.
With under 45 seconds to play, Young again faced a fourth and four, this time from the Cardinals 44-yard line. With the savvy of a 15-year veteran, Young stared down the blitz, found an open Lavelle Hawkins, and got another Titans first down.
And then, with 5 seconds left in the game, on a fourth and goal from the ten yard line, Young scrambled around the pocket, buying just enough time to get the ball to Britt in a spot where only he could catch it.
Tennessee had a touchdown. The clock had expired. The Titans were winners.
Again.
The Titans are the only team in the history of the NFL to win five straight after losing their first six. They are now just one game out of the Wild Card spot. While they are still on the outside looking in, Vince Young and the Titans have forced themselves back into the playoff conversation.
Young’s career, like the Titans season, has been a roller coaster. After winning Rookie of the Year and making the Pro Bowl in 2006, Young’s statistics steadily declined the next couple years. He suffered a knee injury on opening day 2008, lost his starting job to career journeyman Kerry Collins, and had not started a game since.
With his cap figure estimated to be over $14 million next season, many experts expected 2009 to be Young’s final one in Tennessee. If Jeff Fisher wants to continue feeling like a winner, however, he’d be wise to find a way to keep him.
Young’s not even the Titans most talented offensive player. That distinction goes to running back Chris Johnson, who tied an NFL record with his 6th consecutive 125+ yard rushing game. Additionally, Johnson surpassed Hall-of-Famer Barry Sanders for the best November rushing the ball ever, which undoubtedly has played a major role in the team’s recent win-streak.
But on the 18-play game winning drive, Johnson did not touch the ball once. It was all Young, carrying his team 99-yards for the win on a drive that can only be described as “Elway-esque.”
Young has now won the last nine games he has started. He is 23 – 11 for his career. He has taken a team to the playoffs and brought the 2009 Tennessee Titans back from the dead. He has proven himself a winner.
Despite this historic run, the ending may still not be a happy one for the Titans. With a game against the undefeated Colts in Indianapolis next week, the Titans still have a long way to go if they want to make the playoffs. Regardless, however this season ends for Tennessee, they will have left us with one unarguable truth.
If Jeff Fisher wants to feel like a winner, he should wear #10.
Eric Marmon wrote this for SportEvents.com, which helps real NFL fans find NFL game tickets and tickets to the Super Bowl.
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