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Entering Sunday's game in Indianapolis, there was a lot of talk about the hottest team in the NFL. It's true the Tennessee Titans were playing some pretty great football during the course of resurrecting their once-lost 2009 season. It's been well documented that Vince Young, Chris Johnson and company had spurred the Titans to a five-game winning streak after opening the season 0-6. But, Sunday, they were facing someone a bit hotter. The Indianapolis Colts had won 20 consecutive regular season games. Not just five. That's not a lucky streak, that's a very good football team, no matter how many close calls they've endured. Sunday afternoon, they showed why, and won their 21st straight game in the process, prevailing 27-17.
It wasn't an overwhelming performance. It was more workmanlike. Just show up and win the game.
Peyton Manning was efficient, throwing for 270 yards and a touchdown. Joseph Addai was solid, rushing for 79 yards and pair of touchdowns. The offensive line kept Manning protected. The defense contained Johnson (yes, 113 yards on 27 carries and no scores is containing him) and prevented the big play through the air. They made field goals, had some impressive time-consuming drives, made fourth down stops. Basically, the Colts did what they do. They won.
"We just didn't finish in the red zone,'' Titans quarterback Vince Young said. "Our guys made some big plays, but we just didn't finish. Against a team like this, with an MVP quarterback, you have to score touchdowns.''
Home field advantage throughout the playoff is almost a foregone conclusion, as they have a three game lead over the Cincinnati Bengals (and probably San Diego Chargers, who are currently beating the hapless Browns) with four games to play. They'll get the Broncos at home next week. A win sets the NFL record for the most consecutive regular season victories, but, more importantly, pretty much cements home-field advantage.
The Titans still have a desperation shot at the final wild card spot, but they'll have to win out and jump over a handful of teams who didn't spot the rest of the league six games. They'll easily bounce back against the Rams next week at home, but they'll need to be scoreboard watching the Dolphins, Jets, Ravens, Steelers, Jags, Texans and Broncos. So, yeah, it's a long shot. There's certainly no shame in missing the playoffs after that awful start, but it looked like a Cinderella story.
The only problem was they ran into the Indianapolis Colts in the regular season. They just don't lose. At least not since October 27, 2008.
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