You Won't Remember These Titans
History repeats itself. The only things that are certain are death and taxes. Offense wins games, defense wins championships. These three statements are extremely tiresome cliches` but for our purposes they actually have some worth. They're all applicable to what I'm examining at this very moment: how on Earth did the Titans fool everyone watching the NFL?
I will give them their just "props" for winning the AFC South and securing homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. That wasn't smoke and mirrors, they earned it. BUT...that will soon be a distant memory. Why, you ask? Two words: Kerry Collins.
Mr. Collins, how are you sir? This is the Ghost of Playoffs Past dropping in for a little visit. How've you been? Haven't seen you in awhile. I thought since you and your buddies are hosting a playoff game Saturday afternoon against Baltimore, I might rehash a few painful memories with you. Sorry, it's just my nature, ya know?
Your first big playoff opportunity game in 1996 when your Carolina Panthes took on the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game. This was your second year in the NFL, and the Panther faithful had big hopes for you and the franchise. Things didn't go your way that day, as you completed only 19 of 37 passes for 215 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs in a 30-13 drubbing at the hands of the eventual Super Bowl champions. I understand it was your first playoff experience, so far that we can give you a free pass.
Something strange began to develop in the following season, though. The Panthers started to struggle and were no more a team on the rise. A QB seems to develop the most by year three in the league, but this was not the case for you. The exact opposite, in fact. You only managed 11 passing TDs with a ridiculous 21 interceptions and QB rating of 55.7, one of the lowest among NFL starters that year. Were you a flash in the pan already? Overrated? A bust? The Panthers thought so, as you were traded mid-season
the following year to the New Orleans Saints where for the 3rd time in your short NFL career you ended the season with more interceptions than touchdowns. Truly dreadful, sir. But...there were more playoff games in store for you. Just not with Carolina or New Orleans.
Let's jump to the 2000 NFL season. That was fun, wasn't it? Your new team the NY Giants won the last five regular season games to wrap up the NFC East. Then you led your boys to wins over Philadelphia and Minnesota in the playoffs, sending the G-Men to the Super Bowl to square off against the Baltimore Ravens. In the biggest game of your career, how did things work out? Don't remember, you say? Well how about these frightening stats: 15-39 passing for 112 yards, 4 INTs and 4 sacks. OUCH. Now to be fair, I know the 2000 Ravens were an unbelievable defense, certainly one of the top 3 ever to take the field. But, good sir, a 7.1 QB rating in the Super Bowl is unacceptable.
I'll take over from here, Mr. Past Playoff Fallacies Ghost. After watching Mr. Collins untimely disaster against Baltimore I realized the man would never, EVER win a Super Bowl or conference championship again. He cannot handle the pressure when blitzed, and he folds like house of cards when that pressure cooker is at full blast in the 4th Qtr. He is doomed to fail, my friends. Despite his great regular season and all that the Titans have accomplished so far, it will be marked under "futility" in the very near future.
Even if Tennessee gets by Baltimore this Saturday, they will certainly lose to Pittsburgh. I can guarantee this with 100% certainty. Plan on Pittsburgh or Baltimore being in the Super Bowl. Plan on Kerry Collins looking dazed and confused throughout the day. Plan on being sick at your stomach if horrendous QB play gets in your crawl. But most of all, plan on Tennessee either praying Vince Young improves or that they find a replacement for Collins if they ever want to get back to the Super Bowl.
So this weekend and for the rest of the playoffs, remember: Death, taxes and failure by Collins. Solid certainties in an uncertain world.
I will give them their just "props" for winning the AFC South and securing homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. That wasn't smoke and mirrors, they earned it. BUT...that will soon be a distant memory. Why, you ask? Two words: Kerry Collins.
Mr. Collins, how are you sir? This is the Ghost of Playoffs Past dropping in for a little visit. How've you been? Haven't seen you in awhile. I thought since you and your buddies are hosting a playoff game Saturday afternoon against Baltimore, I might rehash a few painful memories with you. Sorry, it's just my nature, ya know?
Your first big playoff opportunity game in 1996 when your Carolina Panthes took on the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game. This was your second year in the NFL, and the Panther faithful had big hopes for you and the franchise. Things didn't go your way that day, as you completed only 19 of 37 passes for 215 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs in a 30-13 drubbing at the hands of the eventual Super Bowl champions. I understand it was your first playoff experience, so far that we can give you a free pass.
Something strange began to develop in the following season, though. The Panthers started to struggle and were no more a team on the rise. A QB seems to develop the most by year three in the league, but this was not the case for you. The exact opposite, in fact. You only managed 11 passing TDs with a ridiculous 21 interceptions and QB rating of 55.7, one of the lowest among NFL starters that year. Were you a flash in the pan already? Overrated? A bust? The Panthers thought so, as you were traded mid-season
Let's jump to the 2000 NFL season. That was fun, wasn't it? Your new team the NY Giants won the last five regular season games to wrap up the NFC East. Then you led your boys to wins over Philadelphia and Minnesota in the playoffs, sending the G-Men to the Super Bowl to square off against the Baltimore Ravens. In the biggest game of your career, how did things work out? Don't remember, you say? Well how about these frightening stats: 15-39 passing for 112 yards, 4 INTs and 4 sacks. OUCH. Now to be fair, I know the 2000 Ravens were an unbelievable defense, certainly one of the top 3 ever to take the field. But, good sir, a 7.1 QB rating in the Super Bowl is unacceptable.
I'll take over from here, Mr. Past Playoff Fallacies Ghost. After watching Mr. Collins untimely disaster against Baltimore I realized the man would never, EVER win a Super Bowl or conference championship again. He cannot handle the pressure when blitzed, and he folds like house of cards when that pressure cooker is at full blast in the 4th Qtr. He is doomed to fail, my friends. Despite his great regular season and all that the Titans have accomplished so far, it will be marked under "futility" in the very near future.
Even if Tennessee gets by Baltimore this Saturday, they will certainly lose to Pittsburgh. I can guarantee this with 100% certainty. Plan on Pittsburgh or Baltimore being in the Super Bowl. Plan on Kerry Collins looking dazed and confused throughout the day. Plan on being sick at your stomach if horrendous QB play gets in your crawl. But most of all, plan on Tennessee either praying Vince Young improves or that they find a replacement for Collins if they ever want to get back to the Super Bowl.
So this weekend and for the rest of the playoffs, remember: Death, taxes and failure by Collins. Solid certainties in an uncertain world.
Tags & Keywords : football, NFL, playoffs, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Kerry Collins, New York Giants, AFC, NFC
