| | | | | | | |  Friday, December 13, 2002
McNair toughs it out
By Melissa Stark
Special to ABC Sports Online
Monday night's game between the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans matches up two teams who are very similar and on big winning streaks. The Patriots enter Monday night having won five of six, while the Titans have won seven of eight.
You don't hear much about the Titans, probably because they are in Nashville and are not overly flashy, but it is amazing what they have done after starting 1-4.
|
On Alert:
|
|
The Patriots are focused for their final three games. It's funny. They are excited about playing on Monday Night Football, but they didn't get an extra day off of practice. Instead, Bill Belichick gave them another of practice. As they said, "it's another day for him to beat us up."
But the players know it will pay dividends when game-time comes.
The Patriots are more confident at this time than last year (when they were also 8-5). Their defense is playing well again, and they added a number of skill players on offense.
And their mentality has not changed. Lawyer Milloy said he knows teams are giving them respect, but Ty Law still carries the "no respect" label because no one gives them a chance again.
--Melissa Stark
|
They'll get a big boost this week with the return of Jevon Kearse. He hasn't played since breaking a bone in his left foot on the second play of the season against Philadelphia. His role hasn't been determined and he won't play the entire game, but he is such an amazing player that getting him back will be a big addition as the Titans fight for a playoff berth.
Another player they are hoping to get more out of is Eddie George. He had a toe injury last year, and he says he's fine, but his numbers show that he's not having the same impact on offense as he's had in the past. He's averaging just 3.3 yards per carry, nearly ½ a yard less than his career average.
When I spoke with the Patriots, no one even mentioned George. Instead, they talked about Steve McNair and what they need to do to stop him. He is Tennessee's offense, but he seems to thrive on that. Expect the Patriots to spy him throughout the night in order to prevent him from scrambling for big gains.
McNair hasn't practiced in three weeks, but keeps putting up big numbers. He is such a tough guy and very underrated. When the Titans played at Oakland last year, I remember he literally couldn't walk the night before. But he still played the next night, and beat the Raiders in the Black Hole. He's so tough that Jeff Fisher told me that after he had offseason surgery, he went bow hunting the next day.
|  | | Steve McNair has thrived despite numerous injuries. |
He says he concentrates better when he is hurt. He will go into Monday night with toe, shoulder and rib injuries. He gets shot up with painkillers before the game and just does a great job. He has completed 49-of-66 passes for 571yards, 4 TDs and 0 INTs in key wins the past two weeks over the Giants and Colts.
The Patriots are banged up at linebacker, which hurt them covering McNair. Tedy Bruschi sat out last week with a knee injury and is doubtful on Monday. His backup, Ted Johnson, is also sore.
Offensively, they may be without rookie wide receiver/kick returner Deion Branch. Being without Branch should not change the offensive strategy. New England counts on Tom Brady not to make mistakes, something he has avoided the past six weeks. During New England's four-game losing streak earlier in the year, Brady threw seven INTs. Since then, he has thrown just two (to 11 TDs).
Keith Bulluck said the Titans want to take the Patriots out of their signature plays -- the toss sweep and the screen pass.
If they can do that, Tennessee could finally get some of the recognition that has avoided them the past two months.
Melissa Stark is Monday Night Football's sideline reporter and a regular contributor to ABC Sports Online.
| | |
| | | | |
ESPN.com:
HELP |
ADVERTISER INFO |
CONTACT US |
TOOLS |
SITE MAP
Copyright ©2001 ESPN Internet Group. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site. Employment opportunities at ESPN.com.
| |
| 
|
