New York Jets can ride on winning momentum to beat hosts Tennessee Titans – NFL Preview
A couple of days earlier coach Mike Munchak defended the Tennessee Titans performance saying they were improving if not winning, and the next game versus the New York Jets this Monday (Dec. 17) is going to bear witness to the credibility of the official’s
claim.
The Titans have already sacked their offensive coordinator Chris Palmer, replaced by Tom Moore, and they have to prove if they have really improved at all position, as claimed by the head coach.
Although there is still a long way to go for the Jets, a playoff chance is still wide open in front of them; they will target a win this weekend to cement it further. They along with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals are on the course to
the playoffs through second wild card but need to win at least a pair of games to make sure they are through to the second round. Their wins might not be enough alone for the second phase progression, they need to see the Steelers and Bengals losing their
games too before they could claim a berth.
The Titans on other hand do not have much at stake. They with 4-9 points on the table are nowhere even closer to a playoff berth. A win nevertheless is most important for them, for the sake of their and their officials’ future.
Owner Bud Adams has already put all officials on an informal notice, and since his latest warning the team has managed to pull off only a single win. Since sacking of their offensive coordinator there is a sense of fear in the team that many officials might
be on the course to lose their jobs too.
Coach Munchak believes they are heading towards right direction, irrespective of a question whether they are coming up to the expectations of the owner.
Munchak said:
"That's not my worry or my decision. My job is to get these guys, we have to win football games. I get that. But I think it's all about, for me, is knowing that we're heading in the right direction. I feel we're doing that. I feel we're not getting the wins,
and I get that. And that's what I'll be judged on when it's all said and done."
A particular concern for the coach is the offensive star. Jake Locker has not proved to be very effective as a starter this season, and also has missed quite a few games with injury scares. The team has also tried former starter QB Matt Hasselbeck but he
too has proven to be an equal failure.
With only three games to go in the season now, there is hardly time for the coach to seek a replacement on the offensive line no matter whether they win or lose all three games.
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