Despite Hive absolutely shattering my soul, there is a piece of good news that I'm SERIOUSLY looking forward to! The Titans FINALLY have their Divisional Playoff game today!!!
The Titans winning against the Texans two weeks ago feels so long ago. Grabbing the top seed AND the BYE week this season really feels, to me anyway, like a big advantage even more than in previous seasons when the top TWO seeds would get a bye week. It feels like the Titans won a playoff game already, but didn't damage their bodies at all.
Now, that's all sunshines and roses and butterflies and apple pies and kisses from grandma, BUT the bye week means nothing now. The regular season means nothing now. Home field advantage does matter but still, in a way, it means nothing now. It's a new vicious season now.
Players play harder knowing there is a championship on the line and months off after the season ends. No need to play it safe right now. Players run a smidge faster, they hit harder, and play dirtier. Playoff football is just a different beast altogether.
As a fan, I am so nervous but also super amped. I just want this team to WIN BABY.
The Titans face the Cincinnati Bengals today in Nashville. While I wish the Titans could play the Giants or some other terrible team, that's obviously not what Playoff Football is about. Every matchup in the playoffs will be against good teams, at least when you are this deep into the post-season.
The Bengals feature a young, rapidly ascending QB in Joe Burrow. Burrow is a problem and will test the Titans secondary, no doubt about it. To go along with Burrow at QB, the Bengals have a pretty deadly receiving core in Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd. Nearly all three of those receivers recorded 1,000 receiving yards EACH. Two of three did, with Tyler Boyd recording 828 yards.
The Bengals offense in general is what I'm worried about most in this game. This team can even run the ball effectively with their running back Joe Mixon who ran for 1,205 yards this season.
The Titans defense must be ready to play today. I'm pretty confident they will be since, in general, this defense is A LOT better this year.
The Bengals on defense, I'm not that worried about to be honest. I think the Titans should be able to move the ball ok today.
The Titans will have ALL twenty-two original opening day starters available for this game!! The Titans lost some depth pieces throughout the season to season ending injuries, but somehow some way, after a a ridiculous amount of injuries this season, all twenty-two starters will be playing!
Tannehill, King Henry, A.J. and Julio all on the field! The entire defense FRESH!
Let's take advantage of this opportunity PLEASE Titans!! I don't see many teams stopping the Titans in a situation like this, I really hope I am right!!
Honestly, I can barely write this post out because of my hands shaking a little, and the butterflies flapping in my stomach! LOL.
22 starters, all returning. Julio wears number 2. A.J. wears 11, (1+1=2) Derrick literally wears number 22.
Today's date? January 22nd....
Despite the Titans being the top seed, if you look up NFL content on YouTube, it's like these analysts avoid talking about the Titans as if they are the plague.
Despite the Titans top seed, people seem to think the Bengals are the favorite today.
I seriously want to see the Titans prove these idiots wrong today, and go all the way....
