Hi Folks,

As we do each week, here are our exclusive Game Recaps where we sit a couple of our guys down in front of every NFL game to pull out the important items you need to know from a Fantasy Football standpoint.

We try to go way beyond what the box score or standard game recaps will offer and bring you what you really Need to Know and what you Ought to Know. Let's jump to it.

Joe

Footballguys Game Recap Writers: Mike Anderson, Bill Brown, Michael Brown, Jeff Caldwell, Stan Dorsey, Cathy Fazio, Rich Fix, Mike Flynn, Bradley Gabbard, Cory Gilbert, Clayton Gray, Tracy Hackler, A. Jalen, Alex Knapik, Mike Krucek Jeff Lewis, Scott Martin, Allen Matirossian, Dave Oleyar, Jeff Pasquino, Greg Porzucek, Steve Prosapio, Steve Schone, David Shick, Jeff Siedsma, Mark Strickland, Dave Teller, Michael Tudor, Kerry Walls, Mark Westmyer, Todd Young

Edited by Joe Bryant

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Tennessee Titans

With the Indianapolis Colts losing to the New England Patriots on Sunday, the Tennessee Titans had the perfect opportunity to sit alone atop their division for the first time all season.

QB Steve McNair, questionable due to a strained right calf muscle suffered in the Atlanta Falcons game last week, started the game. Looking not quite full speed, McNair made a valiant effort to compete, but couldn't carry the team to victory. He started the game off with a bang, connecting with WR Justin McCareins on a perfectly thrown pass for a 59-yard TD on the Titans first drive. But the New York Jets defense came with the pressure and forced McNair into to errant passes and two first half INTs. With the Titans down 14 points early in the 4th quarter, McNair went to the shotgun formation and led the Tennessee offense down the field against a soft Jets' prevent defense. However, the 16-play drive ended at the Jets 3 as a 4th down pass to TE Erron Kinney in the end zone was dislodged from his chest after a punishing hit by Jets SS Sam Garnes. McNair did rally the Titans for a late TD pass to WR Derrick Mason to pull Tennessee within 7, but New York recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock for the victory.

To keep the pressure off McNair, it was clear from the start that Tennessee's game plan was to run RB Eddie George early and often against the Jets' worst rush defense in the league. While the first Jets' tackler rarely brought down George, he was unable to carry the offense load. George was limited to 39 first half rushing yards and only amassed a total of 73 yards on the ground for the game.

WR Derrick Mason was smothered by the Jets' secondary, only gathering in 2 catches for 17 yards in the first half. Mason was busy in the second half, finishing the game with outstanding numbers of 11 catches for 133 yards and a TD. However, much of this was done in the 4th quarter against a yielding Jets' secondary that prevented the deep play and gave up the underneath passes.

While the Titans' rush defense was it's usual formidable self, Jets' QB Chad Pennington lit up the Titans' secondary in the second half with a nearly flawless performance.

New York Jets

QB Chad Pennington looked calm and efficient as he came out firing, completing his first five passes. But his 6th pass was almost a disaster. A fade pass in the corner of the end zone intended for WR Santana Moss was ruled an interception by Titans' CB Samari Rolle. Rolle celebrated with a throat slash gesture and earned himself an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. New York coach Herman Edwards challenged the INT and the official ruled that Rolle did not have possession of the ball when he fell out of the back of the end zone. The penalty gave the Jets' offense a first and goal at the 6 and RB Curtis Martin outran the defense for the score on the following play. Pennington was hampered the rest of the first half by an athletic Titans' secondary that caused two interceptions. With the score tied at 10 midway through the 3rd period, the Jets used Pennington's hot hand, a bit of trickery, and a bit of luck to blow open the game. On a fleaflicker from Martin, Pennington hit WR Curtis Conway downfield for a big 27-yard pass play. On the very next play, Pennington hit WR Kevin Swayne with a 27-yard TD strike in the end zone. The following drive, a pass intended for TE Chris Baker deflected off his hands right into the awaiting arms of WR Santana Moss for a lucky 31-yard pass play. Two plays later, with a defender in his face, Pennington lofted a perfectly thrown fade pass to Conway for an 8-yard TD. Pennington finished the second half a perfect 8-8 for 134 yards and 2 TDs.

RB Curtis Martin was able to eek out 67 rushing yards for the game against the Titans' best run defense in the league. Martin's 6-yard TD scamper for the Jets' first score was his first TD of the season. FB Jerald Sowell showed off his soft hands, catching 5 passes for 32 yards out of the backfield.

The dynamic duo of WR Santana Moss and WR Curtis Conway combined for an impressive 8 catches for 154 yards and a TD. But it was little used WR Kevin Swayne who opened the flood gates with his leaping 27-yard TD catch in the end zone.

The much-maligned Jets rush defense came into the game the worst in the NFL against the run. They were able to hold Tennessee RB Eddie George in check and force an immobile QB Steve McNair to try and beat them. The Jets' pass defense used the blitz to hound McNair and cause several ill-advised throws that resulted in two interceptions.

WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW

Tennessee Titans

QB: Steve McNair (21-35-272, 2 TDs, 2 INTs; 1-(-1) rushing) made the start despite being limited by his strained right calf muscle. Without the benefit of his usual dangerous running abilities, he tried to rely on the strength of his arm to earn the Titans a victory. Aside from the beautifully thrown 59-yard TD pass to McCareins to open the game, McNair struggled. With constant pressure from the Jets' defense, he was forced to scramble and looked uncomfortable leaving the pocket. Normally able to turn busted plays into big gainers, McNair forced several throws into double coverage that resulted in incomplete passes or interceptions. With the Titans trailing, McNair went to the shotgun in the 4th quarter and was quite effective once given the time to throw. But the Jets' defense made a fierce defensive stand at the goal line and McNair's comeback bid ran out of time.

RB: Eddie George (18-73 rushing; 1-6 receiving, 3 targets) was unable to penetrate the normally vulnerable Jets' run defense. His longest run from scrimmage was a mediocre 13 yards and he holds the dubious NFL record of having 2,569 consecutive carries without a run over 40 yards. George was stopped for no gain on his only goal line carry from the Jets 3. He also dropped two catchable passes.

Backup RBs Chris Brown and Robert Holcombe combined for an unimpressive 3 carries for 12 yards and were not a factor in the game.

WR: Derrick Mason (11-133 receiving, 1 TD, 15 targets) is clearly McNair's go to receiver. Mason was shut down in the first half by CB Aaron Beasley. Mason was able to get off in the second half, finding the holes in the Jets' zone and breaking a tackle for a big gainer. He scored his TD late in the 4th quarter on a nice catch in the corner of the end zone, dragging both feet before falling out of bounds.

Justin McCareins (5-92 receiving, 1 TD, 6 targets) has emerged into a solid compliment to Mason. His 59-yard TD reception was the Titans' longest completion of the season. McCareins made a heads up play in the first half recovering a fumble from McNair that slipped out of his hand as he went to throw the ball. Although he was held in check by the Jets' special teams, McCareins is a dangerous punt returner.

Tyrone Calico (1 target) has the size, the speed, and excellent route running ability to be a good receiver, but his Achilles' Heel is the dropped pass. He dropped the only pass thrown his way in the first half and was not targeted again by McNair.

TE: Erron Kinney (2-28 receiving, 6 targets) was the most targeted TE for the Titans and sees a bigger role with the concussion problems of TE Frank Wycheck. McNair targeted Kinney twice in the end zone, but one pass was deflected and the other knocked loose by a big hit.

Frank Wycheck (1-10 receiving, 4 targets) dropped an easy pass in the end zone and insult was added to injury when he was flagged for offensive pass interference on the play.

K: Gary Anderson converted his only field goal attempt from 35 yards. Punter Craig Hentrich was brought in for a 52-yard field goal attempt, but missed wide left. Hentrich executed a textbook onside kick, bouncing the ball high in the air, but the ball went right through the hands of SS Scott McGarrahan and the Jets recovered to seal the victory.

Pass Defense: The Titans' pass defense gave Pennington all kinds of trouble in the first half. An apparent INT in the end zone by CB Samari Rolle was ruled out of bounds. CB Andre Dyson made a spectacular INT in the end zone to breakup a probable TD pass to Curtis Conway. Rolle later redeemed himself when he intercepted an overthrown pass to Santana Moss. But the good times ended in the second half, when Pennington's near perfect performance scorched the secondary for 134 yards and 2 TDs. DE Jevon Kearse missed his second straight game with a sprained left ankle.

Rush Defense: The Tennessee rush defense was exceptional as always, only allowing 81 yards on the ground to Curtis Martin and Santana Moss. Pennington was able to break containment for 16 yards on 4 carries. But it was the inability of the secondary that cost the Titans the game.

New York Jets

QB: Chad Pennington (18-23-231, 2 TDs, 2 INTs; 4-16 rushing) got his third win in five starts since returning from a broken left wrist. While he made a few mistakes in the first half, throwing two INTs and having a third overturned by instant replay, Pennington was able to overcome adversity and dazzle in the second half with a near flawless showing. On the TD strike to Swayne, Pennington showed his maturity by looking right, pumping right, and then throwing left to confuse the Titans' secondary. After sliding short of a first down on a run in the first half, Pennington showed reckless abandon in the second half, running several times and taking hits from the Titans' defenders. He picked up a first down with a tough run of 3rd and 3 that contributed to the last Jets' scoring drive.

RB: Curtis Martin (24-67 rushing, 1 TD; 2-3 receiving, 2 targets) ran well behind the blocking of his C Kevin Mawae. Martin rushed for 40 yards and a TD on 12 carries in the first half. He used his speed to turn the corner several times against an imposing defense. Martin had a nice 14-yard run up the middle in the first half called back because of an offensive holding penalty. Martin bulled his way for first downs on a couple of 3rd down conversions.

FB Jerald Sowell (5-32 receiving, 5 targets) continues to impress with his pass catching ability out of the backfield. Sowell converted on a 4th and 1 in the Jets' opening scoring drive catching a nice pass off a Pennington bootleg play.

WR: Santana Moss (3-76 receiving, 4 targets; 2-14 rushing) is the Jets' playmaker on offense. Although he had only 4 targets, Moss was given opportunities to make big plays with two reverses. Moss found himself in the right spot, when a deflected pass from TE Chris Baker popped up in front of him and he snatched the ball and turned the miscue into a big play. Pennington targeted Moss in the end zone on the first drive, but a strong defensive play by CB Samari Rolle broke up the pass.

Curtis Conway (5-78 receiving, 1 TD, 7 targets) was Pennington's favorite target in the game and his 8-yard TD grab put the game out of reach. Conway had what looked like a sure 33-yard TD reception, taken away by a fabulous interception by CB Andre Dyson in the end zone.

Kevin Swayne (1-27 receiving, 1 TD, 1 target) made the most of his only opportunity, leaping up to haul in a beautiful pass from Pennington for a 27-yard TD reception. It was Swayne's first catch of the season and his first career TD reception.

Jonathan Carter (1-9 receiving, 1 target) was not a factor in the game.

TE: Anthony Becht (1 target) dropped the only pass thrown his way in the first half and was not targeted again.

Chris Baker's (1-6 receiving, 2 targets) only catch was not his highlight, but it was the pass that deflected off his hands into the arms of Santana Moss for a 31-yard gain that resulted in his biggest contribution.

K: Doug Brien converted on his only field goal attempt from 27 yards, but his short kickoffs continue to be a problem. Brien was only able to get one of his four kickoffs inside the Tennessee 10-yard line and the Titans were able to consistently start their drives with good field position.

Pass Defense: The New York pass defense was solid in the first half, only allowing McNair 92 yards passing (with most of that on the big TD to McCareins) The Jets effectively used the blitz to keep McNair off balance and force him into two first half INTs. McNair was able to move the ball downfield fairly easily in the 4th quarter, but the Jets' secondary was playing a prevent defense protecting their large lead. The New York pass defense came up huge when they needed to, turning the Titans offense away on the doorstep midway through the 4th quarter and three times breaking up passes in the end zone.

Rush Defense: The New York rush defense made a strong showing in limiting RB Eddie George to 73 yards on the ground. Although he rarely went down after the first tackle, the Jets used a swarming style to corral George and keep him from breaking off any long runs. This was an outstanding effort from a usually porous group.