PLAYOFFS!!!

Guess what time it is... that's right, NFL Playoffs time!!! And the Titans are finally back in for the first time since 2003, woo-hoo!

Ok, backing up. Coyote *loves* football, especially NFL Football, and most especially the Tennessee Titans. It makes sense of course, being his home-state team and also probably the most epic/literary (no, not the same thing of course) of the NFL teams - and also playing on Nashville's status as the "Athens of the South." Anyway, seeing the Titans return to the playoffs again since being evicted by the accursed Patriots (boo... hiss....) makes Coyote very happy. We'll see how long that lasts.

Oh yes, one more sidenote. The kitty this time is clearly not related to the topic of conversation here, but it makes me happy in a very nerdy way. A cookie for those who know the reference.

So, playoffs. Titans have a very rough row to hoe if we intend to reach the Superbowl, and we have a good shot at losing this first game. I mean it's playoffs, so that's to be expected, but drawing the Chargers first was not what I would have preferred. We played the Chargers just a few weeks ago, and aside from giving up a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter, it was also an extremely physical, you might even say brutal, football game. Both these teams love to play physical, smashmouth football, and it showed a few weeks ago. Raw talent, the Chargers may well have the advantage on offense (ok, almost certainly on offense) - especially since Vince Young's not gonna be 100%. I pray that if he's even 80% Vince gets the start, for everybody's morale and also to get Vince extremely valuable playoff experience. Kerry Collins, despite all the complaining I do when he comes on the field, is a very solid, reliable backup, and if need be put him in if Vince isn't getting it done or aggravates the quad, but start Vince please.

Now defense, I'd say Titans have the edge. Everybody knows about the Titans D-Line, with Vanden Bosch and Haynesworth ruining Phillip Rivers (Chargers QB) day last time, but lets talk linebackers, specifically Keith Bulluck (Titans) vs. Shawne Merriman (Chargers). I've never liked Merriman, not at all, and was not surprised last year when he got suspended for juicing. Ever since then, from what I hear, he's not been the same player, but he still talks the trash. Oh, and he whines. Seriously, saying Jeff Fisher ordered a "hit" on him the last time Titans/Chargers played? Shut the he$% up you whiny baby - you got blocked hard, fair and square, and to make out Fisher as some sort of mafioso is even worse - aside from being the longest-tenured coach in the league, find me a guy that's more classy and respectable in the head coaching position.

Oh, one more thing - Special Teams, specifically kicking. Rob Bironas set (or was it just tied) an NFL record for most field goals in one game. That may be an indictment of the Tennessee offense in one respect, but it's so very nice to have such a reliable kicker, and I wouldn't be surprised to see the game come down to that.

Other thoughts on this week's playoff games.

- Too bad for the Redskins that their season had to end yesterday, but they made it a lot further than I expected them too - playing their hearts out for a murdered teammate only got them so far, but good job to build for the future. Good on the Seahawks, not getting flustered when they began to self-destruct and pulling back together. And oh yeah, a shoutout for the only Seahawks rushing TD and first of the game by Fullback Leonard Weaver, a Carson-Newman College grad! (Why yes, that is my parents' alma mater and my hometown college). Now can the 'Hawks get it done at Lambeau Field? "We want the ball, and we're going to score" indeed!

- Wow, crazy game up in Pittsburgh! It looked like the Jags were gonna run away with things, then the Stillers (err... Steelers) had a huge comeback to take the lead. Couldn't quite close the deal and great job by Jaguars QB David Garrard there at the end, but man what a finish! Sorry to all you Bethany Steeler-fans, but I was rooting Jags. :-)

- Other game tonight, Giants-Bucs, go Gints! Eli Manning doesn't get the respect he deserves, and has had way too much pressure on him since Day 1 - comes with being Peyton's little brother, but it's still not fair. Remember, Big Brother didn't win a playoff until the fourth try - this is number 3 for Little Brother. Winner gets to (hopefully) go to Bid D and knock the Hated Cowboys out of the playoffs.

Enjoy the postseason, and here's hoping for aTitan Superbowl!