Going into this Sunday’s game neither one of my teams had a favorable game. The Titans were taking on the New Orleans Saints and the Redskins had to deal with the New England Patriots. Both games I thought would be a blow out and I’d be disappointed. However, I was proven wrong in both matchups.
Well, I was disappointed but it wasn’t because it was a blow out, they both had a chance to win the game in the final seconds! But, my biggest surprise was the young rookie QB for the Titans who stepped up for an injured Matt Hasselbeck.
It seemed as though Hasselbeck was going to come back in after aggravating his calf in the first quarter, but even so I got a little nervous seeing a rookie QB come out against one of the league’s best. There was no way that a rookie could come in and lead a team against the super bowl champs from a few seasons ago.
My apologies Jake Locker, I stand corrected.
J-Lock was phenomenal in several areas of his play this past Sunday. But this wasn’t the first time we have seen him play this well, several weeks ago he almost led the team to a win in a 23-17 game against the Falcons. When he came into the game it was 23-3 and toward the end of the third quarter.
Yesterday’s game only adds to that success. In three quarters Locker was able to pop up several great plays, including a touchdown run that only Reggie Bush could mimic (video and picture in this post). He got hit at about the 4 yard line but was able to stretch the ball out over the goal line as he was propelled out of bounds. The ball crossed over the top of the pile-on and it was his first rushing score. This wasn’t a ginger push out of bounds either, it was a hard hit and it only showed the toughness of the young and thirsty Locker.
On the next drive he lofted a picture perfect pass to Nate Washington (who has been having a breakthrough season of his own) for a long touchdown. By picture perfect I mean it couldn’t have been any better.
The Saints answered back though, so Locker was working on a game tying touchdown drive with only a few minutes left in the game. Locker took a tremendous hit and was on his back for several minutes. He was taken out for one play while the hobbled Hasselbeck threw an easy screen pass to CJ, then the tough rookie came back onto the field for more.
They didn’t score on that drive, but they did get led right back down the field by Locker to the 5 yard line with only seconds left. Locker scrambled and mistakenly took a sack instead of trying to throw it out of bounds or go for points. Time expired and it was a heartbreaker in Nashville. The Titans were only 5 yards from taking the game into overtime.
I’m not blaming Locker at all for the loss, if anything he was the reason we were in the game. If there is any bright spots from yesterday’s game it was that J-Lock has a promising future for the Titans. He is the hope that Nashvillians have wanted since McNair departed.
Go get ‘em #10!
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