House of Pain
Wild Speculator
John McClain via Chron said:Texans owner Bob McNair has a message for his coaches and players as they prepare to play the Tennessee Titans for first place in the AFC South.
"It's time to stand and deliver," McNair said.
After a 2-0 start, the Texans (3-3) have lost three or four, including the last two, but they have a chance to move into first place if they can win on Sunday at LP Field, where they have a 2-7 record.
The Titans (3-2) are coming off their open date.
"It's not a must-win game, but it kind of has that feeling," cornerback Johnathan Joseph said. "It's a division opponent and a road game. To be good in this league, you have to win on the road."
After finishing 5-3 on the road in 2009, the Texans have gone 3-8, including 1-2 this season.
"We're not hiding any secrets," outside linebacker Connor Barwin said. "We need to win. They're half a game ahead of us, which makes it more important.
"It's a huge game. I think we all understand what's at stake."
The Titans have a new coach in Mike Munchak. He was elevated to replace Jeff Fisher, who resigned after 17 years.
"They're the same Titans; they're playing nasty like they always do," tight end Joel Dreessen said.
Dreessen was one of the many players who participated in the dirtiest game in this series. The last time the Texans won at LP Field was in 2009, when they escaped with a 34-31 victory.
That game featured fights, personal fouls and ejections. Commissioner Roger Goodell levied several fines.
Anger on the field
Some Titans, notably defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch, went for Dreessen's knees in retaliation for what was perceived as a dirty play by the tight end the previous season. Offensive tackle Eric Winston became so angry he ripped off his helmet on the field and challenged Vanden Bosch to a fight.
"We had gotten our tails whipped at home by the Jets, and everyone was mad at us when we went to Tennessee," Dreessen said. "It was a bloodbath. It was a nasty, physical game.
"It's a great feeling to go through a grind like that, a battle, and it gives you a sense of achievement that you've done something."
The Texans need to do something big on Sunday to make up for losses to Oakland and Baltimore.
"This is one of those games that's big for both teams," Winston said. "It's definitely one that you circle.
"Any time you hit a little bit of a skid, you have to get out of it somehow. Winning on the road is one of the best feelings in the world. Doing it in Tennessee would be tough, (but) it would be that much sweeter to do it there."
Receiver Derrick Mason played his first eight seasons with the Titans and the last six with the Ravens.
"They're just a tough team," Mason said about the Titans. "They're just a nasty team in a good way, and that's the way you're supposed to play football. You have to have a nastiness to you.
"Regardless of (circumstances), they're always going to give you a tough fight. It's always going to be a rough one."
Kevin Walter knows the significance of gaining the upper hand on the Titans.
"This is the biggest game on the schedule so far," he said. "The past two weeks have been very disappointing, but we're still playing for first place. There's a lot on the line.
"They (Titans) are going to be fresh. They're going to be flying around at home. We've got to run the ball better, convert on third down and make plays in the red zone. That's what it's going to come down to."
'It's a tough challenge'
In a 2007 loss, quarterback Matt Schaub was knocked out of a game at LP Field with a dislocated left shoulder.
"It's a tough environment to play in," Schaub said. "It's always going to be a hard-nosed, emotional game. There are always battles between us.
"It's a tough challenge but one we're looking forward to.
"Talk is overrated at that point. There is only so much you can say. We just have to be ready to play 100 percent from start to finish."
Is this a message to Kubiak?
It should be.