Week 11: Tennessee at Denver

Vince Young was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft. Jay Cutler was No. 11. Now the two will face off in a Monday night game that will have some playoff implications.

But this game may well be decided on what happens after those two QBs hand off the ball. Denver is 31st in the NFL in rushing yards allowed – 151 per game. Tennessee is fourth in rushing yards allowed – 77 per game. If that statistic holds true, Tennessee will control the clock in this one and make things frustrating for Cutler. Much may depend on whether DT Albert Haynesworth returns from the hamstring injury that sidelined him last week against Jacksonville. Without Haynesworth, who is playing so well in this contract season that he routinely requires a double-team, Jacksonville rushed for 166 yards and beat Tennessee, 28-13.

The Broncos, on the other hand, are coming off a 27-11 win over Kansas City. Denver rookie RB Selvin Young had 109 yards rushing in that one – the first 100-yard effort of his career. He may start again depending on how RB Travis Henry’s injury and off-field issues work themselves out this week. Cutler also threw a 20-yard TD pass and managed the game effectively.

Here’s an odd stat about Tennessee QB Vince Young – his 257-yard passing effort in the loss to Jacksonville was his career high. He’s never come close to a 300-yard passing game. And now he has only four TD passes and 10 interceptions on the season. But Young’s legs still make him dangerous, and he’s a good QB on the road – he’s 6-3 lifetime away from home as a starter.

Tennessee, though, must score more points. The Titans’ offense has put up 13 or less in five of its nine games this season, and as TE Bo Scaife pointed out to reporters this week, “13 ain’t going to cut it” in the NFL. The Titans trail Indianapolis by a game in the AFC South.

Although the Broncos have a losing record, they still have hope in an AFC West division that 5-4 San Diego leads by only a game. Only two of Denver’s last seven foes this season currently have a winning record. This game at least should be more interesting than Seattle’s not-ready-for-prime-time snoozer of a 24-0 win over San Francisco on “MNF” a week ago.

Tennessee by 4