All I can say is THANK YOU TO THE PERSON WHO INVENTED BYE WEEKS! For whatever reason, post-bye week Tennessee looks like they actually know how to play football! I know, it’s a crazy thought for a team that started the season 0-6, but against all odds, my ragtag bunch of lovable losers has started the transformation into legitimate NFL team!

While perhaps a bit premature, I can’t help but love the fire that Vince Young has brought to the team. During the NFL Network highlights last night, one of the announcers kept saying, “It looks like this team wants to play for Vince! I don’t understand it!” I feel the same way, but trust me, I’m not complaining. After V.Y.’s roller coaster of unexpected success (Rookie of the Year! Playoffs! Madden Cover??) and mind-bending failure (Refusing to leave the bench after being booed! Benched for K-Coll! Interceptions and fumbles galore!) I was nervous that the team wouldn’t get behind his leadership.

I’m not worried anymore. Receivers are making outstanding catches (I’m talking to you, Justin Gage!), C.J. continues to be a breakout star, the offensive line didn’t allow a sack against the 49ers, and the defense is playing like they have a fire burning underneath their butts. The team is really firing on all cylinders. Who would have thought?

San Francisco gave the Titans a challenge, but with Vince rushing for a T.D., Chris Johnson scoring two more, and Cortland Finnegan sealing the game with a pick-six, the 49ers were ultimately outplayed. Tennessee outplayed a team?? LOVE IT! Alex Smith may have thrown for more yards than Young, but he also threw three picks to V.Y.’s NONE.

Before this game, I was a bit concerned about Chris Johnson’s chances to have another big week (and thus, worried that the Titans would have about 75 yards of total offense during the game). San Francisco came in this week with the second-ranked run defense. C.J. struggled this year against’ Pittsburgh’s highly-ranked run defense, so would this be another sub-par performance? I should have known better. He had another 100+ yard game and now continues to lead the league in rushing.

Turnovers have really been the key in Tennessee’s first two wins. The offense hasn’t turned the ball over once and the defense has created six turnovers (four against San Francisco). Not only are they taking the ball away, but they’re taking advantage of opportunities – the Titans scored 24 points off of the 49ers mistakes on Sunday.

Although the defense allowed Smith to throw for 286 yards and Frank Gore to rush for 83 yards, they didn’t make it easy on San Francisco’s offensive line. They sacked Smith four times and made him fumble twice. The 49ers offense also had the ball for longer, but the final score really says it all. Tennessee made plays when they needed them. And that’s all I can ask for.

I sincerely hope that the Titans can keep up this level of play and prove to the sports analysts (and hardcore NFL fans) that last season was not a fluke. They’re still a talented squad, I promise!! More notches in the win column will help prove my point. So keep playing scrappy, Titans. Keep that turnover ratio on the positive end, keep up the good (enough) work on defense, and KEEP GIVING THE BALL TO CHRIS JOHNSON!

It’s getting chilly outside, and I’d really love to be able to wear my Tennessee Titans sweatshirt without fear of ridicule. More wins, and I think I’ll be o.k.