I’ve always been jealous of my Cowboys-fan cousin. Every year, he gets to celebrate a great holiday and watch his favorite team all in the same day. Delicious food and a Dallas win? Must be sweet.

But while I do like Thanksgiving, nothing beats Christmas. And now I get to watch my Tennessee Titans take on arguably the hottest team in the league on Christmas night? Thanks Santa! AND I’m going to be home, where we are one of the like 17 households in the country with NFL Network?? Thanks again, Santa! I must have been a good girl this year.

To put it simply, Friday night’s game against the Chargers is going to be huge. Season-defining. Epic, if you will. San Diego is a scary team, but right now, so are the Titans. They may have lost some key defensive starters last week (Keith Bullock and David Thornton, I’ll pour out a little egg nog for you during the game), but their secondary has been producing moments of glimmering hope for a brighter pass defense. And I really don’t think I need to say that Tennessee’s run attack is the most explosive San Diego (or anyone, for that matter) will have to face. With Vince Young morphing into an actual pocket passer, the Titans’ receivers are becoming more of a threat. I’m not predicting an easy victory (let’s be real, I PROBABLY shouldn’t predict a victory of any kind), but I’m crossing my fingers for a Christmas miracle!

I haven’t visited a mall Santa in quite a few years, but I don’t think I’m too old to write a letter to the North Pole. Maybe I should ask for something more practical, like silverware or an alarm clock, but I’m going to use my Santa wishes on the Titans…

Dear Santa,

I know you must be busy this time of year. Peyton Manning has probably been bothering you to give him a perfect season. Brett Favre has undoubtedly asked you for eternal youth (or does he ask the devil for that?) and Nola Chick is most likely making her list say nothing but SAINTS SUPER BOWL WIN. I don’t want anything quite as elaborate – I just want Tennessee to beat San Diego. More specifically, I’d like you to…

- give Antonio Gates butterfingers. It’d really make it tough on the Titans rookie linebackers if Gates is up to his usual level of play.

- grant Chris Johnson with whatever sort of super speed you use to get to each house on Christmas eve. He needs 336 yards in the next two games to become the single-season rushing leader, and since the Chargers already have the 21st ranked rushing defense, what are a few more yards gained against them?

- break the Chargers’ 17-game December win streak. This is really more for you, Santa. What’s up with San Diego trying to steal your spotlight? December is all about the big guy in red, not the big guys in purple… or powder blue… or whatever color they are. Bring them back to reality and remind them that December is your thing. They can have November.

- use your magical healing powers to fix all the Titans injury woes. Oh wait, it’s not Santa with the healing powers. Crap. Okay, then I want you to make Philip Rivers throw three interceptions.

Also, I know this isn’t part of my wish, but could you please talk to some of the MVP voters at the proverbial water cooler and chat up my boy C.J.?

Thanks Santa. I’ll leave you some extra-delicious cookies tonight!

Love,
Titans Chick