They are built around the way Jeff Fisher likes to coach. Everything that Fisher has put into this team is power driven. It's a power defense and a power offense. No flash and dash. They don't drive a Mercedes to work; they go in their Ford F-150 trucks. That's their mentality. They come to play week in and week out.

NFL Week 9

Week 9 action

Titans 19, Pack 16 (OT) -- Recap | Box
Cardinals 34, Rams 13 -- Recap | Box
Bears 27, Lions 23 -- Recap | Box
Bucs 30, Chiefs 27 (OT) -- Recap | Box
Jets 26, Bills 17 -- Recap | Box
Bengals 21, Jaguars 19 -- Recap | Box
Ravens 37, Browns 27 -- Recap | Box
Vikings 28, Texans 21 -- Recap | Box
Dolphins 26, Broncos 17 -- Recap | Box
Giants 35, Cowboys 14 -- Recap | Box
Eagles 26, Seahawks 7 -- Recap | Box
Falcons 24, Raiders 0 -- Recap | Box
Colts 18, Patriots 15 -- Recap | Box
Steelers at Redskins -- Preview | Notes


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Analysis

• Bradshaw: Titans-Giants Super Bowl?
• Marvez: Giants are NFL's best team
• Glazer: Jets rookie Gholston struggling

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Video

• Buck and Aikman on Cowboys-Giants
• MNF Preview: Steelers-Redskins
• Online OT: Complete NFL coverage

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Photos

• Week 9's best action
• Most injury-ravaged teams

I mean, from the first game in September, we haven't seen a lack of effort from these guys, even though they've struggled to win some weekends. And with a coach like Fisher you know they're going to give him their best and that's what you admire and love about this team.

This is not a fairy tale. These Titans are for real.

It's a team we'd like to see the Giants play. Tennessee has solid players like Keith Bullock and Kyle Vanden Bosch — guys who are also strong leaders. Even Kerry Collins is a very solid player. Hey, we're saying this about a team that lost its starting quarterback and look at where they are.

We all know Collins can throw the ball. Mentally, he isn't freezing this season. I guarantee it that Fisher is telling him, "Hey, man. We don't need you to win the game. Just be smart for us. We just need you to be smart. We have a great defense. We have a great running game."

And this is a totally different team than last season's New England Patriots. We knew the Patriots were very good. They had the best quarterback, best coach and talented receivers.

I really love the way the Titans control the line of scrimmage. I'm a little concerned about them facing a team that can throw the football. Peyton Manning and the Colts weren't successful, but if some team can light up the scoreboard on them, can Collins and this team recover?

The Packers and Aaron Rodgers did throw for a lot of yards on them, but Green Bay couldn't sustain any drives or make the important plays to seal the deal. The Titans got after Rodgers and forced a fumble and an interception. Tennessee will continue to harass quarterbacks all season.

As the weather cools, Tennessee's front four might become more effective. Teams generally don't throw as well in the cold and the Titans' defenders won't tire as quickly.

Tennessee reminds me of Pittsburgh when I played for the Steelers. It is simple thinking, man. It's kind of a Giants philosophy, too. Run the football, don't turn it over, use the pass to get first downs and then run the football again. And keep the game close, like they did Sunday against the Packers, and by the fourth quarter they are ready to win.

Well, it took them until overtime today, but that's only because their kicker, Rob Bironas, missed at the end of regulation.

We sit here and talk about it on the show, but it is not that hard. That's Fisher's formula and he has two running backs who can execute it exactly as he asks. You have to be physical and they are. I really like running back Chris Johnson. He is very powerful and shows a lot of poise for a rookie.

The Titans' offensive line is very physical, too. We know that Fisher holds those guys accountable.

What really helps Tennessee is that most of their opponents are game-planning for its defense, not Collins and the offense so much. They're thinking "Boy, we have to figure out a way to beat them and be able to score." To stop Tennessee's offense, teams have been jamming the box against them, hoping to take away its running game. But Collins keeps coming through for them. He's what I call a whipper. He finds spots for the ball and whips it in there.

The Giants could be the one team that could block the Titans' front four. It would be a great game. I know the Giants handled the Steelers, but this is a very good front four. Now, I know offensive lines prefer facing a 4-3 alignment over a 3-4 defense because with the 3-4 you can't really account for which linebacker is going to bring the pressure. It would be a great game. Maybe a great Super Bowl down in Tampa.

Overexposed

I took some shots at the Cowboys for not being smart enough to know they had to find themselves a better backup quarterback than Brad Johnson. They had so much riding on this season and now they look like they will be fighting for a wild-card spot. They should have known better. Part of this game is being prepared for when things don't go right. Every year you should be drafting a quarterback, even if it means taking somebody in the late rounds. You need to find fresh legs and a fresh, strong arm. It's the smart thing to do.

You know after they lost to the Giants, I suggested they should take the week off and go to Cabo like Tony Romo did last year prior to their playoff game. It was a joke, but this team needs to get away and relax and come back fresh after the bye week.

The trouble is all we have heard about the Cowboys from the start of the season is 13 Pro Bowl players, America's Team, a new $1.3 billion stadium and the most signing bonus money paid in the league this season.

They are the rich guys. And what do all us average folks do? We want them to fail. We despise them. That's human nature. And Dallas has this habit of planting this seed that they are great. They have an owner who comes down to the sidelines and talks to the players. I mean, Jerry Jones needs to be down there win or lose. They bring that on themselves. We respect the hell out of them and we love the owner because he will do anything to win. He really wants to win. But at the same time, when they don't win everyone tends to pile on them.

What's amazing is how we all talk about Dallas, but the Giants are the best team and defending world champions. But more teams and fans talk about the Cowboys than the Giants. You would think that every week, teams would want to be knocking off the Giants. But it's the Cowboys who teams want to beat. It's the jealousy factor.

The fact they are in prime time more than any other team. Dallas, Dallas, Dallas. We know much more about this team than we really want to know. I know all of us on the pre-game show love Wade Phillips, but we also know that he isn't running the show in Dallas.