[EDITOR'S NOTE] Kyle has some thoughts on the upcoming MNF matchup between the Texans and Titans, and I thought it deserved to be put up as a guest entry. Thanks to Kyle for contributing again - and as always, the door is eternally open for anyone who wants to submit a guest entry to be posted on the main page. Just shoot me an email to chris at houstondiehards dot com if you have something to say.

It’s amazing to think that a game between teams with a combined record of 8-10 could be so important. The winner of this contest has revitalized playoff aspirations, and it’s really hard to count on the loser for the same.

In one corner are the new Titans. Vinsanity 2.0 isn’t exactly challenging Schaub for his Pro Bowl Alternate spot (sorry, homers, he is competing against Manning, Brady, and Big Ben, after all), but his running ability has put that eighth man in the box on QB contain duty, opening it up for Chris “Miss Cleo” Johnson (guess how old I am based on THAT dated allusion). If they win, then CJ’s prediction becomes spookily accurate. If they lose, then they are back to being one of the many teams eliminated from contention who are trying to save their coach’s season, not to mention VY’s 14-million dollar paycheck if he makes it to next August.

In the other corner are your heroes. The Texans can NOT afford to turn their first ever +2 win-loss rating into an 0-2 tumble back to .500, I don’t care if they faced the All-Madden team twice in a row! They have to win this game to be taken seriously. Heck, they have to go at least 2-2 in this four-game divisional tilt (0-1 so far) to be taken seriously. Meanwhile, don’t look now, but that defense that allowed Chris Johnson to have his footprint laminated in the end zone may not exist any more. After all, I don’t remember seeing Bernard Pollard on the box score that week. Between his triumphant entrance into our defense and B-Cush’s SERIOUS competition for DROY (though, sorry homers, he has STIFF competition with Jairus “8 INTs in 9 games” Byrd of Buffalo), the defense is better. This is not the first time they have faced the current rushing leader, and last time, that guy (Cedric Benson, in case you seriously didn’t believe it then) had a down night thanks to our D.

When you look at it, this comes down to the Titans’ newfound one-dimensionality and the Texans’ revitalized rushing defense. We have looked good, but we have not faced a team this devoted to the ground game, which is to say we have yet to face a team that is using the option as a primary weapon. We know that the Flaming Thumbtacks (thanks, TMQ) can and will run with Vinsanity 2.0 and Miss Cleo, and THEY know that we have the guys to stop it, not to mention that, as much as I love Justin Gage as an underrated wideout, him, Nate Washington and Kenny Britt are not definitively better than Dunta, Jacques, Glover, and Eugene. The pass game is moot.

Can Pollard, Ryans, and Cushing stop Chris Johnson and Vince Young?

Oh, and on a side note, without Hundred Mil Haynesworth, Schaub does not appear to be the least bit scared of the Titans’ D, so, assuming we can contain Miss Cleo, Schaub will light them on fire. Cortland may not like getting slapped around by Andre, but, seriously, what the heck is he going to do to stop it? Andre = Man. Titans secondary = boys. Feel the cliche.

Finally, how would you feel if we drafted a linebacker in the first round? Look up Sean Weatherspoon and ask yourself whether or not he would be a great compliment to Ryans and Cushing…and a HUGE upgrade to Xavier Adibi and the George McCloud of linebackers, Zac Diles (George McCloud is arguably the best 6th man in NBA history; think for a sec and you’ll get the metaphor).