Gruden finds safe haven in the booth (Yahoo! Sports)

11/20/09, nfl

Jon Gruden's approach and delivery on MNF have resonated with fans as his coaching rep is restored. Pre-Game Recon: Five Questions With Music City Miracles

11/20/09, SB Nation

How will the Houston Texans fare against the Tennessee Titans on Monday night? I asked several questions to Jimmy, a writer for Music City Miracles, a Titans blog. Why Do Some Houstonians Continue To Root For The Tennessee Titans?

11/20/09, Bleacher Report

In a nutshell, I have no idea why some fans in the Houston area cheer for the Tennessee Titans.? It makes no sense to me and it even kind of annoys me.? But, if we left it at that, this would be a really short and worthless article.? Texans vs. Titans: By far biggest game in Franchise history.

11/20/09, Houston Chronicle (Fanblog)

This will be the defining moment for the 2009 season, there is really no way around this fact. Monday night football, fighting for national respect, fighting for a wildcard spot, facing the most bitter of division rival, and then there...

Final Word: AFC South

11/20/09, ESPN - Houston (Blog)

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 11:

VY is just winning. Quick, name the top five winning quarterbacks drafted since 2000. They are Tom Brady (.775), Ben Roethlisberger (.713), Philip Rivers (.684), Vince Young (.653) and Kyle Orton (.643). I’ve certainly been critical of Young, but it’s hard to argue with his effectiveness in the most important category for anyone, wins. He’s from Houston, and there will be plenty of Titans and Texans No. 10 jerseys in the Reliant Stadium stands.

MJD can make a big mark. Against the league’s worst run defense, Maurice Jones-Drew has a chance to make personal and team history. He needs three rushing touchdowns to pass Fred Taylor’s team record of 14 set in 1998 and 140 rushing yards to get to 1,000 for the first time in his career. Take that, anyone who questioned whether he could handle the featured role when the team decided to let Taylor go.

The Colts are streaking. They are seeking a 19th consecutive regular-season win and would surpass the 2003-04 Patriots for the second-longest such streak in history. They’ve also won seven in a row against the Ravens. In the past six of those games, Peyton Manning has completed 64.1 percent of his passes for 1,477 yards with 11 touchdowns and three picks. Baltimore’s aggressive by nature, and that’s not typically the best defensive approach against Manning.

Can the Texans target Michael Griffin? The Titans' free safety struggled in the first game and has regressed this season. There will be a cornerback involved, of course, but Houston should do all it can to get Andre Johnson into situations in the secondary that involve Griffin. He’s bitten on too much play-action this season and it’s hard to figure why he worries at all about the run when there are so many defenders between him and the ball carrier.

Houston and Jacksonville can prove themselves contenders. The Colts are going to win the AFC South. The only question is how the other three teams line up and whether one of them wins a wild-card berth. The Texans and Jaguars are both 5-4 and the difference between 6-4 and 5-5 is giant. A Jacksonville win over Buffalo would mean the Jaguars top last season’s win total. A Houston win over Tennessee would put the team two games over .500 the latest in a season since the team came into existence. Texans forcing fumbles, but turnovers still issue

11/20/09, ESPN - Houston (Blog)

The Texans entered 2008 determined to improve in turnovers.

And while the offense still gives the ball away too much -- nine interceptions and seven lost fumbles -- the defense has gotten better at takeaways with eight picks and nine fumble recoveries.

“We’re much better on the defensive side of the ball,” Gary Kubiak said. “I think we’re plus-one as a football team. Defensively we’ve done our part, offensively we haven’t. We’ve gotten sloppy with the ball, especially the last three weeks.”

"I think we were doing pretty well up until that point and started turning it over. When we’re not doing things well it usually starts with that. That’s a big challenge for us to try to find a way to protect it and you don’t have to look any further than [the Titans]. Over the course of the last three weeks, I think [they] have had one turnover and [they] win three games in a row. Those things usually go hand-in-hand in this business."

Only one NFL defense has recovered more fumbles than the Texans’ nine -- Atlanta, with 11.

A fumble could well be a decisive development Monday night at Reliant Stadium when the Texans host the Titans. Tennessee has only lost five fumbles this season and will be looking to strip Steve Slaton and Ryan Moats when they get the ball. Jags still encouraged about Harvey

11/20/09, ESPN - Houston (Blog)

Derrick Harvey doesn’t have a sack this season.

You don’t trade up to No. 8 in the first round in 2008 to draft a defensive end who doesn’t put the quarterback on the ground.

Harvey leads the team with 13 quarterback pressures, but pass pressure’s been a major issue for the Jags this season. They are last in the league in sacks per play.

Jack Del Rio worked hard early on this season to lower expectations and pressure on Harvey, saying he isn’t going to be a giant sack guy but a sturdier-type end.

He’s a capable every down guy, and perhaps sacks will come.

For now, they say they see progress and will take what they are getting.

“I tell you what, he’s done a real nice job in our run defense,” defensive coordinator Mel Tucker told local reporters this week. “He sets a strong edge. In the pass game, he is disruptive. He’s able to get some push in the pocket and we’re around the quarterback quite a bit as a defense. As we move forward, we’re going to continue to try to improve our pass rush, continue to try to improve finishing at the top of our rush when we do get around the quarterback, and we’ll see what happens from there. But the guys are working hard at it and looking to improve each and every time we go out there.”

It should be noted Harvey has little help.

Veteran Reggie Hayward was lost for the season to an early injury, tackle John Henderson is the only guy on the team with half as many pass pressures as Harvey (seven) and the secondary is about to play without injured cornerback Rashean Mathis for the second time in four games.

IND: Colts giving gritty OG DeVan starting shot

11/20/09,Pro Football Weekly

JAC: Jaguars' offensive line showing improvement

11/20/09,Pro Football Weekly

TEN: Rookie CB Williams promoted to fill out roster

12/09/09,Tennessee Titans (News) - Team Site