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The Tennessee Titans missed a chance to move closer to the AFC South lead,
but rookie quarterback Jake Locker(notes) showed he can produce when given the chance.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to make the most of this opportunity or they
could fall further back in the NFC South race.

With starter Matt Hasselbeck(notes) questionable after suffering an arm injury last
week, Locker could make his first NFL start Sunday when the Buccaneers try to
snap a four-game losing streak.

Trailing division-leading Houston by 1 1/2 games, Tennessee (5-5) lost more
ground to the idle Texans and dropped into a pack of four .500 teams in the
conference with Sunday’s 23-17 loss at Atlanta.

With the Titans down 23-3 late in the third quarter, Locker entered after
Hasselbeck was struck by a Falcons defender. The eighth overall pick finished 9
of 19 for 140 yards and a pair of TD passes to Nate Washington(notes), who caught a
career-best nine passes for 115 yards.

Locker helped Tennessee convert a season-high 57.1 percent (8 for 14) on
third downs.

“I thought he handled himself very well there, good pocket presence, and
good job in the huddle calling the plays and running the show,” coach Mike
Munchak said. “He checked protections, he is very comfortable doing that. You
may have noticed him at the line of scrimmage making some adjustments, he felt
very good doing those things.”

That’s a good sign for the Titans if Hasselbeck can’t go. Tests on Monday
did not reveal any structural damage to Hasselbeck’s right forearm and elbow,
and Munchak described it as more of a muscle strain.

“He’s been injured in the past. He’s a savvy vet,” Titans fullback Ahmard
Hall(notes) said. “I think it’s 13 or 14 years for Matt. He’s been there, done that.
He’ll be ready to go next week.”

Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris needs his team to be ready Sunday, and for
each of the next six weeks. Tampa Bay (4-6) has dropped five of six and is three
games behind South-leading New Orleans and two back of the Falcons.

“We’ve got six more (games),” Morris said after Sunday’s 35-26 loss in Green
Bay. . “… There’s still time to get hot. We can still finish with the same
record we had last year (10-6) if we get our minds right, go out and play hard,
fast, physical and smart.”

Third-year quarterback Josh Freeman(notes) hasn’t had the most impressive season -
he’s already been picked off 15 times – but he threw for a career-best 342 yards
Sunday with two fourth-quarter TD passes to help Tampa Bay rally from 14-0 down.

Freeman knows it’s going to take more of these types of efforts for the
Buccaneers to make a late-season push.

“You have to go out and approach every week from here on out as a much-win
situation,” he said. “You try to win them all, but right now it’s very crucial
that we go out and take advantage of every opportunity.”

LeGarrette Blount(notes) has made the most of his chances since the Titans cut him
last September, supplanting Cadillac Williams as Tampa Bay’s starter and running
for 1,548 yards in 21 games.

“It looks like he is doing a great job for them and it ended up being a
great fit for him last year with them picking him up and getting a chance to
play and he has taken full advantage of it,” Munchak said of Blount, who had a
54-yard TD and 107 rushing yards Sunday.

Munchak wishes his backfield was that opportunistic. One of the main reasons
the Titans are averaging a league-low 77.3 rushing yards is the play of Chris
Johnson. The three-time Pro Bowler is running for a career-low 3.2 yards per
carry after being held to 13 on 12 rushes Sunday.

“You go back to the last game (a 30-3 road win over Carolina on Nov. 13) and
I got 130 (yards) and everything was good,” Johnson said. “You come back to
this game and nothing is working. It goes back to the offense not executing, not
being consistent.”

Munchak is looking for better offensive line play, but that unit could be
without right tackle David Stewart(notes) after he suffered a calf injury Sunday.

Former Buccaneer Barrett Ruud(notes) (groin) is also questionable. Titans rookie
linebacker Colin McCarthy(notes), who forced a fourth-quarter fumble against Atlanta,
would be the likely replacement if Ruud can’t go.

The last time these teams met, Tampa Bay won 13-10 on Oct. 10, 2007, to snap
a five-game skid to the Titans franchise.

The Buccaneers have lost both games in Tennessee – 33-13 in their last visit
on Dec. 23, 2003 – after going 0-4 when playing in Houston.

What do you guys think about this.

Read More: Barrett Ruud (LB – TEN), Dave Ball (DE – TEN), Gerald McRath (LB – TEN), Colin McCarthy (LB – TEN), Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers

The Atlanta Falcons will be facing a Tennessee Titans team that is near full strength this Sunday in NFL Week 11 action. But a few players are questionable for this weekend’s match-up.

The only player who is out for Tennessee is defensive end Dave Ball, who is recovering from a concussion. But the Titans injury report has three players listed as questionable on it, including linebacker Barrett Ruud, who is third on the team in tackles.

Ruud, who has a groin injury, is one of three linebackers on Tennessee’s injury report. Colin McCarthy and Gerald McRath are the two others.

Tennessee is coming off a dominant performance against the Cam Newton-led Carolina offense in Week 10. The Titans held the Panthers to just a field goal in a 30-3 victory. But Ruud didn’t play in that contest, either.

Here’s the full Titans injury report for Week 11:

OUT: Defensive end Dave Ball (concussion).

DOUBTFUL: none.

QUESTIONABLE: Linebacker Barrett Ruud (groin), linebacker Gerald McRath (hamstring), linebacker Colin McCarthy (knee).

PROBABLE: Wide receiver Nate Washington (illness).

For more on the Falcons, head to The Falcoholic; for more on the Titans, visit Music City Miracles.

If you like reading our blog, remember to bookmark it.

Carolina Panthers’ Cam Newton, center, is sacked by Tennessee Titans’ Colin McCarthy, left, and Karl Klug, right, during the third quarter of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. / AP PHOTO / CHUCK BURTON

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The Carolina Panthers come off their bye week and host the Tennessee Titans in Week 10 on Nov.13^th. With the second half of the season beginning, the Panthers need to improve to better their 2-6 record. Here are some keys for the Panthers to achieve victory.

Keep Chris Johnson Quiet

Johnson has certainly not been himself so far this season, but in any game that could change. Johnson could be looking at this game as his chance to do just that. The Panthers have given up 133.3 yards per game on average, which is the sixth highest total allowed in the league. They have also allowed 11 rushing touchdowns tied for most in the league. The Titans have an NFL-worst rushing attack with 70 yards per game, but something is going to give. If Johnson finds his old self, it could be a tough game for the Panthers rushing defense.

Can Cam Newton(notes) Begin Second Half Of Season Like The First?

Newton has surpassed all expectations of his rookie season so far. However, there is much of the season left to play. With the second half of the season beginning this Sunday, Newton will have to continue to play well for the Panthers to improve on their 2-6 record. Many might say it is Newton’s teammates who need to step up and although that may be true at times, Newton needs to continue to focus on his game. I fully expect him to play like he has been, even after the bye week. With the Titans giving up 231.5 yards per game, Newton may well exceed that through the air. He also will surely have a big impact with his legs in this one.

Can The Panthers Win A Close Game?

Carolina suffered a tough defeat to the Vikings in their last game after Olindo Mare(notes) missed his late field goal attempt. I have written about the Panthers troubles finishing off games before, but it still applies now. If Carolina wants to be considered a good team, they need to get over the hump and win these close one. I can see another tight game this Sunday, but hopefully with different results for the Panthers.

*All stats found on espn.com

Although living several hundred miles from Charlotte, Matthew Levine bleeds Carolina blue. He has followed the Panthers since their inaugural season in 1995 and was absolutely heart-broken over the 2003 Super Bowl loss to the Patriots.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Comment Below!.

The Titans failed to sack Texans quarterback Matt Schaub (8) in Sunday’s loss at LP Field. / AP

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What are your opinions.

The Titans failed to sack Texans quarterback Matt Schaub (8) in Sunday’s loss at LP Field. / AP

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Gotta run!.

Read More: Joe Thomas (OL – CLE), Alex Mack (OL – CLE), Joe Haden (DB – CLE), Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns

With their week six game only four days away, two of the Cleveland Browns better players missed practice on Wednesday. Starting center Alex Mack and starting cornerback Joe Haden did not practice as they recover from injuries.

Mack is still recovering from an emergency appendectomy that he underwent one day after the Browns week four game against the Tennessee Titans. Meanwhile, Haden is attempting to recover from a knee injury that he sustained in the Browns loss to the Titans in week four.

Browns coach Pat Shurmur declined to state whether or not either of the players would be ready to play this Sunday when the Browns travel to Oakland to take on the Raiders. While it is never a good sign when a player misses a practice this close to a game, Shurmur stated that he remains hopeful that one or both of the players could still play in the game against the Raiders.

If one or both of these players miss the game, it could be a big benefit for the Raiders. Alex Mack is the second best offensive lineman on the team after Joe Thomas. In addition, center is a very important position as the center is the player who is responsible for calling out blocking assignments and essentially being the leader of the offensive line. Joe Haden is clearly the Browns best defensive back. Though he does not have any interceptions yet this year, he finished his rookie season with six, and already has 8 pass deflections this season.

Only time will tell if either of these two key players for the Browns will be able to suit up against the Raiders, but it does not look good so far.

Leave any suggestions in the comment box.

Tennessee Titans defensive end Derrick Morgan (90) tries to sack Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) as Roethlisberger shovel-passes the ball to Isaac Redman during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011, in Pittsburgh. / AP Photo / Don Wright

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That’s all for today.

Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, right, is helped to his feet after being hit late in the fourth quarter Sunday against Houston. / Dave Einsel / AP

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