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Denver's White says unbeaten Titans are 'humble'

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published October 26, 2008 at 8:08 p.m.

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Titans running back LenDale White, a Chatfield High School graduate, said his unbeaten team has "a lot to be proud of."

Photo by Mark Humphrey / Associated Press

Titans running back LenDale White, a Chatfield High School graduate, said his unbeaten team has "a lot to be proud of."

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As a football-mad city simmers around him, poised for what might be, LenDale White says he understands.

Understands he plays for the NFL's only remaining undefeated team. Understands it's a Monday night affair at LP Field, understands it is the Indianapolis Colts on the other sideline.

"I get it. We all get it," said White, a Denver native. "But where we at? Week 7? Six games played? There is still plenty to do. The Colts? They're division champs, won the last seven, or whatever, Monday night games they played in?

"There's a lot to be proud of here, but there is a lot to be humble about, too. That's how we do it. We play hard and we play humble."

At 6-0, the Titans already have a three-game lead on the Colts (3-3) in the AFC South and sit on the doorstep of breaking Indianapolis white-knuckle grip on the division.

The Colts have won the past five division titles - the teams tied at 12-4 in 2003, but the Colts were division champions because of two wins against the Titans.

But the Colts also seem to know the unfamiliar position they are in. Of the Titans' remaining 10 games - Monday night's included - they play only one, Dec. 21 against Pittsburgh (5-2), against a team that currently has a record better than 4-3.

"I think it's a must-win to win the division," Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "We've been in this situation before with the shoe on the other foot, where we played Tennessee or Jacksonville with a two- or three-game lead saying, 'Hey, we can slam the door on them.'

"They've got a chance to slam the door on us and that's the way we're looking at it. The season won't be over if we don't get a win. Obviously, wild-card teams have won the Super Bowl two out of the last three years, so it's certainly not a season-ending game, but in terms of winning the division, I think that's the reality of it."

The Titans, having already benched starting quarterback Vince Young - selected No. 3 in the 2006 draft, eight slots ahead of the Broncos' Jay Cutler - have opened the doors to the old school thus far.

They entered Week 8 as the league's No. 4 rushing team, No. 6 in defense and tied for the league lead in turnover margin at plus-6. All time-worn, etched- in-stone football commandments.

Last week, they pounded out a franchise-record 332 rushing yards against Kansas City on 40 bone-bruising carries.

White finished with a career single-season best of 149 yards with three touchdowns, while rookie Chris Johnson finished with 168 yards and a touchdown.

Johnson scored on a 66-yard run, while White had an 80-yard touchdown run.

"We've got a long road ahead of us," said Titans tight end Bo Scaife, a Mullen High School graduate. "It is the message, but it is the truth, too. The good teams get stronger as the year goes. The eight (games) in the second half are going to be harder than the first eight. That's how we'll look at it.

"People may be surprised by all this, but in here, we've always had the talent. Outside, they may not think that, but inside the locker room, we believe in who's here, and Monday night games are always a good opportunity to show where you stand."

The Colts have suffered a flurry of injuries and have a recovering quarterback. Peyton Manning had surgery in the offseason to remove an infected bursa sac in his right knee and had a follow-up surgery.

Manning's timing with his receivers has looked off for much of the year, and he has thrown seven interceptions. He hasn't thrown more than 10 interceptions in four of his previous five seasons and hasn't tossed more than 14 in any of the past five.

Manning, as the Colts have worked through injury woes up front as well, has been sacked nine times in six games. That's on pace for 24 this year, which would be the most he has been sacked since 2001, when he was sacked 29 times.

The Titans defense also has surrendered only one passing touchdown and has 10 interceptions. The defensive linemen also have made it clear who they are after in this one - the group has a life-size Fathead poster of Manning posted in its meeting room.

"We always talk about division games and how important they are," Manning said. "You certainly don't want to get too far behind."

"You're playing on a big stage, you know the rest of the league is watching, and you get a chance to go out there and make a statement," Dungy said. "I'm sure Tennessee is looking to do that, you know, 'Hey, we're 6-0. Maybe people still have their doubts or whatever, but we go out there and make a statement, that's going to be important.' We feel the same way. We haven't been as consistent as we'd like, but if we can show people, 'Hey, this is how the Colts really play,' and go down there and win, it'll be huge for us."

Comments

  • October 27, 2008

    8:03 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    incognitoboy writes:

    2 denver boys make good. cool. now if denver's TEAM could take some notes, now THAT would be even cooler.