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If Peyton Manning signs with the Titans, Tennessee will be all over national TV and feature one of the most attractive schedules in the NFL.

People soak up games matching up high-quality quarterbacks.

How might these play?

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• Manning vs. Philip Rivers
• Manning vs. Aaron Rodgers
• Manning vs. Luck

If he signs, the battle for the roughly 2,500 game-by-game tickets that typically go on sale in July will be incredible.

And business will perk up in a major way for those scalpers who’ve not fared particularly well in recent years.

Presuming Manning is healthy, we could see some of the best quarterback battles LP Field has ever seen.

Reading the coverage …

Houston Texans

Jeff Garcia said he hadn’t totally checked out, but he wasn’t throwing every other day either when the Texans called, writes Jeffrey Martin of the Houston Chronicle. I have no idea what he has left. But if something happens to T.J. Yates and the Texans have to play a fourth quarterback, he or Jake Delhomme is probably as good an alternative as can be found.

Indianapolis Colts

Baltimore’s old guard will never forget the way the Colts sneaked out of town, and certainly is enjoying Indianapolis’ struggle this season, says Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star. I can understand why that scar is still there for people who were dedicated to a team that bolted.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Philip Rivers was too comfortable in the pocket in San Diego’s win over the Jaguars Monday night, writes Vito Stellino of the Times-Union. To give their inexperienced cornerbacks a chance, the Jaguars simply have to find a way to pressure the quarterback better.

Tennessee Titans

Quarterbacks Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady are all in position to threaten Dan Marino’s record for single-season passing yards, says Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. As the Titans prepare for Brees and the Saints, Wyatt looks at what’s created so many passing yards.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- After a news-filled week with change, the Jaguars took the field for "Monday Night Football" and promptly proved talent trumps everything.

Depleted at cornerback and ineffective rushing quarterback Philip Rivers, Jacksonville allowed the Chargers' quarterback to find big plays all night. He missed on only 6 of 28 passes and threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-14 win that ended San Diego's six-game losing streak and snapped the Jaguars’ hopes that a new coach could quickly change their course.

All the promise the Jaguars brought into the first game under interim coach Mel Tucker with a national audience watching flamed out Monday night at EverBank Field.

Tucker preached to his team that just because it didn’t see immediate results didn’t mean the changes they’d adopted weren’t the right ones, and asked them to rededicate and recommit.

With four games left, they may have the right roster character to do so, but the improvements and dividends are likely to be small.

“We did improve as a football team this week in a lot of areas,” Tucker promised. “Those are some things that didn’t show up for the entire game, but they will give us a chance to win and sustain winning in the future.”

Tucker’s in a tough spot, trying to sell hope and change with only so much he can do and no influx of talent walking into team headquarters.

I want to believe his belief, but at the same time it’s hard to buy into a predictable offense that lacks anything dynamic beyond Maurice Jones-Drew, and into a defense that’s too injured to cover against quality receivers being targeted by an accurate quarterback.

Jacksonville rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert and the offense pieced together a nice second quarter, when they turned a 10-0 deficit into a 14-10 lead. It was his first game with two touchdown passes, but an interception resulting from a miscommunication with receiver Mike Thomas late in the second quarter positioned San Diego to retake the lead before intermission.

And a team that hasn’t scored 21 points in a game all season never threatened to do so from that point forward.

“We executed well in the second quarter, but the biggest thing we’ve got to take out of this game is that we’ve got to execute like that the whole game,” Gabbert said. “We’ve got to play four quarters of football. We can’t just have one great quarter.”

I’d rather not carve up Tucker’s postgame comments, but how they squared with the game that came before them was somewhat striking to me.

He said playing from behind, the team remained confident in its game plan. “I didn’t see confusion, I saw an element of sharpness and crispness, I saw a confidence as guys broke the huddle,” he said.

I saw two Keystone Cops moment, with Gabbert simply dropping the football on a scramble before batting it out of bounds to earn a penalty, and with long snapper Jeremy Cain sending holder Nick Harris in wild pursuit of a well-wide snap on what was to have been a long field goal attempt.

Tucker said he did see a sense of urgency, but the Jaguars never really stepped up their tempo. Had they, things might have gotten worse, not better. But as with many things at this stage of a bad season, you have to ask: Why not try?

Tucker said “we did what we could,” and that I believe.

This is a limited team that needs a new coaching staff and its young quarterback to spend an offseason together, re-crafting an offense to be less predictable and feature more explosive pass catchers -- like San Diego receiver Vincent Jackson, who scored a 35-yard touchdown and is heading for unrestricted free agency.

Jacksonville doesn’t get to shop for such players yet, it’s got to make do with the ones it has.

Like undrafted rookie corner Kevin Rutland, who had good position against Vincent Brown in the end zone on a 22-yard touchdown reception, but failed to turn his head to locate the ball and make a play on it.

Rutland’s been with the Jaguars since the start of camp, he’s gotten sufficient work as an understudy and he should have been ready, he said.

“There should have been no slack,” he said. “I imagined my first start going a lot different. This is step one and I can grow from here."

He and a lot of people.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Thoughts on the Jaguars’ 38-14 loss to the Chargers at EverBank Field:

What it means: The changes the Jaguars made in the past week weren’t enough to overcome a passing attack able to take advantage of inexperienced corners forced into action because of injuries. All the complaints about San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers went away for a night as he threw for big yardage and three touchdowns, ending a six-game losing streak for the Chargers. Jacksonville fell to 3-9, losing Mel Tucker’s first game as a head coach in the NFL.

What I didn’t like: Short throw after short throw. I understand the Jaguars aren’t built or equipped to air it out regularly, but how about trying something? Blaine Gabbert’s long pass was a 48-yarder to Maurice Jones-Drew -- and it was actually a very short shovel pass that MJD ran a mile with. And while the rookie quarterback looked good on an early scoring drive, the moments that leave the biggest impression are the ones like where he dropped the ball on a scramble and was penalized for batting it out of bounds.

More injuries: Pass-rushing defensive end John Chick left the game with what looked like a serious knee injury and safety Dwight Lowery suffered a shoulder injury that meant rookie Chris Prosinski had to play.

What I’d like to see going forward: There are few spots where the Jaguars can make a change with an eye on the future. But how about right tackle? Bench Guy Whimper and insert Cameron Bradfield, an undrafted rookie out of Grand Valley State the team thinks has great promise.

What’s next: The Jaguars play a third consecutive home game Sunday, this time against Tampa Bay in a battle of underachieving Florida teams.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- In his first year calling plays for the Jacksonville defense, Mel Tucker’s had a solid season for the Jaguars.

He was given a huge upgrade in personnel out of free agency, and the team’s issues in a 3-8 season have been primarily on offense.

Tonight, as he debuts as the team’s interim coach in a home "Monday Night Football" game against San Diego, Tucker will be without his three top outside cornerbacks.

Will Middleton has joined Rashean Mathis and Derek Cox on injured reserve.

While Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has struggled this season, he could be in line to make some connections at EverBank Field, where recent addition Ashton Youboty, undrafted Kevin Rutland and retread David Jones are in line to play in Jacksonville's secondary. Jones, who struggled mightily last season, was re-signed as Middleton went to IR.

Drew Coleman plays as the nickel corner and seems to be pigeonholed there, but whether Tucker likes him outside or not, the Jaguars might have to use him more.

I’m not sure what Tucker can do in the team’s remaining five games to hold on to the job. He’s respected and he’s expected by those who put him in place to do well. But after nearly nine seasons of Jack Del Rio, the Jaguars are a team in need of fresh air, and new owner Shahid Khan is likely to want to make a splash with an outsider who revamps the way the team plays.

Tucker has been assured of an interview, and many are mentioning him as a strong candidate for the post. At this stage I’d guess it’s more likely the new coach, hopefully an offensive mind, recognizes the Jags' productive defense and tries to get Tucker to return to the coordinator post.

ESPN’s Mike Tirico will do the play-by-play of tonight’s game. He watched Saturday’s practice and was part of a production meeting with Tucker.

“He’s very detailed, very organized,” Tirico said. “I think it’s definitely an approach that would be what I’d expect from a guy who’s learned from Nick Saban and Jim Tressel, among others. The practice was a crisp, well-paced practice.”

It’s been a whirlwind week. Tucker had no hint of what was coming when he reported to work Tuesday. Since then, he dismissed receivers coach Johnny Cox, shifted Mike Sheppard from quarterbacks to receivers coach and gave offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter full sway over the quarterbacks.

He’s overseen the construction and installation of a game plan. He’s dealt with Middleton’s injury.

And he’s very likely implemented some other unseen alterations to the operation.

“For that sort of fire drill for a guy who’s 39 and has never been a head coach, he’s seems pretty organized,” Tirico said.

At his first practice as the head man leading up to this game, Tucker arrived 30 minutes early. He talked of wanting to get some fresh air, but also confessed it gave him the vantage point he wanted as he began to watch everything.

The Jaguars know they’ve got new eyes on them.

What Tucker sees will be important. What Tucker shows will be more important.

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

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 13:

Keep away: The Bills are an excellent turnover team -- they’ve gotten 16 picks and recovered six fumbles this season. And they make a habit out of turning turnovers into points. Matt Hasselbeck has had a lot of balls tipped at the line this season, and those are the kinds of passes that can turn into big plays. Although the Titans won’t want Hasselbeck to be overly cautious a week after surviving four giveaways in a win over Tampa Bay, they won’t get away with a similar performance.

Run-stoppers: Although the Texans will ask T.J. Yates to make some throws to keep the Falcons honest, they will want to base their offense on handoffs to Arian Foster and Ben Tate. The Falcons' rush defense, however, ranks second in rushing yards allowed per game at 83.5. They have not allowed a 100-yard rusher since Jonathan Stewart had 133 for the Panthers in Week 14 of last season. That’s 14 straight games without allowing a 100-yard rusher.

Outscored: The Colts are the eighth team to start the season 0-11 since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978. Should the Colts lose in New England, they would become the sixth team to start 0-12. The 1986 Colts lost their first 12 and still wound up with three wins. These Colts have been outscored by 177 points. The only team to get outscored by more points in its first 11 games over the last 30 years was the 2008 Rams. Will Mike Murphy make much of a difference as the new coordinator of Indianapolis’ besieged defense? How will Indy look to defend the very dangerous tight end Rob Gronkowski? To have any chance of staying close, they'll need to find a way to slow him.

Tough sell: The combined win percentage of the Chargers and Jaguars entering this game is .318 (7-15). According to Elias, it’s the worst combined win percentage for two teams entering a "Monday Night Football" game this late in a season since the Ravens (4-9) and Packers (3-10) met in Week 15 of 2005. So it’s not a game with playoff implications. But two bad teams could be evenly matched and provide a close game. Jacksonville’s got some new life with a coaching change, and San Diego is still dealing with the pressure on Norv Turner, who appears destined to be fired. After a week of huge change, the Jaguars really need to come out riled up and start big.

Bonus nuggets: San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers has thrown 10 interceptions this season as a result of an over- or underthrown pass, the most off-target interceptions in the NFL. Jacksonville’s inexperienced corners, Will Middleton and Ashton Youboty could benefit from that. … Yates is the fifth quarterback in the last 25 years to take over a team on a winning streak of five games or more. Caleb Hanie lost for the Bears last year, Bill Musgrave lost for the Broncos in 1996, Jason Garrett won for Dallas in 1993 and Doug Flutie won for Chicago in 1986. … With a win Sunday against the Colts, Tom Brady would break a tie with Johnny Unitas and move into sole possession of sixth place on the all-time regular-season wins list by a starting quarterback with 120.

It’s a bit easy to say the AFC South should belong to the Houston Texans this season.

But I’m joining the chorus and saying it anyway: If this team can’t win this division, it’ll be time for owner Bob McNair to crumple up the plan and aim it for the closest trash can.

The Texans have a championship-caliber quarterback, receiver, tight end and running back (maybe two or three of those) all working with a smart and skilled offensive line that understands how it needs to work.

Mindset is the only question mark on offense, starting with Matt Schaub’s ability to rise to big moments. Even if he’s only average in that category, with Peyton Manning out for at least the bulk of the season, Schaub is the best signal-caller in the division by a wide margin.

The Schaub-Andre Johnson-Arian Foster combination is among the league’s best. Who has a better trio?

Philadelphia perhaps, with Michael Vick-LeSean McCoy-DeSean Jackson. Maybe Matt Ryan-Roddy White-Michael Turner in Atlanta. If we sub tight ends for running backs, San Diego with Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates and Vincent Jackson is in the conversation as is Green Bay with Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings and Jermichael Finley.

The revamped Houston defense was outstanding in the opener. Sure, much of that had to do with the Colts' offense in its first game with Kerry Collins playing in place of Manning. But we saw all the elements of a defense that can win games -- stout run defense, consistent pressure on the quarterback, quality coverage, the ability to cope with sudden-change situations.

One can see swagger and confidence in the body language of guys thrilled to be working under defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. I think he’s too low key, but it can clearly work for him as a coordinator. He has a way of keeping things simple and keeping the mood light, and players have bought in. I never sensed a similar feeling when Richard Smith or Frank Bush manned the post, though they obviously didn’t have the same quality of personnel Phillips will enjoy.

On special teams, Neil Rackers has a big leg that will make a lot of touchbacks and long field goals. Jacoby Jones and Danieal Manning can provide a jolt in the return game. Rookie punter Brett Hartmann isn’t proven yet but has a big leg.

The schedule is hardly a breeze, but look at the quarterbacks they could face: Collins twice, Chad Henne, Matt Hasselbeck twice (or maybe rookie Jake Locker), Luke McCown twice (or maybe rookie Blaine Gabbert), Colt McCoy, Andy Dalton and Cam Newton.

Houston’s been called a soft team, a finesse franchise. Not too many soft teams produce the NFL rushing champion the way this team produced Foster last season.

If the Texans' offensive blocking scheme amounts to a finesse one, so be it. The Colts have won the division eight times in nine seasons with a lot of finesse. They’re fine with you insulting them over it while admiring their success.

The Texans can show their toughness this season in how they stand up to Pittsburgh on Oct. 2 and at Baltimore on Oct. 16 and in how they fare in their games with the Jaguars.

The Colts' issues should be a huge assist for the Texans, as will the fact that the Titans and Jaguars are trying to stay afloat with temporary quarterbacks while developing top-10 draft picks in Locker and Gabbert. Although both teams may be ascending, their talent doesn’t match Houston’s.

If the Texans can make it through the first three-fourths of the season with a good record and in good health, they should be golden with a home stretch against Cincinnati (away), Carolina, Indianapolis (away) and Tennessee.

It sets up for success.

If this team folds under the expectations, if it cannot go get what’s so attainable, it’s going to have to be dismantled. It will require no more Mr. Nice Guy from McNair, who will have to part ways with a lot of nice guys he truly admires, starting with GM Rick Smith and coach Gary Kubiak. McNair will have no choice but to look for a different tone after a house cleaning.

I don’t think that’s how things will play out. I think Manning’s injury is a big break that opens the door, a door the Jaguars and Titans are not ready to approach. The Texans are more than talented enough to storm through it if they don’t complicate things. Run the ball. Work the play-action and bootleg game off of it. Rush the passer. Build from there as the season goes on and finish strong.

Watch pundits pick you to be a team that can do damage in the playoffs, and respond to it.

It sounds simple.

It just might be.

Houston Texans running back Arian Foster was outpointed in AP’s offensive player of the year voting by Tom Brady, who’s expected to be crowned MVP on Sunday, and Michael Vick.

Brady got 21 votes, Vick 11 and Foster seven. Three others also got votes: San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers (five), Atlanta receiver Roddy White (two) and Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers (two).

Brady’s season was spectacular, but I’ve always kind of found it odd that a certain level of MVP also collects the offensive or defensive player of the year award while another does not. When it does overlap, it seems redundant.

It would have been quite an honor for Foster, who led the league in rushing and scoring just a year after he was undrafted out of Tennessee.

If he can come close to the effort on a better team, he could be in the running again someday.

Jay Cutler's knee injury and subsequent departure from Sunday’s NFC Championship Game provided the latest example of the power of Twitter.

The critiques and questions about his status came not just from pundits and fans, but from peers.

Two of the outspoken players were Jacksonville Jaguars.

Kirk Morrison (@kirkmorrison55) tweeted:

1. 
   kirkmorrison55 Jay Cutler better go put some Tussin on that knee and get back out there. Tussin cures all. #Robitussin 23 Jan 2011 from ÜberTwitter

1. 
   kirkmorrison55 If my knee was hurt or acl/mcl/pcl sprain, I would not be standing up on the sideline. #jaycutler 23 Jan 2011 from ÜberTwitter

And Maurice Jones-Drew (@Jones_Drew32) said this:

1. 
   Jones_Drew32 Hey I think the urban meyer rule is effect right now... When the going gets tough........QUIT.. 23 Jan 2011 from ÜberTwitter

1. 
   Jones_Drew32 All I'm saying is that he can finish the game on a hurt knee... I played the whole season on one... 23 Jan 2011 from ÜberTwitter

Actually, MJD, you didn’t play the whole season on it, you missed the last two games when your team collapsed. But that didn't really fit with what you were saying, so it was easy to leave out.

Jones-Drew’s second tweet was used in a question to Brian Urlacher, who gave a very passionate defense of Cutler and slammed the likes of Jones-Drew:

"It’s easy to talk [expletive] about someone when you’re sitting on your couch watching the game"

The always measured Kevin Seifert hit just the right notes in this piece. Fair or not it’s a defining day for Cutler. Jim Trotter’s column is also a must read.

Twitter has made it easier than ever to give a jump to judgment greater volume. But there is context that’s necessary before we get a verdict. The Bears would be wise to offer as much as possible as soon as possible.

My take:

• We need to find out just how bad it was before we crush Cutler.
• Just because Philip Rivers once played in the playoffs with a torn ACL doesn’t mean everyone can or should play through anything and everything.
• Standing on the sideline in a parka is a much easier thing than dropping back, dodging a rush or absorbing a hit and stepping into throws. If he limped more, grimaced more, stayed in for a few more plays to make bad throws to prove just how bad it was, would that have made it more palatable?

HOUSTON -- Four questions on my mind as we get ready for Sunday kickoffs ...

Will Vincent Jackson be an X factor for San Diego?

I’ve read that he’s right back where he left off with Philip Rivers. The Chargers' passing offense has been plenty potent without him. Now the Colts have to find a way to make sure that connection doesn’t hurt them. Kelvin Hayden, Jerraud Powers and Jacob Lacey need a strong performance in the defensive backfield and early pressure from Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis can do a lot to take the pressure off the corners.

Can the Jaguars perform in bright lights, big city?

Jacksonville is probably the league’s most anonymous team in the league. But a game as the AFC South’s first-place team against the Giants in New Jersey is a big deal. If Terrance Knighton and Tyson Alualu can stuff the middle and the Jaguars can slow Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw with the sort of run defense they’ve played the past couple weeks, those defensive tackles will gain some notoriety.

Will Joel Dreessen be the next tight end to shred the Titans?

Tennessee has struggled to cover tight ends and the Texans know how to use theirs, even without the injured Owen Daniels. Houston needs to get Dreessen in the flow and do whatever it can to test the coverage capacity of the Tennessee linebackers. Mid-range stuff over the middle is open way too often. Don’t over think it, Texans. Find the space and attack it.

Can Cortland Finnegan slow Andre Johnson?

Finnegan works to get under a receiver’s skin. Johnson is largely unflappable. The Titans’ lead cornerback was moved to the right side where he faces more top receivers. He did good work against Miami’s Brandon Marshall. But today starts a six-week stretch during which he sees both Johnson and Reggie Wayne twice. If the Titans are going anywhere, Finnegan will have to be at his best.

Reading the coverage …

Houston Texans

Chris Johnson is eager for a big game with Arian Foster on the other side, says Jeffrey Martin.

N.D. Kalu and John McClain review the Texans’ defense. (Video.)

Would you trade Gary Kubiak for Mike Sherman, asks Richard Justice.

Catching up on Bob McNair’s recent review from McClain.

Indianapolis Colts

Spotting the football is an inexact science, says Curt Cavin.

Philip Rivers leads the league’s most potent offense, says Mike Chappell.

Bob Kravitz envisions Thanksgiving with the Colts.

In retirement, Tony Dungy’s quiet voice is everywhere, says Rachel Cohen.

Assessing Pierre Garcon with John Oehser.

Hope for the best, expect the worst from Bob Sanders. That’s Stampede Blue’s approach, anyway.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Maurice Jones-Drew has an abdomen injury.

A selfish approach works for the Giants defensive linemen, says Tania Ganguli.

The Giants’ inside-outside combination of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw is what concerns Vic Ketchman.

Tennessee Titans

Mike Heimerdinger will coach Sunday before starting chemotherapy on Monday, says Jim Wyatt.

Will Witherspoon thinks his $40,000 fine is excessive, says Wyatt and John Glennon.

Pete Prisco and Clark Judge face off over Vince Young.

Bud Adams sent the wrong message by not backing Jeff Fisher, says John McClain.

If the Titans are going anywhere, it’ll be because of their defense and special teams says Vince Verhei.

Examining the third-down defense against Washington with Tom Gower.

The Texans and Titans are both hoping for a rebound, says Ashlan Williams.

For weeks, the prevailing wisdom in my mailbag, on my Facebook page and in tweets aimed my way was that if Peyton Manning could win with the weapons he’s used during an injury-plagued season, he’s be a shoo-in for his fifth MVP and his third in a row.

He may still get there, but heading into Week 11 games with his team at 6-3, he’s certainly facing stiff competition and has work to do to get there.

In the Colts’ last two games -- a loss at Philadelphia and a win over Cincinnati -- Manning posted passer ratings of 67.0 and 69.8.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last time he was under 70 in back-to-back regular-season games was November 2007 and the time before that was November 1998, his rookie season.

Remarkably, as he threw no touchdowns and no interceptions against the Bengals, many of league's other quarterbacks posted phenomenal numbers.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, the average passer rating for the week’s games was 96.3, the highest in league history in a week with at least five games.

Another MVP isn’t Manning’s primary concern, of course. Another Super Bowl is. If he plays the way he needs to for the Colts to win the AFC South and head into the playoffs, he’ll certainly be a top contender.

But I believe as of now, three others can also be in the running right up until the day ballots are due.

• Michael Vick will max out at 13 games. Will that be enough? If he puts up a few more electric performances, I believe those, and not the missed games, will resonate more with voters.
• Philip Rivers is 56 yards from 3,000 already. His pace is awfully impressive and, like Manning, he’s dealt with some major losses to injuries (and also the Vincent Jackson contract squabble). If the Chargers, now 4-5, rally all the way back from their 2-5 start to make the playoffs, he’ll get solid consideration.
• Tom Brady hasn’t matched Manning’s yardage, but he is right there with him in touchdowns, interceptions and completion percentage. I think many will see Sunday’s fantastic game against the Steelers as a signature win. His head-to-head battle with Manning Sunday will go a long way for many in deciding between the two.

It’s too early to say, of course. But those who had things clinched up for Manning a couple of weeks ago were being premature.

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

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 9:

Canceling out Rivers: The odds are good that San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, who’s got record passing yardage through eight games, will be able to move the ball against Houston’s porous pass defense. Rivers should succeed even with injuries at receiver and to Antonio Gates, who's doubtful. The Texans' best defense might just be a big offensive day for Houston, too. Matt Schaub was shaky last week, especially in the first half. He needs to carry the Texans and match Rivers.

New venue: The Colts’ game in Philadelphia is their first in the city since 2002 and their first visit to Lincoln Financial Field. In two games in the city with Peyton Manning at quarterback, he’s thrown six touchdown passes and the team has two wins and 79 points. Mike Tanier thinks the Colts’ defensive scheme, with lots of defenders in short zones, is perfect for containing a scrambling quarterback like Michael Vick. But this version of the defense will be missing two or three key pieces, depending on the status of cornerback Jerraud Powers.

Watch first down: San Diego’s offense is the second best in the league this season on first down, while Houston’s is dead last, Aaron Schatz tells us. The Texans have to fare better on first down, and Gary Kubiak has to do better with the play calling there. Last week’s failure in Indy was pinned largely on third-down ineffectiveness. But more yards on first and second down produce more manageable third downs and presto. Well, I guess you can fail to give the ball to Arian Foster enough there, too.

More shuffling: The Colts pulled Philip Wheeler for Pat Angerer at strongside linebacker last week, but they’ll probably shuffle linebackers again this week. This time it wouldn't be by choice, it would be because of Clint Session's elbow/arm injury. It’s a guess as to how he’s replaced if he's out, but the candidates to be the third linebacker include Wheeler, Cody Glenn, Tyjuan Hagler and Kavell Conner. We’re also expecting receiver Anthony Gonzalez to be out, which means Blair White could get work if Austin Collie isn’t ready or is limited.

Hurry up and wait: The arrival of Randy Moss in Tennessee ranks as one of the biggest stories in the division this season. But the Titans are closed up for the weekend and his head start might not begin until Monday or Tuesday. As far as the potential to hear from him about being released in Minnesota and claimed by the Titans, we may not hear from him until Wednesday. We don’t know if he’ll provide both the questions and the answers as he said he would when he last talked as a Viking. The Jaguars, who also have a bye, will have a quieter return.

As the Texans' defense concludes preparations to try to slow Philip Rivers Sunday at Reliant Stadium, here's some context from ESPN Stats & Information:

• This year's Texans are one of just four teams to allow 24 or more points in each of their first seven games since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. The previous three teams -- the 1989 Cowboys, 1985 Bengals and 1973 Oilers finished with a combined record of 9-37.
• Houston is on pace to allow 6,466 yards. If Houston keeps up this pace and still makes the playoffs, that yardage would be the most allowed in a season by a team to make the postseason -- by 330 yards.

It will hardly be easy.

Rivers has 2,649 passing yards this season, the most by a player through eight games in league history. Dan Fouts had 2,580 in 1982.

Rivers is also 12-5 in November.

Reading the coverage ...

Houston Texans

Brian Cushing is ready for the move to the middle, says John McClain.

Who has the edge in McClain’s eyes?

Indianapolis Colts

Gary Brackett says emotion isn’t going to beat the Texans, writes Mike Chappell.

Tony Dungy adds prestige to the ring of honor, says Bob Kravitz, and the Colts need to clear a lot of space for other names.

The Colts' offensive line expects a much better performance than in the first game against the Texans, says Chappell.

John Oehser’s seven-step look at the Colts.

It’s as close to a must-win as the Colts will have all season, says AP.

Eighteen things to watch for, from Nate Dunlevy.

Jacksonville Jaguars

A very good performance in a blowout of the Cowboys did much to salvage the Jaguars’ season, says Tania Ganguli. Also includes Gene Frenette’s report card.

David Garrard was stellar in his return from a concussion, says Vito Stellino.

A goal-line stand was a big momentum shifter, says Stellino.

Maurice Jones-Drew got going and got over 100 yards, says Ganguli.

If there’s one good thing to say about the inconsistency of these 4-4 Jaguars, it’s that they had the resolve to fight through a lot of negativity, says Frenette.

Frenette and Stellino review the game in this video.

They saved their season, says Vic Ketchman.

Garrard is one of the week’s MVPs, says Shutdown Corner.

Tennessee Titans

San Diego maintained its handle on the Titans, says Jim Wyatt.

The Titans let a big one get away, says David Climer.

Kenny Britt may be out indefinitely, says Jim Wyatt.

A holding call against Michael Griffin swung momentum, says Climer.

Wyatt’s report card.

Philip Rivers was the fourth quarterback to top 300 yards against the Titans.

The Titans defended Donnie Nickey, says Wyatt.

Britt heard a pop, says Terry McCormick.

Jared Cook saw mixed results, says McCormick.

Nick Schommer's film study paid off with a blocked punt, says McCormick.