Jake Locker, Andy Dalton, and what could have been

The Tennessee Titans blew a golden opportunity to not only start 2-0 for the first time since it last made the playoffs in 08, but to also get an early two game cushion on the reigning AFC South champion Indianapolis Colts. A team they struggle with mightily.

Last week's loss to the Cowboys effectively ended the four month honeymoon between Titans fans and their embattled, and surgically repaired starting qb Jake Locker.

Throughout the preseason, Locker played brilliantly. New head coach Ken Whisenhunt heaped praise upon praise for Locker's commitment, and quick grasp of the new offense. In week 1, Locker was on his game, leading Tennessee to an impressive opening day road win over the Chiefs.

Last week? Well....

His 26 yard passing performance in the first half against Dallas ultimately did the Titans in. He missed several wide open receivers, which stalled drive after drive.

Locker settled down in the second half...throwing for over 200 yards and a td, but a couple of errant throws sealed the Titans fate. He finished with 238 yards for the game.

The Titans' quest for consecutive road wins is daunting, as the 2-0 Cincinnati Bengals await them this Sunday. Locker's quest for a bounce back performance is equally daunting, as the Bengals boast one of the most talented defenses in the league.

If that wasn't enough pressure, Locker will be facing Bengals qb Andy Dalton. And I'm sure that by game time someone will ask the Titans what could have been....

In 2011, Tennessee selected Jake Locker with the 8th overall pick of the first round. In the second round of that draft, the Cincinnati Bengals selected Andy Dalton. Since that time, the teams have gone in completely opposite directions.

One qb has led his team to three consecutive playoff appearances, and has a 115 million dollar contract extension to show for it. The other is playing out the last year of his deal, after his team said..."thanks, but no thanks" on an extension. And you can't blame Tennessee...Locker has rarely been on the field and the Titans haven't sniffed the playoffs since his arrival.

I'm sure that coach Whisenhunt will give the politically correct answers if asked to grade the two qb's at this point of their careers. But we all know that Whiz would take Dalton over Locker if given the choice. Looking back, I'm sure the Munchak regime wish they would have too.

But I digress.

This week, one qb will be playing with the confidence of security. He knows that, win or lose, he's the qb of the future. Meanwhile, Jake Locker is not only trying to win games, but he's also trying to extend his career.

So where's the happy medium?

Locker can take a queue from the qb that beat him last week, Tony Romo. Let's remember the previous week, Romo did his own team in with costly turnovers. All by trying to do too much. Against Tennessee, he resisted the temptation, and took what the defense gave him...which was gaping holes in the run game. Romo won by not beating his team, something we rarely see from him.

For the Titans to be successful this week, Locker will need to focus on just getting the win. And not whether he's in Dalton's class (pun intended) or not. Jake seemed to be set on a Locker - Romo shoot out at high noon last week, and looked jittery from the start. Romo was just trying to get to .500. I'm sure he'll take the win over a 500 yard passing day.

Tennessee has the best passing defense in the league so far this year, and has given up the fewest passing tds overall since 2013.

Let Dalton be their problem.

The Titans just need Jake to play ball, and not prove anything. It wasn't the stats that got Dalton the extension. It was the wins.

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