EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey, 1 December 2003 — In keeping with this unpredictable NFL season, tonight’s game between the high-flying Tennessee Titans (9-2) and the cellar-dwelling New York Jets (4-7) is considered a close call.
Statistically speaking, the Titans should cruise to victory, having won six straight games and racked up 30 points in seven of its past eight outings, while New York has managed to score that many just twice all season.
But there is a catch.
Titans quarterback Steve McNair, the MVP frontrunner who has thrown for 18 touchdowns while being picked off a mere four times, is listed as questionable for the contest with a strained right calf.
Coach Jeff Fisher held out some hope for McNair after Friday’s practice, saying: “Each day he’s getting a little better.”
Fisher does not want to rush things, though, knowing that there are bigger battles to come. A loss to the Jets would only be a minor hiccup on the way to what he hopes will be another Super Bowl berth; Tennessee lost to St. Louis in the title game in 2000.
McNair’s status will not be known until kickoff and if he is unable to start, Billy Volek, who rallied the Titans to a 38-31 win over the Falcons in a relief role last weekend, will take over as quarterback.
Rookie Jason Gesser, a free agent acquisition like Volek, will be the backup.
McNair can never be counted out, though.
