Sunday, December 30, 2018

A brief cautionary tale

Word out of Nashville this a.m. is that Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota will sit out today's showdown game with the Colts, which no doubt will gladden the hearts of Horsie Nation. Without Mariota, after all, the Titans will have to go with Blaine Gabbert, and that cracks open the door to the playoffs just a tad wider.

The Blob has two words to say about this:

Billy.

Volek.

Who, back in 2008, came off the San Diego Chargers' bench in the fourth quarter of a playoff game in Indianapolis after Philip Rivers limped off with an injury. The Chargers were down 24-21 to Peyton Manning and the Colts and were without star running back LaDainian Tomlinson. The old Hoosier Dome was rocking. And here came a guy who'd played his college ball at Fresno State and who, in five NFL seasons, was just 3-7 as a starter.

So what happened?

He completed one pass. He completed another. Then he completed another, and pretty soon the Chargers were at the 1-yard line, and shortly thereafter Volek was sneaking it in for the winning score in a 28-24 upset of the Colts.

Volek was 3-of-4 passing for 48 yards on the drive. He never played in another playoff game. In 2011, he retired after playing just 39 games in nine NFL seasons.

In other words ... don't celebrate yet, folks. The Titans could still Volek this up.

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