Underdog Mentality: Titans LB Ready to 'Let It Loose' Against Colts
Somehow, the 1-6 Tennessee Titans are set to face their most difficult task of the season. Heading into Indianapolis, linebacker Cedric Gray is one of many players on the team who knows they are massive underdogs.
Gray, who has 50 total tackles in the past four weeks, has been a dominant defender for this Titans team. He knows he can't do everything by himself, but Tennessee's defense would be in an entirely different place without him.
After speaking to the media, it's clear exactly where Gray's head is at. The 22-year-old has far from given up, though he knows it's important to be realistic and adjust expectations as the season progresses.
Cedric Gray Comments On Upcoming Colts Game
Tennessee, who's coming off an embarrasing loss to Ex-HC Mike Vrabel, now has to play arguably the best team in the entire league. Sitting at 6-1, the Colts, who just beat the Titans in Week 3, hold plenty of key advantages.
"Whether you're an older player or younger player, I think it's hard for anyone to be 1-6," Gray said. "I think it's important that we stick together, keep the team morale high, believe in each other and trust each other so we can get through this together."
He continued, "We gotta go out there and let it loose. What do we have to lose? We're sitting here 1-6 playing a team that's playing really good football so we don't have nothing to worry about. Just go out there, play hard, us vs. The World, see what happens."
Gray's Historic Season
While he only had 10 total tackles against the New England Patriots, Gray has been doing something special this season. He joins Azeez Al-Shaair as the only Titans defenders since 2011 with 10+ tackles in four consecutive games.
Come October 26 he'll be looking to keep the streak alive against the Colts explosive offense. In fact, through seven games, the Colts have the most efficient offense this century . It's hard to believe, but QB Daniel Jones and RB Jonathan Taylor have been a dynamic duo unlike no other.
Going back to September 21, Gray had six tackles against the Colts. It marked one of two times this season he had the same number of solo tackles as he did assisted.
That Colts game was nearly his least productive of the season, which isn't surprisng as the Titans allowed 41 points. Now, a few weeks later, he's an entirely different player than he was in Week 3.
Jerry Jones Reveals How Cowboys Nearly Hired Sean Payton Ahead of Broncos Matchup
As the Dallas Cowboys prepare to face the Denver Broncos in Week 8, owner Jerry Jones revealed that the Cowboys almost hired Sean Payton a few years ago.
For decades, the Cowboys owner has admired Payton’s offensive mind, dating back to their shared time in Dallas under Bill Parcells.
As CBS Sports noted, Jerry Jones told 105.3 The Fan
“Several times. It just never fit,” Jones said. “He was never there when we needed to be thinking about making a change. The timing never fit. He’s certainly one of the better coaches that I’ve been around in my career.”
Jones first hired Payton in 2003 as Parcells’ assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach, where the young offensive mind quickly made an impression.
By 2006, however, Payton took his talents to New Orleans and the rest became history.
From afar, Jones watched him build a Super Bowl-winning resume with the Saints, becoming one of the most respected coaches in modern football.
Even now, nearly 20 years later, Jones still speaks about Payton as a coach who could have defined an era in Dallas.
“We’ve always had a tremendous respect for his ability to coach a team in every respect,” Jones added. “I thought before he ever was a head coach that it probably would happen here.”
How Dallas Almost Landed Payton
The Cowboys’ pursuit of Payton wasn’t just a rumor. Jones truly believed he’d one day lead America’s Team.
Payton’s background in Dallas, paired with his offensive pedigree, made him an ideal candidate for the position.
But timing proved to be the undoing.
Each time the Cowboys faced a potential coaching transition, Payton was either under contract or in the midst of playoff runs in New Orleans.
In the offseason of 2023, there were rumblings that the Cowboys would fire head coach Mike McCarthy and look towards Sean Payton once again.
But Jerry never pulled the trigger and McCarthy remained the Dallas head coach up until he was let go this past offseason.
This week’s matchup only intensifies that storyline: two of the NFL’s biggest names who almost joined forces years ago are now facing off on opposite sidelines, each trying to lead his team toward the playoffs.
Payton’s Broncos Rise
Now leading the Broncos (5-2), Payton has reestablished his reputation after a rocky first year in Denver.
Last year, Payton led the Broncos 10-7 record, leading the team to their first playoff appearance since 2015. The team has now won five of its last six, including a dramatic comeback against the Giants last Sunday.
The Broncos are now first place in the AFC West.
In just two years, Payton took a team that won just five games in 2022 to a team that has Super Bowl aspirations and has built a really solid core of stars led by quarterback Bo Nix and cornerback Pat Surtain.
The Broncos will look to keep their momentum going against the Cowboys this Sunday.
As the Cowboys travel to Denver, Jerry Jones makes it clear that “there’s no bitterness, just recognition of what might have been.“There’s no coach we think more of, or respect more, than Sean Payton,” Jones said.
Sunday’s game carries big stakes for both sides, with each team fighting to stay on track in the playoff race.
