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Chris Johnson‘s ridiculous season kicked into high gear on Sept. 20. The Titans couldn’t beat the Texans that day, but he embarrassed Houston, running for 197 yards and setting concerns about the Texans’ run defense at DEFCON 1.



In the nine weeks since, Houston’s transformed into a much more effective defense, and Johnson’s moved past 1,000 yards.



So while Vince Young‘s return to his hometown as the starting quarterback of the much-improved Titans is a big story, the key to the Monday Night Football rematch at Reliant Stadium is Johnson. If he can come close to his Week 2 performance, Tennessee is now equipped to ride it to victory. If the Texans can better control him, their chances of improving to 6-4 in front of a raucous crowd will jump significantly.



The Texans’ defense in general, and run defense in particular, has improved for several reasons.



The team’s done better with the message of first-year coordinator Frank Bush and more is fundamentally sound. Bernard Pollard was signed and took over as the starting strong safety. His reliable positioning and sure tackling have helped raise the standard in both departments.



And the rushing offenses of the Texans’ last six opponents now averages 22nd in the NFL while the first three opponents — the Jets, Titans and Jaguars — are first, second and sixth, respectively.



They gave up an average of 205 rushing yards in the first three and have cut the number to 60.5 since.



“Stopping the run has really been the big thing,” rookie linebacker Brian Cushing said. “Guys really started coming together. I know my game, mentally, has stepped up and a couple other guys have really stepped up too. This defense is just really jelling and we enjoy playing with each other.”



“Hell guys, it had to get better,” Gary Kubiak said of the run defense. “It was as bad as it could possibly be after three weeks this year. It had no way to go but up.”



Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger said watching film of the Texans to prepare for the game showed a different team.



“They’re playing with much more confidence,” he said. “The first time we played them, there were some breakdowns in assignments and gaps and now you don’t see that any more. They’re in the right gaps, they’re flying to the ball. I don’t think they’ll plays us the same way, and it’s not so much the success we’ve had, I think it’s more some of the breakdowns they had. You don’t see confusion anymore.”



Johnson said he thinks he might see some five-man lines from the Texans and he doesn’t expect to be able to slip outside as a receiver and be left uncovered as he was on a 69-yard catch and run for one of his three touchdowns in the first matchup.



And because he expects the Texans to adjust and be better coming out of their bye, he said the Titans need to adjust and be better.



“They have more time to prepare against me, some of the things you like to do, some of the plays you like to run,” he said. “So basically as an offense, we’ve got to go in there and mix it up and do some new things. Because they are going to expect us to do some of the same things since we had so much success.”



He was upset to come up three yards short of 200 rushing and said he hopes to get there this time.



“I think I’m unstoppable,” he said. “I’ve got great confidence. I expect to do well every time I am on the field.”



In three games since Young took over at quarterback, Johnson’s rushed for 495 yards. A run threat at quarterback as compared to a pocket passer in Kerry Collins has opened up even more for Johnson.



They’ve even been running some option plays.



“With Vince doing some of the things we’re doing now, they have to look out for him too,” fullback Ahmard Hall said. “It’s not just about stopping CJ anymore.”



This is the Texans’ one shot in prime time this year, and Cushing said they know much of their national reputation will be founded on how they perform. The Titans lost in overtime in Pittsburgh in the NFL’s opening night game and were crushed 31-9 by Indianapolis in Sunday Night Football as part of their 0-6 start.



Creative on the field, Johnson hasn’t had a chance to play a set of bongo drums in a touchdown celebration like he did in Kansas City last season. Maybe he’s imagining Monday night will provide a chance to show off not just his speed, but his smile.



“This kid’s amazing,” Kubiak said. “What type of year he’s having and the pace he’s on, you don’t see that very often in this league. He’s tremendous and it’s, of course, the biggest challenge we’ve had all year long… He’s a great player. In this league you play great people and understand that they’re going to make plays. But hopefully you can find a way to contain them over a period of three and a half hours.”

Buffalo television station WIVB has modified its story about the Buffalo Bills’ interest in Jon Gruden to be their next head coach.



A “highly placed Bills source” informed the local CBS affiliate the club will hold informal talks with several candidates but won’t make a hire until after the season.



The source also confirmed the Bills had reached out to Gruden, but through “back-channel conversations with someone close to” the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders coach.



WIVB previously stated, citing unnamed sources, the Bills and Gruden had met “face-to-face.”



The Bills fired Dick Jauron and appointed defensive coordinator Perry Fewell interim head coach on Tuesday, one day after Gruden signed a multiyear contract extension with ESPN’s “Monday Night Football.”

Jon Gruden isn’t commenting on a report from Buffalo’s CBS affiliate that he had a face-to-face meeting with the Buffalo Bills about becoming their next head coach.

Gruden

WIVB sportscaster Paul Peck, quoting unnamed sources, wrote on the station’s Web site that Gruden was the Bills’ first choice ahead of Mike Shanahan, who reportedly will meet with the club to discuss the job.



The report states the Bills were unable to convince Gruden to leave the “Monday Night Football” booth. “They went after him hard,” a source said.



When I reached out to Gruden for a comment Saturday, he declined.



ESPN announced it had signed Gruden to a contract extension Monday. The Bills fired head coach Dick Jauron and appointed defensive coordinator Perry Fewell on Tuesday.



On Wednesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Bills had contacted Shanahan and were setting up a meeting.



Based on the timeline, it would appear the Bills would’ve spoken to Gruden before they fired Jauron, although they theoretically could have contacted Gruden after Jauron’s dismissal and pulled off a hasty face-to-face meeting before contacting Shanahan.

We’ve spent all week talking about how the Giants finally have everyone healthy, but the club delivered some bad news Friday evening. Middle linebacker Antonio Pierce, a team captain, has a bulging disk in his neck and will be out indefinitely. Pierce released a statement through the Giants:

Pierce

“I’m shocked with what I heard from the doctors this afternoon,” Pierce said in the statement. “I had no idea that what happened a few weeks ago could keep me off the field. I didn’t think it was that serious. I’m going to do everything the doctors tell me to do so I can get back out on the field as soon as possible.”



The Giants play the Falcons on Sunday in the Meadowlands. Chase Blackburn will probably replace Pierce in the starting lineup. Blackburn’s a steady player, but he’s only started one game at middle linebacker since ’05. Pierce is the defense’s emotional leader and he had 55 tackles, one sack and a forced fumble this season. Some defensive players have talked about having some communication issues — and Pierce’s absence won’t help.



He can often be seen checking the Giants into proper calls. Blackburn’s an intelligent player, but he doesn’t have nearly as much experience as Pierce. It looks like the best-case scenario for Pierce returning is about six weeks from now.