Quote:I guess they always seem really fired up for this particular game.  For example, it seems that they wear the "battle red" when they play the Jags an awful lot.  I am not criticizing them for feeling like it is a big game, just saying its not something I quite understand.  I know a couple Texans fans and it seems they really look forward to this particular game.

 

As for the Titans vs Texans being the big rivalry, I can see that being important to the fans, but the players don't necessarily have that same feeling.  Its not as though the players on the Texans get more pumped up knowing that in 1997 or so, some guy they never knew existed at the time moved his  team to another city.  

 

The players are the ones who recognize it as a rivalry and have said it's a rivalry..  There is bad blood between players involving multiple games, that has had multiple punches thrown and ejections. 

 

Early on the ownership tried to force the rivalry because of the move, but like you said, that didn't involve the players.. the players over time have now formed their own rivalry.  Mainly because of the cheap shots the Titans were always known for.. and then when their proud to be labeled the "dirtiest player in the NFL" tried to punk Houston's leader it took things to another level.  I don't know how hot the rivalry is now, because Titans have had so much overturn over the last couple of years, but the Titans didn't like Houston and Houston (talking about players here) did not like the Titans.  There was genuine bad blood that went beyond the play on the field.

 

And as far as only wearing battle red jersey's against the Jags. That isn't true either, we've worn the red jerseys against every divisional opponent (and non divisional opponents), we just wore them vs the Colts a few weeks ago.

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