**
HEAD COACH JEFF FISHER, DEC. 24, 2008**
(On which measure of a defense is the most important)
Well, it's clearly points allowed and then turnovers. It's three areas, it's points allowed, turnovers and then third-down efficiency. Third-down efficiency and turnovers work hand-in-hand, you get the ball back. Of course, points allowed is very important.
(On if finishing No. 1 overall in defensive points allowed would be a nice add-on to the season)
Yeah, I mean there's a number of things. I mean the fourteenth win is very important to us, too. We're going to go about this week with every intention to do what we have to do to win this game.
(On if there's any concern about a lack of focus during the holiday week)
No, they've done a great job all year staying focused and then backing down and refocusing and that's what we have to do. I'm going to give them the entire day off tomorrow to spend time with their families. They deserve it. We'll come back Friday refocused on the ball game and they'll be fine.
(On adjusting to a two-day practice week before Christmas)
Yeah, we'll do a little bit more on Friday. We'll combine Thursday and Friday on Friday so we may be just a little bit longer.
(On what's different about the Colts now compared to before the Monday night game)
Well, I mean the game is a little different in that neither team really has anything to gain or lose as far as this game is concerned. That's the obvious difference. If we were going to play the Colts a week from Saturday or Sunday, they're clearly playing much better than when we saw them on Monday night.
(On Jason Jones playing the next game after a successful game against Pittsburgh)
Well, Jason, like everybody else, has to put that behind him. He was productive and made plays and made plays partly because of what he was doing and partly because of what his teammates were doing. He understands, he's been around long enough to know that every offense is different, unique and every week is a new challenge.
(On if Vince Young got most of the snaps at practice)
No, we divided snaps just about equally. I haven't really decided on how we're going to approach this but there's a chance that some of the younger players are going to play.
(On if he anticipates Kerry Collins starting)
Kerry's clearly going to start the game.
(On if they'll limit things when Vince Young enters the game)
No, Coach [Heimerdinger] has done a nice job putting the plan together and we think we have things on both sides of the ball that are going to give us a chance to win.
(On the things the Titans have done overall to go from Wild Card team to No. 1 seed)
Well, I think it's hard to carryover things from one year to the next and I think this team did that. Their commitment to the offseason program, the way they handled training camp and their ability to take things one week at a time. There's the difference. We lost some close games last year, we had some injuries last year. We stayed healthy for the most part this year and when we've had injuries at some key positions the backups have stepped up.
(On the matchup problems posed by Robert Mathis)
Well, a few years ago it was all about Dwight Freeney and you set your offense up to protect the left side of your offense because he was so protective. Now if you turn your line to Freeney, Mathis is going to do the same thing that Freeney does. They've done a nice job balancing up their front and he's an exceptional rusher.
(On if Mathis is as good a chase-and-strip-the-ball player as Freeney)
Yeah, he is. He and Freeney have a lot of the same moves but both of them are down the field. The entire defense has great speed, Mathis included. That's one thing that you have to stress to your offense when you're playing this team is that you must protect the football at all times, even if you're in the open field running, someone's going to come strip you.
(On how David Stewart plays against speed-rushing defensive ends)
David's handled those type of rushers. It's not easy but he gets out there and he handles it. He understands the challenge.
(On if he wishes the game had meaning)
It does have meaning. It's the Colts. It's a division rival. It's the last game of the year and we want to win it. It's a game, it's a regular season game so there's lots of significance to this.
