With all of the other precedents they have established for Nashville since last season, maybe it was inevitable that the Tennessee Titans—unintentionally, of course— would inspire a new drinking contest. Unlike the old “Hi Bob!” game, which required participants to chug a beverage every time someone on the Bob Newhart Show greeted the title character, this one is devilishly simple and conveniently predictable.

Not coincidentally, it is based on the Titans’ offense. Each time Eddie George carries the ball on a first down, everyone has to chug a cool one. The merits of this game will be apparent upon sober reflection. For one thing, it’s considerate of the fans, who’ll always know to be prepared to hoist one on the first play that the Titans have the ball. But this is not some recklessly irresponsible consumption of alcohol, despite what the bluenoses may contend. Given the number of times Tennessee’s offense has gone three-and-out so far, imbibers will have plenty of time to recover before Eddie carries the football again.

It may be instructive to remember this little game as we ponder the apparently unquietable quarterback question (we dare not call it a controversy) that still hangs over the team. Just when we thought Steve McNair’s heroic performance in the playoffs and the Super Bowl had finally settled the issue, and that even the booers and bad-mouthers of a year ago had boarded the bandwagon, here we go again. For the entire Buffalo game and what seemed like forever in Week Two against Kansas City, the Titans’ offense sputtered and wheezed like a lawnmower that has been in the garage all winter.

Then, after Neil O’Donnell replaced the injured McNair early in the fourth period, the Titans came to life, sustaining three drives and scoring twice—once to tie the game with less than a minute to play, then again to win in overtime. Suddenly, the old, presumably buried issues surfaced again. Among the Titans’ coaching staff, there is no controversy at all; McNair is the alpha QB. But the second-guessing among some of the fans has resumed. One strain of talk-show commentary has it that O’Donnell stands longer in the pocket, allowing receivers to flash open. Another suggests that O’Donnell reads defenses better and doesn’t lock in on particular receivers.

Perhaps, though, the questions should not be framed around the two quarterbacks but around McNair and coach Jeff Fisher. Don’t ask which QB represents the more effective weapon. Wonder instead which weapon has been deployed more efficaciously.

And in pondering that, you have to consider George, the Titans’ most formidable weapon of all. For him to wreak maximum havoc, “The Beast” needs to pound opposing defenses at least 20 times per game. Which suits him to Fisher’s smash-mouth approach just peachily. In a telling comment after the Buffalo loss, the coach defended his heavy reliance on the run by likening football games to a boxing match; a few rounds of stomach punches (that would be Eddie), he suggested, soften up an opponent for a knockout.

Relying so heavily on the thunder, of course, means a lesser role for the lightning—played, in Tennessee’s case, by McNair, Carl Pickens, Yancey Thigpen, and the other wide receivers. A whole slew of Titans’ fans, much admiring St. Louis’ blitzkrieg attack, appear to wish that their team would adopt the Rams’ point-a-minute approach. You can debate the merits of these competing football and martial strategies until the cows come skating home on the ice. It’s the same debate, essentially, that occurred between Lee and Longstreet at Gettysburg. The latter begged his superior simply to pivot around the entrenched Union forces, race toward Washington, and leave the bluecoats in the dust. No, Lee insisted, first he would smash the middle of the Union line and render them incapable of chasing him. The only problem for the Confederates was that the Union commander, George Meade, knew Lee’s tendencies and reinforced the center of his line—just as the Bills, understanding Fisher’s proclivities, stacked their defense to stop Big Eddie. You know how things worked out both in 1863 and a couple of weeks ago.

Grinding it out the Fisher way, though, has generally succeeded for the Titans. It often produces tight, low-scoring games (while, for all their offensive acumen, the Rams have found themselves in close games against lesser opponents for two straight weeks now), but you can’t argue with the results.

What is more arguable, however, is how Tennessee’s quarterbacks are variously used. If the Titans have seemed to move the ball more prodigiously under O’Donnell, it may be because he is superior, as some suggest, at reading defenses, changing plays at the line, and hanging in the pocket. It may be that McNair’s superior mobility, which gives the offense another dimension, tempts him to run more often than he should. On the other hand, the team’s success under O’Donnell this year and last may reflect a different approach to play-calling when he is in the game.

Consider this revealing bit of data. Against Kansas City, McNair threw 18 passes (completing 11) until his injury early in the fourth quarter. O’Donnell also completed 11 of 18 passes—but he played only one-third that amount of time. The Titans began throwing on first and second down. Not coincidentally, George suddenly became more effective, breaking loose for the long run that set up the game-winning field goal. After his heroics, O’Donnell himself suggested that the coaching staff offers him a certain leeway in running the team. Motivated by the screeching halt to which two run-focused defenses have brought the Titans’ offense this season, perhaps the coaches will reshuffle the mix of plays when McNair returns to the lineup. Until then, the only controversy should be over why one of the NFL’s most elusive QBs has been boxed into such a predictable format.

How it looks from the La-Z-Boy

Vanderbilt 31, Duke 14

The season is three weeks old, but Vandy’s hopes for a successful season have already all but disappeared amid the familiar fog of passes almost caught, tackles almost made, and calls that almost went the other way. Fans who once talked of a winning season now may be fortunate to see their team finish 3-8. One of those wins should come against the Blue Devils, who are more miserable this year than Bill Clinton in a Trappist monastery. In fact, for Vanderbilt, losing to this Duke team is almost as inconceivable as falling to Miami of Ohio. (OK, bad example.) Still, if Vandy stumbles again this week, it’s time to stop recruiting players and find an exorcist.

Tennessee 54, Louisiana-Monroe 7

The only people in Knoxville more miserable than the Vols during practices this week will be the visitors to Neyland Stadium on Saturday. Imagine Linda Tripp first thing in the morning. Multiply by four. It will still be prettier than this game.

Titans 24, Steelers 14

As the Redskins discovered on Monday night, few teams are more dangerous than a winless franchise with a lot of pride. Against the punchless Steelers, the Titans will forget this lesson at their peril. Fortunately for Tennessee, Jeff Fisher has a long memory, and his team has Eddie George, who may finally enjoy a bustout day.

Florida 34, Kentucky 21

Alabama 20, Arkansas 16

Mississippi State 23, South Carolina 13

Auburn 38, N. Illinois 10

LSU 27, UAB 13

Georgia 38, New Mexico St. 13

Michigan State 17, Notre Dame 14

Jaguars 31, Colts 28

Dolphins 20, Patriots 13

Rams 33, Falcons 24

Buccaneers 20, Jets 10

Giants 16, Redskins 14