For those of you that weren’t watching a rainy Game 5 of the 2008 World Series, there was a football game on Monday night.

The Titans, in typical Tennessee fashion this season, won yet another game 31-21 over the Colts to extend their runaway lead to four games in the AFC South. The Indy loss gives Tennessee the largest lead over a second-place team in any division in football.

With only about half of the season done, the Titans are almost a lock to capture a postseason berth with their now 7-0 record. Every other team in the AFC South remains far behind, with Indianapolis, Houston and Jacksonville all sporting 3-4 records.

You won’t need a Music City Miracle to check out our titanic weekly segment:

The U’s Primetime Players:

Quarterbacks:

Kerry Collins
This was yet another vintage Collins performance. This season, Tennessee’s man-under-center hasn’t really been fantasy relevant, even with an undefeated squad. But the man knows how to get the job done; i.e. limiting turnovers (0 tonight) and ball control/clock management (nearly 35 minutes including two drives that stretched over 14 minutes). This team is built on the run, and although the quarterback won’t break any passing records this season, don’t expect a soul to call for Vince Young to return to the starting lineup. MNF Grade: A

Peyton Manning
This game finally proved that Manning and the Colts are not the same Indianapolis team we’re used to seeing year after year. Despite an overall decent game, in which he threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns, the negatives far outweighed the positives for Manning and the offense. The unit lacks a timely rhythm and a consistency that it displayed in running up scores on opponents for so many years. Manning was responsible for both Colts turnovers, two interceptions that were only reminders of the lack of effectiveness in his team. This makes two straight duds for Indianapolis, which isn’t good with New England on deck. MNF Grade: C+

Running backs:

The Tennessee Titans Tandem
There may be no better running attack than the Tennessee ground game. The true thunder and lightning combo in LenDale White and Chris Johnson has pummeled and torched every defense that has stood in its way. The Colts defense thought it had the tandem figured out through the entire first half and most of the second, yet the backs grinded out another good performance. Johnson and White carried 29 times for 90 yards; scored all three Titans touchdowns (Johnson: 1, White: 2) and carried the team past the Colts in the final minutes. White leads all running backs with 10 touchdowns on the season. MNF Grade: A -

Dominic Rhodes
Rhodes played surprisingly well for Indianapolis and kept the team competitive through halftime. With 70 yards on 17 carries, he added a dimension to a Colts offense thought to be one-sided without RB Joseph Addai. The back also contributed to the receiving game as well, catching eight passes for 39 yards in being Manning’s second-leading target. All this came against a very tough Titans defensive line, meaning Rhodes played one heck of a game. However, with Addai scheduled to return from injury soon, it could be one of the last time Rhodes starts at tailback for Indy. MNF Grade: B+

Wide receivers:

The Titans have receivers?
Apparently they do. It would take too long to look up the roster and name every wide receiver on the team so how about the ones that made the biggest impact on Monday Night Football? Bo Scaife led the team in both catches (5) and receiving yards (44) yet still does not possess the abilities of a No. 1 receiver. The other wideouts on the field for Tennessee: Brandon Jones (4 catches, 40 yards), Justin McCareins (2-30), Lavelle Hawkins (1-13) and Justin Gage (1-6). MNF Grade: B -

Reggie Wayne/Marvin Harrison
These two usually take care of business on Monday Night Football. It seems almost as if the Wayne-Harrison combination just doesn’t have the same punch it used to. Of Manning’s 26 completions in the game, only four went to Wayne and Harrison. With Dallas Clark looking good and the emergence of targets like Anthony Gonzalez and Rhodes, expect at least one of the two (likely Harrison) to drop off the fantasy radar. MNF Grade: C

Tight Ends:

Dallas Clark
Aside from Rhodes, he was the only other bright spot on the Colts offense. With his best game of the season, a now-healthy Clark led the team with seven catches, 94 yards and two touchdowns. He was easily Manning’s favorite target, and seemed to be one of the only players that could figure out the Titans D. His only mistake was the bobble-turned-interception with less than five minutes to go that sealed the win for Tennessee. MNF Grade: A-

Alge Crumpler
The tight end really hasn’t done much of anything since leaving Atlanta, and he has not been a comfortable fit for a Titans team desperately seeking playmakers. Crumpler had four catches for 35 yards in this one, yet has just over 130 receiving yards in seven games this season. He dropped several passes on Monday night, including one at the goal line that would have given Tennessee seven points instead of settling for three. MNF Grade: B

Defense/Special Teams:

Tennessee
The Titans defense was everything we expected it to be Monday night. While some argued that Tennessee really hadn’t faced anyone this season, the Titans silenced their critics with a win inspired by a strong defensive effort. While allowing 317 yards, the unit gave up only 21 points, including a meaningless seven with a 31-14 lead and time running out. Manning was relatively held in check, and the Colts ground game did not produce a 100-yard rusher. No sacks or forced fumbles, but two interceptions were key. MNF Grade: B +

Indianapolis
Indianapolis had the Titans figured out until the final quarter. The Colts gave up only two field goals in the first half, and remained deadlocked with Tennessee before giving up big plays en route to a 17-point Titans fourth. Zero sacks on Kerry Collins when he threw the ball 37 times means the pass rush was weak, and allowing Johnson and White to bust the game wide open down the stretch gave the Colts little chance to win. No turnovers means either the Colts defense is bad, or Tennessee is just that good. MNF Grade: C

Kickers:

Rob Bironas
Bironas booted field goals from 34, 44 and 48 and, despite missing from 43 yards out, he moved past Al del Greco on the all-time Oilers/Titans kicking list. He also hit two extra points, and is 13-for-14 in field goal attempts this season. MNF Grade: B +

Adam Vinatieri
The legendary kicker had a good view of the primetime game from the bench. Besides three extra points, Vinatieri wasn’t even called upon for a field goal attempt. He is 5-for-8 on the year, and hasn’t kicked any field goals in two weeks. MNF Grade: C

Join us next Monday night from our nation’s capital when the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) battle the Washington Redskins (6-2) in a possible Super Bowl preview.