Two in a row -- Thank God football is back!

by Rich Rundel ProFootballFanatics.com columnist

TWO IN A ROW!!!

All right, now I've shouted it, I'll say it again, two in a row. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Tennessee Titans in JAX 13-6. The win marks their second consecutive; keeping them in first place with, get this, the 2-0 Cincinnati Bengals.

I do have to admit, I thought the Bengals would be the sleeper of the year, and the Jaguars would have be looking up from someplace near the middle of the division. Now don't get me wrong, I know it is going to be a tough climb. I had a rough time picking the Jaguars over the Titans in last week's game (I picked them primarily because they are my team!).

OK so the Jaguars handled the Titans. But, I want to tell about the other story of this week. Football was back in the USA. I was at the Jacksonville/Tennessee game this week and I have to say there were some very emotional moments throughout the day.

The Jaguars office let all of the season ticket holders know that the security measures were going to be increased. The Jags were advertising in the newspapers, the TV and of course the news. The fans were well informed.

We came early and moving into the stadium was easier than I expected. A little more so than I expected. I was prepared to experience the 30- to 45-minute lines I was hearing about all week, but didn't. There wasn't an over abundance of added police or security, but everyone attending the game was orderly and I literally walked right in. I think the biggest line was the one to get one of the one million American Flags that the NFL had purchased for the games. I think the flow of the crowd was smooth and the experience was fairly pleasurable. I would certainly say that the added security measures were of no issue for anyone, least of all me.

As we made it to our seats, it was amazing. Here's the scene: imagine 65,000 fans wearing red, white and blue, and of course the black and teal, waving their flags and listening to the Navy Band playing your favorite patriotic songs (pick one) with the people chanting USA..USA..USA. It was a sight. I have always considered myself a patriot, but this really made me proud to be an American.

We started out with the pledge of allegiance, something I haven't done since high school and something I will never again take for granted. Sara Croft a local 17-year old, with the lungs of Mariah Carey, performed the national anthem. Sara was accompanied by us 65,000 fans, which for the first time since I started attending Redskins games as I grew up in D.C., sang every word as loud as they could.

There were 50 uniformed police and firemen carrying 50 American flags. The color guard from NAS JAX unfurled a 30-yard flag during the pre-game ceremony. After the anthem, good old Jon Bon Jovi, with Ritchie Sambora, sang "America the Beautiful" from New York. Jacksonville has a large military population and there were very few dry eyes in the stadium. Throughout the game there were scenes from the Pentagon and the World Trade Towers.

The only thing that I wish was a little different was the reception that that the Titans received. Boo's were everywhere, my sentiment was different, and to quote the man that sits behind me at each game "I'm just glad they're here."

It's good to be an American.

Article courtesy of ProFootballFanatics.com.