The Best Team in the AFC South? The Tennessee Titans? Why Not?
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
I never said I wasn't biased (hence my "Obstructed" bit), but I have tried to keep a fair and objective view with teams, especially the ones I like. I lived in Detroit for a large portion of my childhood so developed a great love for the Lions (miserably in love for most of the years). Then my parents moved down South and developed my love for college with Alabama. But two years in I moved over from Alabama to Atlanta, GA. At first I loathed the Falcons, but grew fast into them and have become MY TEAM, even over the Lions. The transition was also easy when I held season tickets for the Falcons for 3 seasons before ticket prices spiked and couldn't afford it. I still back the Birds though. But with the AFC, I never have rallied for a team. Could never roll with the Steelers, and while I am an admitted fan that has enjoyed watching the Patriots dynasty, I can't get behind them. Denver always bothered me. But I always had a soft spot for one team: the Tennessee Titans.
Steve McNair, Eddie George, and Jeff Fisher were the faces of the Titans success, but so many others contributed to it as well.
My infatuation with them was pretty much when they arrived in Tennessee when they still remained the Oilers. Seeing Steve McNair and Eddie George was fun and they were the guys fans most related to and I loved both, but it was the other guys that I would have paid to watch. The guys that were Derrick Mason, Frank Wycheck, Kevin Dyson, and the great Bruce Matthews. And on the defensive side? Blaine Bishop was one of the best safeties if not the best in the NFL and could he lower the boom. Other guys that were on the team that were fun to watch like Samari Rolle, one of the best cornerbacks in that time and Denard Walker on the other side of him. While the Oilers were never "impressive" after the move in Tennessee, normally rolling around the 8-win mark, it was 1999 that everything rolled. They became the Titans and had probably the most unique jerseys and probably a trend-setting of the 2nd color shoulder pad jerseys (the light blue going with the dark blue is still pretty nice today). And the Titans drafted a freak at defensive end with Jevon Kearse.
Not many defenses went after it like Tennessee's in the late 90's/early 2000's.
I just started college in 1999 and my college roommate and I got to talking and we said the Titans were a team to watch out for in the NFL that season. The defense was prime, you had a great quarterback in McNair, running back in George and you had players that could make plays. After the Titans beat the Rams in the regular season, I turned to my friend and went "it does not matter on what happens after that, the Titans are Super Bowl bound." He looked at me and agreed. I remembered jumping up and down when the Titans pulled off the "Music City Miracle" against Buffalo in the first round. Then they beat a 2nd year Peyton Manning & a Indianapolis squad and then smacked Jacksonville a 3rd time in the AFC Championship (the Titans contributed to all 3 losses the Jags had for the season. Jacksonville went 15-0 against everybody else). Of course we know what happened with the rematch with the Rams in the Super Bowl. But while they lost and I was a bit let down from it, I figured the Titans were good enough, great enough on defense, and young enough to believe they would be back. They played great in 2000 but the Ravens defense, probably the lone defense that could outperform Tennessee in that stretch, took it to the Titans in the AFC Divisional Playoff. After that and while having a few quality seasons, the Titans were not the same again. Some point to questionable drafts and others pointed to free agency signings that didn't pan out.
Marcus Mariota is becoming what Steve McNair was for the Oilers/Titans: the face of the team's rebirth.
Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
And pretty much hit rock bottom in 2014, going 2-14, but drafted Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota out of Oregon. While considered a top pick, some have not considered him a genuine franchise quarterback such as the likes of Peyton Manning was or Brady, Rodgers, Brees, and others are. The Titans, having young players and not a lot of great talent in 2015, only won 3 games.
Murray is looking like what he was in Dallas: a force to be reckoned with.
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
After the season, the Titans pushed to get better. They traded for DeMarco Murray from Philadelphia, two years after he was one of the game's best running backs and playing in a system where it didn't pan out. Drafting Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry (second straight year Tennessee picked a Heisman winner) was also a jolt to the run game (as when he has ran the ball, also been problematic for defenses). Delanie Walker has become one of the NFL's premier tight ends and Mariota's favorite target as the once offensive-challenged Titans is now a top 10 offense in the NFL.
Brian Orakpo is enjoying a great year for the Titans.
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
If there is a concern, it could be on the defensive side. But let's examine the positives first. In the 3-4 scheme, the Titans have the outside linebackers of Brian Orakpo (9 sacks) and Derrick Morgan (6.5 sacks) leading the way to 28 total sacks so that is a big positive (ranked 4th in the NFL) and are middle of the pack of total yardage given up. Third down percentage ranks in the top 10 (38%). Could be really the passing defense (10th most yards allowed). But where it hurts are the points allowed, which is a bit baffling at 8th most in the league (26.4 points allowed). Which means it might be the big play that has hurt the Titans a lot of the times (38 times Tennessee has given up 20 or more yards in the air which is tied for 3rd most and 8 times have allowed runs of 20 or more yards also the third most). So really it is the big play that has hurt Tennessee time after time.
The good news for Titans fans is also the Titans have been in every game (all losses are under 10 points) and probably had their biggest win in the last few years over Green Bay (albeit a down Packers team, but take what you can get and they smashed the Cheeseheads.). And the schedule looks relatively attainable to get 10 wins (meaning winning 5 of the final 6). And none of those games are ones you can count them out on.
Delanie Walker has been a key factor in the Titans surge.
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
The thing that I believe that is going for the Titans is they might have a Pro Bowl QB in Mariota. He's in the top 10 in most major categories such as passing yards, TD's, and rating. By comparison, Andrew Luck of Indianapolis has only the yardage going ahead of Mariota. Yes, granted I know Mariota's played an extra game since the Titans haven't gotten to their bye week, but it is still very impressive for a guy who is in his second year and looks poised as can be. Only Ezekiel Elliott has been better than Murray in the NFL in rushing as well as he can be an MVP candidate. Walker leads all AFC Tight ends in yards (3rd in NFL TE's to only Olsen and Graham) and is tied with 3 other TE's for most receiving touchdowns. So the offense is probably as good than Indianapolis and far better than Jacksonville or Houston. Defensively, is where I give the nod to the Texans even without JJ Watt there. But it isn't like the Titans cannot get the defense rolling and not allow those 20+ yard plays which really hurt them. They need to make bigger stops to get off the field and keep the point totals lower. I think they can do that the rest of the way and will surpass Houston in the standings, especially by Week 17 when the Texans visit to Nissan Stadium. And the better team will win that game.
And I really believe it is the Titans.
-Fan in the Obstructed Seat
