This issue is beginning to be raised in the comments threads so I figured I'd just get it out there now. Yes the Titans are still mathematically alive.  The Titans' best chance is to be the only 9-7 team in consideration at the end of the season, since they already have 7 conference losses.  Assuming the Titans win the last four games (not a safe assumption at all) this is how it breaks down:

The Titans need 6 of the next 7 teams to have the indicated record (or worse) from here on out:

- Pittsburgh Steelers - 2-2
  (@CLE, GB, BAL, @MIA)

- *New York Jets- 2-2 (or New England 1-3)
  (@TB, ATL, @IND, CIN)

- *Miami Dolphins** - 2-2 (or New England 1-3)
  (@JAX, @TEN, HOU, PIT)

- Baltimore Ravens - 2-2
  (DET, CHI, @PIT, @OAK)

- Jacksonville Jaguars - 1-3
  (MIA, IND, @NE, @CLE)

- Denver Broncos or San Diego Chargers**- 0-4
  Den(@IND, OAK, @PHI, KC), SD (@DAL, CIN, @TEN, WAS)

So that's the scenario.  Possible, but highly improbable.

* New England going 1-3 can only count once.  Basically the 2nd best AFC East team must be 8-8 (or Miami 9-7).  One of those 3 will win the division and thus don't affect the Titans.

** Because the Titans can still beat Miami and San Diego and thus would hold a head-to-head tie break, they can both be 9-7 as well and the Titans will still get in.

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

Have Jeff Fisher and the Titans ever fallen so far short of expectations?

Browse more photos »

"And you may ask yourself: Well....How did I get here?"

-David Byrne and Brian Eno

Nothing about the Titans season has gone as planned.  A team that most people expected to at least be among the 10 or 12 best teams in the league sits at 0-3.  On the bench, one of the most respected coaches of the last two decades holds in his hand a roster that returned all the crucial, marquee players, save one, from a team that went 13-3 last year.  It's a roster full of Pro-Bowlers and other assorted veterans, some of whom have rings on their fingers from their previous destinations.  The rookies on that roster belong to a highly regarded draft class that provided much to be optimistic about during the preseason.

The Titans lost a coordinator, but promoted from within in hopes of maintaining a great system.  They lost an All-Pro, but put trust in the best in the business, Jim Washburn, to turn another nobody into a somebody, yet again, as he has done so regularly throughout his tenure in Tennessee.  The players were steaming mad and itching to complete some unfinished business after squandering one of the easier roads to a Super Bowl one will ever see last season with the fiasco at home against Baltimore in early January.  This was a team that had absolutely every reason to come storming out of the gates, tough schedule or not, and assert themselves as a contender early on.

And they now sit at 0-3.

The Titans have problems, big problems in all three phases of the game.  Some are personnel based, some are errors in execution, and still others are coaching related.  After the jump, my take on the State of the Titans and what must happen, starting on Sunday with Jacksonville.

Continue reading this post »

The Titans were in shoulder pads and shorts once again today, but that didn't keep things from getting quite physical, both before and after the whistle.  By my count, the Titans have only been in full pads once in two weeks.  It's hard to see how our tackling, which was pretty bad against Buffalo, is going to get any better if they don't at least go through hits at full speed every now and then.  I know they want to avoid any injuries, but I would at least like to see a couple of tackling drills out there.  More thoughts after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

The Titans were back out on the practice field today in shoulder pads and shorts.  I hate to stoke the Vince Young fire any further, but there's really no way to talk about today's practice without doing so.  But you're going to have to read to the end for the juicy stuff.  Thoughts after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

Today the Titans were finally in full pads, and that makes for a much more interesting practice.  It was hot today, but it was easily the most crowded of any of the day practices so far, and the players gave the fans a pretty entertaining afternoon.  My thoughts after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

The Titans practiced this morning without pads.  They were, however, sporting the ultra-fly baby blue Oilers throwback helmets and they look great.  Without the pads on, they mostly focused on the passing game, and spent about half of practice playing 11 on 11.  They will take the field again tonight at 7:30 at Baptist Sports Park under the lights, and according to one member of the Titans Radio staff, they will be in full pads.  Come on out if you can, because there is not a better free ticket in town.

My observations after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

Today was my first day this season to get out to Baptist Sports Park and watch training camp.  I was really impressed by the new parking setup right across the street from the facility (no shuttles!).    I plan to be at pretty much all of the rest of the practices, and would definitely encourage others to catch a few if you can.

My thoughts after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

More photos » by Mark Avery - AP

Mark Sanchez prepares an insurance policy should he be run out of town by rabid Jets fans. (AP Photo/Mark Avery)

Browse more photos »

Last time, I looked at the season opener against the Steelers, and part of what I talked about was that, as I see it, the Titans match up extremely well against the Steelers.  Well, in this installment of the 2009 Opponents Preview series, I will look at a team that potentially flips that script on the Titans, the J-E-T-S Jets.

The Jets come into this season having jettisoned the nauseatingly over-hyped, old and busted Brett Favre, choosing instead on draft day to trade up 12 slots and pick USC QB Mark Sanchez.  The Jets also kicked Head Coach Eric Mangini to the curb, making him the most recent Belichick disciple to fall flat after leaving New England.  Mangini has been replaced by former Baltimore Ravens defensive architect Rex Ryan.

More on why this could be a nasty trap game for the Titans after the jump.

Continue reading this post »