Predicting the Tennessee Titan's 2009 Campaign

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

While the player’s are just stepping on to the practice field in preparation for the 2009 season, the analysts are already looking at who has the best shot at making it into the playoffs for a chance at the NFL Super Bowl.

Not even the best odds-makers could have predicted that the hopeless Arizona Cardinals would have won the NFC Championship against Philadelphia and made an appearance in Super Bowl XLIII.

However, it does make it interesting to take a look at each individual team’s schedule and figure out where they might stumble. I decided to take a look at my team, the Tennessee Titans, and their schedule for the upcoming year. I’m going to make a bold prediction and figure out what might come of the season.

Sept. 10 – Tennessee @ Pittsburgh – A rematch of last year’s regular season meeting. The only changes are that Tennessee will travel instead of playing host. It should be an interesting game against the defending Super Bowl XLIII Champions.

Being a fan, I have to root for my team, but I just don’t see them getting past Pittsburgh. However, the defending champions could have a little bit of rust. Overall, I still think Pittsburgh ruins Tennessee’s season opener. Steelers 17, Titans 14

Sept. 20 – Houston @ Tennessee – LP Field open’s for the first time in the year, as the Titans play host to their former hometown, Houston. Matt Schaub showed last year that he is going to be a forced to be reckoned with in the AFC South.

Tennessee will want to open up their home schedule with a win and I believe they will do it, despite being close. Titans 24, Texans 23

Sept. 27 – Tennessee @ New York Jets – Tennessee had their 10-0 record blemished for the first time last year by one team – the New York Jets. However, that team had Brett Favre and Eric Mangini.

What will the Rex Ryan led Jets do with the Titans? I don’t expect much. Defensively, I think the Jets will be better, but having a potential rookie quarterback will cause them to stumble. Tennessee 27, New York 13

Oct. 4 – Tennessee @ Jacksonville – Last season, the Titans swept the Jaguars. I expect more of the same this year. Jacksonville has aged considerably and lost a lot of their key pieces that they needed to be successful. Maurice Jones-Drew will be the work horse for the Jags, but the Titans defensive will hold. Tennessee 20, Jacksonville 10

Oct. 11 – Indianapolis @ Tennessee – This will be the first big test to repeating as AFC South Champions again this year. The Colts no longer have Marvin Harrison as a target and their rushing game should be interesting to watch with the addition of UConn’s Donald Brown.

This should bring the game a lot close, especially at the end. It will be a match up of Tennessee’s Chris Johnson and LenDale White against Indianapolis’s Joseph Addai and Donald Brown. The winner of that duel will probably get the game. I give Tennessee the home-field advantage. Titans 27, Colts 24

Oct. 18 – Tennessee @ New England – Yet another tough road game against a team that looks to be refocused again this year. Tom Brady is back and ready to go again this season. This will be a big test to the Titan’s secondary against Randy Moss and Wes Welker.

I think that New England will probably win this game, but don’t be surprised if Tennessee pulls the upset with great play from Michael Griffin and Cortland Finnegan. New England 28, Tennessee 21

BYE – That puts the Titans at 4-2 during their bye week.

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