Predicting the Tennessee Titan's 2009 Campaign

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.

Nov. 1 – Jacksonville @ Tennessee – The second game of the series with the Jags kicks off the post-bye week melee. Once again, I expect Maurice Jones-Drew to be the key player on the Jacksonville side of the ball, but I expect Chris Johnson to have a big game with 100+ yards and two scores. Titans 31, Jacksonville 17

Nov. 8 – Tennessee @ San Francisco – From Nashville to the Bay Area, Tennessee goes on the road to face San Fran. This team should be interesting to watch, as Michael Crabtree should be in full force.

The quarterback situation for them should also be set with either Alex Smith or Shaun Hill at the helm of quarterback. I expect either man to make enough mistakes to give Tennessee the win. Titans 35, 49ers 14

Nov. 15 – Buffalo @ Tennessee – In what will feel like a rehash of the class “Music City Miracle” moment, the Titans will host the Bills. Buffalo is one of those teams that looks to be improving year in and year out. Terrell Owens also returns to Tennessee, where he made his name known collegiately.

Matchups with Cortland Finnegan or Michael Griffin will definitely be interesting to see. However, the Bills seem like a “one-trick pony” with Owens and he won’t win the game for them. Titans 27, Bills 14

Nov. 23 – Tennessee @ Houston – An interesting matchup for the Titans and one of the hardest division games of the year. Matt Schaub, if healthy, will prove to be the difference maker in this game. I thoroughly expect Andre Johnson and Schaub to take over this game and beat the Titans at home. Texans 24, Titans 14

Nov. 29 – Arizona @ Tennessee – Tennessee gets the other half of the Super Bowl XLIII match up with a date at home against Arizona. Another great match up with Larry Fitzgerald and Finnegan, Griffin, and the Titans secondary.

I don’t see Arizona repeating their success to a degree and I don’t expect them to win this game on the road. Titans 23, Cardinals 17

Dec. 6 – Tennessee @ Indianapolis – The second tough division game in three weeks for Tennessee. The Colts always play the Titans tough at home. I expect the same again this season and the running game for the Colts to come out to play and maintain the clock. Colts 24, Titans 20

Dec. 13 – St. Louis @ Tennessee – Another rehashed memory from the past involves the Titans and Rams, a rematch of Super Bowl XXXIV. However, the Rams aren’t the same team that they used to be.

I don’t expect the Rams to return to the Rams of old for a long time. However, Jason Smith should help protect Marc Bulger and open holes for Steven Jackson. However, Tennessee will be too much for the Rams. Titans 17, St. Louis 6

Dec. 20 – Miami @ Tennessee – I know that Miami had a remarkable year last year, but I don’t expect them to be as feisty this year. I don’t believe they’ll be as bad as they used to be, but I don’t think they will finish at 11-5 again. I expect an 8-8 or possibly 9-7 team. Taking the Dolphins into what will be a cold LP Field should also freeze them. Titans 21, Dolphins 13

Dec. 25 – San Diego @ Tennessee – The last tough test of the Titans regular season comes on Christmas Day. The Chargers now have a two-headed rushing attack with LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles.

Their defense should also be better this year with the return of Shawne Merriman and the addition of rookie linebacker Larry English. Being home is definitely an advantage, but I think the Titans get a lump of coal and fall at home. San Diego 28, Tennessee 17

Jan. 3 – Tennessee @ Seattle – The final regular season game has the Titans traveling to the cold Northwest. Qwest Field is always a tough place to play, especially with the dreaded “12th Man.”

Take into fact that the temperature will be almost unbearable. However, I expect the Titans to win this game. Seattle has fallen way off of what they were a few years ago with Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander. Things in Seattle are improving, but in small steps. Titans 35, Seattle 24

That makes the Titans overall record at 11-5, which is a little bit off from what they did last season. That should put them close to the top of the division, but at least a Wild Card appearance is in the books. They will be put into place to make a run for their first Super Bowl Championship.

However, there are no guarantees in the season. Look at the New England Patriots last year for instance. Who would have expected Tom Brady to suffer a season-ending injury in the first week of the season? I know I personally didn’t see it coming.

I didn’t see Matt Cassel’s rise to being a great quarterback in the NFL. Injuries can change the way a season goes. So can things like player conduct (Plaxico Burress anyone?) and suspensions.

I am fairly confident though that the Titans will make the playoffs again. Whether that will be as AFC South Champion for the second straight year is undetermined. With the AFC being as weak as it is, there is ample opportunity to get into the playoffs and make an extremely deep run this upcoming season.