Analyzing the Titans Schedule

[scine09]

I do these most years.  Sometimes it's not about who you play but when you play them.  Playing a team coming off a short week is a lot different than playing a team coming off a bye.  Sometimes you play a team when that team just played their biggest rival and the next week has another one of their rivals.  Sometimes you play a team coming off an emotional win that has to travel the next week (see Titans vs Bills last year).  The schedule this year looks tougher than I can remember in the recent past.  That's not to say the Titans can't have a good season.  Every game is winnable.  The Titans have enough talent to beat anyone.  But doing it on a weekly basis will be tough.  I also added some random facts for each week.  And the edge I put in is not my prediction.  Just who has the hidden edge:

 

Week 1, at Cleveland.  I won't give anyone an advantage here but this sort of feels like it could be a look ahead game for Cleveland.  The expectations are through the roof for a team that hasn't even hit .500 since 2007 and haven't been to the playoffs since 2002.  And their week 2 game is on Monday night.  Furthermore, the expectations for the Titans are as low as they've been since 2016.  But in the opening week of course it's really hard to find some kind of hidden advantage.

 

Random facts.  Despite being in the same division for 32 years, this is only the 2nd time the franchises have opened against each other, and the first since 1971 when the Browns won 31-0.

 

The Browns since their return to Cleveland are 1-18-1 in their opener and back to their last year in Cleveland 1-19-1.  In addition at home they're 1-14-1.  Their only win was against Baltimore in 2004.  They did beat the Titans in their home opener, however, in 2015.

 

Week 2, vs Indianapolis.  It's gotta happen sometime, right?  Well, if ever, this is the time to do it.  The Colts have to travel to LA to play the Chargers the week before and then go on the road again.  Houston opened with 2 on the road last year, the second of which being against the Titans, and the Titans beat them with half an offense.  So I'll give the edge to the Titans.

 

Random fact:  The Titans have started 1-1 every year since 2013.  They were 0-2 in 2012.  They haven't started 2-0 since 2008.

 

Week 3, at Jacksonville.  It's hard to give an edge as both teams are playing on a short week.  Just like the Titans are due to beat Andrew Luck, the Jaguars are due to beat the Titans, and winning on the road on Thursday night is hard but it does happen.  I guess I'll give a slight edge to the Jaguars.

 

Random fact:  This is the first time this decade that the Titans have played a night game in September.  The last time they did it was in Pittsburgh to open the 2009 season.

 

Week 4, at Atlanta.  The Titans will have a longer time to prepare which kind of negates having to play 2 in a row.  The Falcons do have the Mularkey factor, who knows if he somehow motivates the team.  I'll leave this as even and if pressed maybe leaning slightly to the Falcons because of 2 in a row on the road and Mularkey.

 

Random fact:  The Falcons are the only team Marcus Mariota has never faced.  Remember, he was injured when they played him his rookie year and Zach Mettenberger played.

 

Week 5, vs Buffalo.  There's nothing for either team in this one.  Even.  Although I think if the Bills somehow beat the Patriots in Buffalo the week before the Titans would have the edge because it would be a classic let down game.

 

Random fact:  This is the 5th straight year that the Titans will play either the Bills or Dolphins in Week 5.  They're 1-3 in those games.

 

Week 6, at Denver.  Mike Munchak is with Denver so who knows about the motivation.  The game is sandwiched for Denver around two divisional games against LA and KC.  So I'll call it even.

 

Random fact:  The Titans, including the playoffs, have not won in Denver since 1987 and have lost their last 5 meetings there.

 

Week 7, vs LA Chargers.  The Chargers have to play a night game the previous Sunday against the Steelers and then travel across the country.  So slight edge Titans.

 

Random fact:  Since 1993, including the playoffs, the Titans are 1-11 against the Chargers, although the 1 was the last time the Chargers came to Nashville in 2013.  

 

Week 8, vs Tampa Bay.  The Bucs are coming off a BYE so edge Tampa Bay.

 

Random fact:  The Buccaneers have never won at the Oilers/Titans.  The Titans are 9-2 all time against them.

 

Week 9, at Carolina.  Nothing here.  No edge.

 

Random facts:  The Titans are the only team to have never lost in Carolina.  Also, The Titans are 6-0 in their last 6 games at the NFC in week 9.  Their last loss was at the Rams in 1990.

 

Week 10, vs Kansas City.  There's some potential for a look-ahead as the following week the Chiefs play the Chargers in Mexico City.  So slight edge Titans.

 

Random fact:  4 of the past five years this week the Titans have been home to at least a pre-season powerhouse.  They lost to the Panthers and beat the Packers and Patriots.

 

Week 11, Bye

 

Week 12, vs Jacksonville.  The Titans come off a bye and the Jaguars are on their 2nd straight road game.  Edge Titans.

 

Random fact:  The Titans have won 9 of 11 at home against the Jaguars, only losing in 2010 and 2013.

 

Week 13, at Indianapolis.  The Colts come off a Thursday night game.  Edge Colts.

 

Random fact:  If it seems like the Titans are always in Indy later in the season, it's because they usually are.  Since 2004 the Titans will have played at the Colts 14 of 16 years in week 11 or later.  Only 2006 and 2014 are exceptions.  And 5 times now in week 13.

 

Week 14, at Oakland.  This could be a trap game for the Titans.  2 divisional games, travel across the country then they play Houston the following week.  Slight edge Raiders.

 

Random fact:  The road team has won the previous 4 games.  The last time that didn't happen was the opener in 2010.

 

Week 15, vs Houston.  No edge here.

 

Random fact:  This is the latest the franchise will ever play their first game against a divisional opponent.

 

Week 16, vs New Orleans.  The Saints play a MNF game the week before.  Advantage Titans.

 

Random fact:  The road team has won the previous 3 and 5 of the last 6.  The Titans beat the Saints in Nashville in 2003.

 

Week 17, at Houston.  No edge here.  Although the Texans could be playing on the previous Saturday and have a day extra which would give them a slight edge.  3 of 5 games will be picked to move to Saturday in week 16, including the Houston at Tampa Bay game.

 

Random fact:  The Titans have lost their last 7 games at Houston.  However, their last win, in 2011, came the last time the Titans played in Houston in week 17.

[ManningEnvy]

Hey Homers, this is what I refer to as tard tendencies. At 2 in the morning the wolf probably said, no not MikeTard, give this one to ScineTard. Give everybody a coffee time howl Touched.

 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[Bink]

44 minutes ago, ManningEnvy said:

Hey Homers, this is what I refer to as tard tendencies. At 2 in the morning the wolf probably said, no not MikeTard, give this one to ScineTard. Give everybody a coffee time howl Touched.

 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[ManningEnvy]

1 minute ago, Bink said:

You understand bang the tard gong language just fine Touched. I’ve taught you more than any high school teacher ever did and in a lot shorter time period.

[ManningEnvy]

Now that I think about it, you’re basically my Reek.

[TitanHead]

2 hours ago, ManningEnvy said:

Hey Homers, this is what I refer to as tard tendencies. At 2 in the morning the wolf probably said, no not MikeTard, give this one to ScineTard. Give everybody a coffee time howl Touched.

 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Wait... He got a wolf too?

[CreepingDeath]

I like these posts.  Update after the preseason in case of injuries, etc.  

[IsntLifeFunny]

That is a brutal schedule. As you’ve noted though the rest of the division has to play 14 of 16 games. 

[scine09]

1 hour ago, CreepingDeath said:

I like these posts.  Update after the preseason in case of injuries, etc.  

I knew you’d be the first to make a legitimate comment.

[bizzyeddie]

hadn't really paid attention to the fact that we play the Texans 2 times in the last 3 games.

kinda fucked up actually.

If one of the two  teams is out of the race this can be a pretty big advantage to the other team especially in the division.

I like the division games to close out the season but you gotta put the other game earlier.

[CreepingDeath]

How many 1st year coaches/coordinators do we face?

Likewise, how many fairly new coaches with a year in the same system?  

I figure as the season progresses, the new coaches/systems may stumble as the tape on them accumulates. 

[ManningEnvy]

2 hours ago, TitanHead said:

Wait... He got a wolf too?

Yeah, but it’s a generic one from Wal-Mart.

[bizzyeddie]

24 minutes ago, CreepingDeath said:

How many 1st year coaches/coordinators do we face?

Likewise, how many fairly new coaches with a year in the same system?  

I figure as the season progresses, the new coaches/systems may stumble as the tape on them accumulates. 

I like that we face a first time coach right out of the gate in Clev.

[scine09]

1 hour ago, bizzyeddie said:

hadn't really paid attention to the fact that we play the Texans 2 times in the last 3 games.

kinda fucked up actually.

If one of the two  teams is out of the race this can be a pretty big advantage to the other team especially in the division.

I like the division games to close out the season but you gotta put the other game earlier.

I think the last 3 weeks should be only division games.  Play each team once in the final 3 weeks.  

[bizzyeddie]

10 minutes ago, scine09 said:

I think the last 3 weeks should be only division games.  Play each team once in the final 3 weeks.  

that would be great...maybe not completely feasible but at least bunch em up as much as possible.

should try to start the season with divisional games also...put all the other teams in the middle as much as possible.

 

just weird if the Titans fall off a cliff and are looking to next years draft that the Texans get to play them 2 of the last 3 weeks of the season....or vice versa...I get it that some teams get luckier than others based on who they play but those final games can make a big difference going against teams that are done and then you add in that it's divisional games?   Seems kinda fucked up to me.

unless it's the Texans that are a mess at the end of the season...then good job schedule makers!