Tennessee Titans: Win/Loss Predictions for First-Half of Season
By Sean Maczko
A couple weeks ago I wrote an article about how two Bleacher Reporters basically slapped our Tennessee Titans in the face with miserable win-loss season predictions. I ended that article stating I would give my own predictions and give our team a fair shake since the ‘other’ guys did quite the opposite.
The Titans’ season opens in a pretty tough fashion with three out of the four games being on the road, while also being against three playoff teams from the 2013 season. Here is a look at the schedule below. Wins are in bold:
- WK 1 – Sep 7 – @ KC Chiefs
- WK 2 – Sep 14 – vs. DAL Cowboys
- WK 3 – Sep 21 – @ CIN Bengals
- WK 4 – Sep 28 – @ IND Colts
- WK 5 – Oct 5 – vs. CLE Browns
- WK 6 – Oct 12 – vs. JAX Jaguars
- WK 7 – Oct 19 – @ WAS Redskins
- WK 8 – Oct 26 – vs. HOU Texans
- WK 9 – BYE
Disclosure: First and foremost, remember these are just predictions. Predictions really carry about as much weight as a tarot card reading by Miss Cleo, but nonetheless, it makes for a fun debate and creates more excitement for the coming season.
The Titans’ season truly depends on how they can handle the adversity of facing three away games out of the first four. I don’t like counting my team out in any game early because, truly, anything can happen between now and September or October and so forth, but I try to keep a “realistic” mindset.
If the Titans can enter their bye week on Week 9 at 4-4, preferably 5-3, I would take that as a huge victory.
It is crucial that the Titans win the games that they are “supposed” to win and that begins with, at the very minimum, going 3-3 in the division. The days of going 1-5 or 0-6 better be in the past under Coach Whisenhunt.
The Titans’ strength of schedule was ranked 31st (second easiest), but it’s not that easy. Some of the teams on their schedule are very good teams that are coming off of bad seasons and aren’t likely to repeat those.
In closing, I have the Titans sitting at 5-3 going into the BYE week. There are many factors such as Jake Locker‘s health, Bishop Sankey’s rookie impact, solidarity of the new/improved offensive line, and effectiveness of Ray Horton‘s hybrid defense.
Please feel free to comment below and let me know your thoughts and predictions. Until next time, #TitanUp.