After a quick look at the Titans 2013 schedule, there are a couple of things that jump out at first glance.
schedule courtesy of Titansonline.com
- Much like last year, the Titans open up with their toughest games. It’s a good thing if you start out hot and maybe catch a good team before they are in a good groove. But I would bet dollars to nickels that Munchak would have rather eased in with different opponents.
- The NFL didn’t do a young Titans team any favors by having their first two games away. Opening @ Pittsburgh then following up @ Houston is a rough 1-2 punch to start off. The only silver lining is the Titans won’t be at home to hear the quick boos from the crowd if they struggle.
- I’m surprised the Thursday night game isn’t against the Rams. I figured the NFL would want the old Titans to play the new Titans on national TV. I guess Fisher, Finnegan, and Cook vs. The Replacements doesn’t entice them as much as it does me.
- The Titans home opener is against the Chargers, a team that has plagued the Titans for years and has handily beaten them every encounter for as long as I can remember.
- After a short respite against the Jets and Chiefs, the Titans have to play last year’s NFC wonder teams in the 49ers and Seahawks. Zone reading QB wonders Wilson and Kaepernick may send the Titans to the bye week with a losing record.
- Coming out of the bye week, things seem a lot more manageable for the Titans. The biggest red flag in the second half seems to be the 3 week road stand they have to make weeks 12-14. Back to back weeks traveling to the west coast isn’t fun either.
All in all the strength of schedule is manageable, but I would bet Mike Munchak isn’t too happy about the way the cookie crumbled this year. The Titans need to get off to a quick start and play well out of the gate. Momentum and confidence will mean more to this team with so many new faces and role-players added around an inexperienced nucleus.
What so you think of the schedule?
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