2000 season-in-review team reports —
AFC Central
As published in print Jan. 31, 2001
|
| Overview |
| The Titans were on their way toward taking the next step in their pursuit
of a Super Bowl title. After finishing in second place in 1999 with a 13-3 record,
Tennessee won the AFC Central with another 13-3 mark, earning the No. 1 seed in the
postseason and home-field advantage throughout. But the Titans failed to capitalize,
bowing out in the divisional round to the Ravens, the only team to beat Tennessee at
Adelphia Coliseum during the regular season. The Titans became the first team in NFL
history to win 13 games in back-to-back seasons and not win a Super Bowl. |
| Turning point |
| Talk about foreshadowing. In Week 11 vs. Baltimore, the Titans blew a
six-point lead with 2:30 left, dropping a 24-23 decision. Trent Dilfer’s TD pass with
25 seconds remaining put the Ravens on top by a point, and Al Del Greco missed a 43-yard
field-goal attempt on the last play of the game. He also missed an extra point. The loss
set the stage for a return trip to Nashville by the Ravens, this time in the postseason.
With the confidence of having won at Adelphia, the Ravens showed no fear. That said, they
were again helped by Del Greco, who missed 3-of-4 FG tries in the Titans’ 24-10 loss. |
| Offensive MVP |
| RB Eddie George continues to be the team’s most consistent offensive
weapon. He set career highs in touchdowns, rushing attempts, rushing yards and receptions
and earned consideration for league MVP honors. George had five games with 125 rushing
yards or more and six games with at least 32 carries. |
| Defensive MVP |
| MLB Randall Godfrey became the bridge between a very good defensive line
and a crafty secondary. Signed from the Cowboys in free agency, Godfrey helped the
Titans’ defense improve from 17th in the league in ’99 to first. Godfrey proved
to be a do-it-all linebacker. In addition to leading the team in tackles, he had 2½
sacks, 10 QB pressures, eight tackles for loss, two interceptions, eight passes defensed
and four forced fumbles. |
| Biggest surprise |
| No one could have guessed WR-RS Derrick Mason would have the type of
season he did. With Kevin Dyson (knee) lost for the year and Yancey Thigpen and Carl
Pickens combining for only 25 catches, Mason stepped in and proved invaluable. His 63
receptions were the most by a Titans wide receiver since the days of the run-and-shoot,
and his special-teams work was huge. Mason finished first in the AFC in kickoff-return
average and third in punt-return average. |
| Biggest disappointment |
| Al Del Greco entered the season leading the NFL in field-goal percentage
since 1995 (.851). But he fell apart this season, playing a role in three of the
Titans’ four total losses. He also missed two field-goal attempts between 20 and 29
yards after making 32 straight from that range between 1994 and ’99. |
| Rookie recap |
| LB Keith Bulluck, the Titans’ first-round pick, played increasingly
well, excelling in the team’s four-LB packages. However, he wasn’t the stud
special-teamer the Titans were hoping. Third-round pick Erron Kinney was solid at tight
end but still has room to grow. Fourth-rounder Bobby Myers looks good and could one day
take over for FS Marcus Robertson. S Aric Morris, a fifth-round selection, was slowed by
injury in training camp but appears to be progressing. LB Frank Chamberlin, another
fifth-rounder, was solid on special teams, and sixth-rounder Robaire Smith looked good in
limited action on the defensive line. Third-round pick Byron Frisch (defensive end) and
seventh-round pick Mike Green (running back) appear to be busts. |
| Free-agent/trade review |
| Randall Godfrey was everything the Titans hoped for and then some. ORT
Fred Miller, signed from St. Louis in free agency, was solid but has room for improvement.
You can’t blame the Titans for signing free-agent WR Carl Pickens, but he clearly
didn’t deliver. Pickens caught 10 passes in nine games. |
Top of page
|
Regular-season record: 13-3
|
| Team leaders |
|
Rushing — Eddie
George, 1,509 yards on 403 carries, 3.7 avg., 14 TDs.
Passing — Steve
McNair, 248-396 attempts for 2,847 yards, 15 TDs, 13 interceptions, 63.2 rating.
Receiving — Frank
Wycheck, 70 receptions for 636 yards, 9.1 avg., 4 TDs.
Scoring — Al Del
Greco, 118 points on 37 PATs and 27 FGs.
Kickoff returns — Derrick
Mason, 42 for 1,132 yards, 27.0 avg., 0 TDs.
Punt returns — Derrick
Mason, 51 for 662 yards, 13.0 avg., 1 TD.
Punting — Craig
Hentrich, 76 for 40.8 avg., 36.3 net, 9 TB, 33 inside 20, 0 blk., 67L.
Interceptions — Samari
Rolle, 7 for 140 yards, 20.0 avg., 1 TD.
Sacks — Jevon
Kearse, 11½. |
| Results |
|
| Pointspread Shown Refers to Tennessee. |
| Date |
Opponent |
Spread |
Score |
| Sept. 3 |
At Buffalo |
(0) |
13-16 |
| Sept. 10 |
Kansas City |
(-8.5) |
17-14* |
| Sept. 17 |
BYE |
|
|
| Sept. 24 |
At Pittsburgh |
(-6.5) |
23-20 |
| Oct. 1 |
New York Giants |
(-4) |
28-14 |
| Oct. 8 |
At Cincinnati |
(-9) |
23-14 |
| Oct. 16 |
Jacksonville |
(-6.5) |
27-13 |
| Oct. 22 |
At Baltimore |
(0) |
14-6 |
| Oct. 30 |
At Washington |
(+3.5) |
27-21 |
| Nov. 5 |
Pittsburgh |
(-7) |
9-7 |
| Nov. 12 |
Baltimore |
(-3.5) |
23-24 |
| Nov. 19 |
Cleveland |
(-16.5) |
24-10 |
| Nov. 26 |
At Jacksonville |
(-3) |
13-16 |
| Dec. 3 |
At Philadelphia |
(-3) |
15-13 |
| Dec. 10 |
Cincinnati |
(-13.5) |
35-3 |
| Dec. 17 |
At Cleveland |
(-16) |
24-0 |
| Dec. 25 |
Dallas |
(-14) |
31-0 |
| POSTSEASON |
| Jan. 7 |
Baltimore |
(-6) |
10-24 |
| * Overtime |
|
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