Titans' worst starts after 7 games, how they finished
The Titans keep digging themselves into a bigger hole. After Sunday's loss to the Redskins, they're pretty well buried by now.
The team's 2-5 start is the worst since the 2009 season.
Only the Raiders (0-6), Jets (1-6), Jaguars (1-6) and Buccaneers (1-5) are off to a worst start this season. The Rams, Falcons, Vikings, Saints and Redskins all share in the misery of just two wins so far.
So is there a chance for a turnaround? History says no, even though some Titans teams, not all, at least showed fight — sometimes on the sideline — until the end.
Since 1999, here's a look at the worst starts for the Titans in the first seven games, and how those seasons finished:
2014
Start: 2-5.
Points scored: 121.
Points allowed: 172.
Point margin: Minus 51.
What will happen down the stretch? The Titans look like a bad football team, and they've lost four starters already — tackle Michael Roos, safety Bernard Pollard, tight end Craig Stevens and linebacker Zach Brown. Immediately after the bye, the schedule is tough. It's shaping up as a five- or six-win season, and that's being optimistic.
Final record: ?-?
2013
Start: 3-4.
Points scored: 145.
Points allowed: 146.
Point margin: Minus 1.
What happened down the stretch: The Titans dipped to 5-9 at one point, with Peyton Manning and the Broncos hanging 51 on them in December. The Titans won their final two games, and after the season Mike Munchak was given an invitation to come back, with massive changes on his staff. The two sides decided to part ways.
Final record: 7-9.
2012
Start: 3-4.
Points scored: 149.
Points allowed: 238.
Point margin: Minus 89.
What happened down the stretch: An ugly season got even uglier in November and December. The Bears hung 51 on the Titans, and the Packers put up 55. The Titans hung around in some other games, but overall just couldn't overcome being a bad team.
Final record: 6-10.
2009
Start: 1-6.
Points scored: 114.
Points allowed: 211.
Point margin: Minus 97.
What happened down the stretch: The Titans started 0-6 before switching to Vince Young after a 59-0 loss to the Patriots. Things got interesting in the second half of the season as the Titans won 8 of 10, and running back Chris Johnson eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark.
Final record: 8-8.
2006
Start: 2-5.
Points scored: 113.
Points allowed: 179.
Point margin: Minus 66.
What happened down the stretch: This might've been one of the most entertaining 8-8 teams ever. Young provided a huge spark in his rookie season, and the Titans won in dramatic fashion against the Texans, Giants, Colts and Bills. Rob Bironas kicked a 60-yarder to beat Indy. Only a season-ending loss to the Patriots kept the Titans out of the playoffs.
Final record: 8-8.
2005
Start: 2-5.
Points scored: 136.
Points allowed: 177.
Point margin: Minus 41.
What happened down the stretch: The season ended in disaster, with Pacman Jones being kicked out of the final game in Jacksonville, a game started by quarterback Matt Mauck. The Titans lost 9 of 11 games to close out the season. It set the stage for the Titans to select Young third overall in the 2006 draft.
Final record: 4-12.
2004
Start: 2-5.
Points scored: 124.
Points allowed: 158.
Point margin: Minus 34.
What happened down stretch: This team pretty much went in the tank, losing five straight at one point. The Colts put up 51 points in a game where Jeff Fisher tried three onside kicks in the first quarter. The biggest mistake was winning the final game against the Lions — it put the Titans in position to draft Pacman Jones a few months later.
Final record: 5-11.
2001
Start: 3-4.
Points scored: 129.
Points allowed: 180.
Point margin: Minus 51.
What happened down stretch: Titans came close to getting back in it by winning three of four. But the season ended with back-to-back home losses to the Browns and Bengals. It got so bad that defensive backs Deron Jenkins and Perry Phenix got into a fight over a heated seat on the bench in the finale.
Final record: 7-9.
Reach Jim Wyatt at 259-8015 or on Twitter @jwyattsports