2014 Titans Schedule: September | October | **November** | **December**
After opening with three of their first four games on the road in September, the Titans will host three of their four opponents in October.
Week 5
Titans vs. Browns|Tickets
Noon|Sunday Oct. 5| LP Field
Regular season series results: Titans trail 28-33
Last time in regular season:Titans won 31-13 at Cleveland on Oct. 2, 2011; Last time in regular season at venue:Titans won 28-9 at LP Field on Dec. 7, 2008
Cleveland's 2013 offensive rankings: Total yards: 5,430 (17th in NFL); Rushing yards: 1,383 (tied for 27th); Passing yards: 4,047 (11th); Points/Game: 19.3 (27th)
Cleveland's 2013 defensive rankings: Total yards allowed/game: 332.4 (ninth); Rushing yards allowed/game: 111.3 (18th); Passing yards allowed/game: 221.1 (eighth); Points allowed/game: 25.4 (23rd); Sacks: 40 (tied for 16th); Interceptions: 14 (tied for 20th)
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Early outlook: **There's not as much familiarity between the Titans and Browns as when they were members of the AFC Central, but there will be some because of coaching changes the clubs made in the offseason. Former Titans offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains became the Browns' quarterbacks coach and could be working with a draft pick in addition to Brian Hoyer and Alex Tanney, the current QBs on the roster. Titans defensive coordinator Ray Horton, defensive backs coach Louie Cioffi, assistant defensive line coach Nick Eason, defensive quality control coach Cannon Matthews and assistant offensive line coach Mike Sullivan were on the same staff in Cleveland last season.
New Browns coach Mike Pettine will blend his experience as defensive coordinator of Buffalo (2013) and the New York Jets (2009-12) with the system of new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who had the same role in Houston from 2008-09 and in Washington from 2010-13.
Cleveland receiver Josh Gordon, a former Baylor teammate of Titans receiver Kendall Wright, led the NFL with 1,646 yards on 87 receptions and had nine touchdowns in 14 games in 2013.
The Browns were active in free agency, signing running back Ben Tate, receivers Nate Burleson and Andrew Hawkins and tackle Paul McQuistan on offense and bringing in LB Karlos Dansby and S Donte Whitner. Cleveland is scheduled to make 10 draft picks, including three in the top 35 overall selections in 2014.
Week 6
Titans vs. Jaguars | Tickets
Noon|Sunday Oct. 12| LP Field
Regular season series results: Titans lead 21-17
Last time in regular season:Titans won 20-16 in Jacksonville on Dec. 22, 2013; Last time in regular season at venue: Jaguars won 29-27 on Nov. 10, 2013
Jacksonville's 2013 offensive rankings: Total yards: 4,701 (31st in NFL); Rushing yards: 1,260 (31st); Passing yards: 3,441 (22nd); Points/Game: 15.4 (32nd)
Jacksonville's 2013 defensive rankings: Total yards allowed/game: 379.4 (tied for 27th); Rushing yards allowed/game: 131.8 (29th); Passing yards allowed/game: 247.6 (tied for 25th); Points allowed/game: 28.1 (28th); Sacks: 31 (tied for 31st); Interceptions: 11 (tied for 26th)
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Early outlook: **The first of two meetings between the AFC South rivals will mark Jacksonville's first trip to Tennessee in October since 2002, a 23-14 win by the Titans.
After opening Gus Bradley's tenure as coach 0-8, the Jaguars responded by going 4-4 during the second half of their season. Jacksonville was outscored by 178 points (264 to 86) in its first eight games of 2013, but only by 24 points (185 to 161) it its final eight. Five of the past six games Tennessee has played Jacksonville, its longest-standing divisional foe, have been decided by six points or less.
The Jaguars re-signed QB Chad Henne, DE Jason Babin and CB Will Blackmon, but two mainstays are no longer in Jacksonville. Running back Maurice Jones-Drew signed with Oakland after eight seasons with the team that drafted him in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft, and center/guard Brad Meester retired after 14 seasons and 209 games with the Jaguars. Jacksonville is scheduled to make 11 selections, including the third overall pick, in the 2014 NFL Draft.
Week 7
Titans at Redskins
Noon|Sunday Oct. 19| FedExField
Regular season series results: Titans lead 6-5
Last time in regular season:Redskins won 19-16 in overtime at LP Field on Nov. 21, 2010; Last time in regular season at venue: Titans won 25-22 on Oct. 15, 2006
Washington's 2013 offensive rankings: Total yards: 5,915 (ninth in NFL); Rushing yards: 2,164 (fifth); Passing yards: 3,751 (16th); Points/Game: 20.9 (23rd)
Washington's 2013 defensive rankings: Total yards allowed/game: 354.1 (18th); Rushing yards allowed/game: 110.6 (17th); Passing yards allowed/game: 243.5 (20th); Points allowed/game: 29.9 (tied for 30th); Sacks: 36 (tied for 21st); Interceptions: 16 (tied for 15th)
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The Titans kicked off the 2013 NFL preseason against the Washington Redskins at LP Field. (Photos: Donn Jones, AP)
Early outlook: **Washington has a new coach in Jay Gruden, but the former Bengals offensive coordinator retained defensive coordinator Jim Haslett and promoted Sean McVay from his post as Redskins tight ends coach.
Some of Robert Griffin III's stats in 2013 were similar to his previous rookie season, but his passer rating went from 102.4 to 82.2, which was largely a function of his TD passes going from 20 to 16 and interceptions increasing from five to 12. Pierre Garcon led the NFL with 113 receptions in 2013, including 32 on third down, which tied for second. He ranked eighth in the league with 1,346 yards.
Washington signed 14 players in free agency, including FS Ryan Clark, DT Jason Hatcher, WR DeSean Jackson, ILB Akeem Jordan, QB Colt McCoy and CB Tracy Porter. The Redskins are scheduled to make six picks in the 2014 NFL Draft, but don't have a first-round selection because of the 2012 trade with St. Louis to move up to select Griffin.
Week 8
Titans vs. Texans | Tickets
Noon|Sunday Oct. 26| LP Field
Regular season series results: Titans lead 15-9
Last time in regular season:Titans won 16-10 at LP Field on Dec. 29, 2013; Last time in regular season at venue: same
Houston's 2013 offensive rankings: Total yards: 5,556 (11th in NFL); Rushing yards: 1,743 (tied for 20th); Passing yards: 3,813 (15th); Points/Game: 17.3 (31st)
Houston's 2013 defensive rankings: Total yards allowed/game: 317.6 (seventh); Rushing yards allowed/game: 122.4 (23rd); Passing yards allowed/game: 195.2 (third); Points allowed/game: 26.8 (24th); Sacks: 32 (tied for 29th); Interceptions: seven (32nd)
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The Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans battle in a the 2013 season finale at LP Field. (Donn Jones Photography, AP)
Early outlook: **The Titans will close the "second quarter" of the season by hosting the AFC South rival Texans before hitting their bye week. After visiting LP Field the past two Decembers, Houston's visit to Nashville will be two months earlier in 2014.
This meeting will mark the first time in the series that both teams have had new coaches (Ken Whisenhunt in Tennessee and Bill O'Brien in Houston). Both coaches have extensive offensive experience. Whisenhunt was offensive coordinator at San Diego (2013) and in Pittsburgh (2004-06), and O'Brien was offensive coordinator with New England in 2011 after four seasons assisting the Patriots' offense. Houston's Andre Johnson ranked second in the AFC and third in the NFL with 109 receptions in 2013 and was seventh in the league in receiving yards (1,407), despite an offense that cycled through quarterbacks and dealt with multiple injuries at skill positions. The Texans signed former Titans QB Ryan Fitzpatrick via free agency to join Case Keenum and T.J. Yates but could draft another QB. Ben Tate, the Texans' leading rusher in 2013 left via free agency, but Arian Foster is expected to return after missing eight games last season because of injury. The Texans also added RB Andre Brown.
