The Titans have completed the "first quarter" of the regular season and shown multiple improvements in offensive categories in forging the identity of this team.
Tennessee has scored 98 points in its first four games of 2013, which is 17 more than the 81 in the first four games of 2012.
The Titans have eight more first downs and 11 more third-down conversions than a year ago.
Tennessee's commitment to running the football is showing. It has run 41 more offensive plays and has opted to run the football 61 more times than this time last season, which has resulted in 479 rushing yards, which is 204 more than the 275 the Titans had gained in 2012. Those increases have been accompanied by a drop of 211 net passing yards, but that is also part of Tennessee's plan to become a more physical football team this season.
Titans coach Mike Munchak has been pleased with that shift, as well as a substantial increase in average time of possession of nearly seven minutes and an equally important reduction of turnovers.
Tennessee gave up four interceptions and lost four fumbles and was minus-6 in turnover ratio at this point of 2012. This season, however, the Titans have not thrown an interception or lost a fumble, joining the 1995 St. Louis Rams as the only two teams in the Super Bowl era to go through the first four games of the season without committing a turnover. The protection aspect, combined with nine takeaways by the defense, are a big reason the Titans have gone 3-1 this season as opposed to 1-3 in their first four of 2012.
The chart below highlights differences in multiple statistical categories that help illustrate Tennessee's strong start to 2013:
|
Category |
2012 |
2013 |
Change |
|
Points For |
81 |
98 |
+17 |
|
First Downs |
63 |
71 |
+8 |
|
First Downs by Rushing |
14 |
29 |
+15 |
|
3rd Down Conversions |
15-47 (31.91%) |
26-63 (41.27%) |
+9.36% |
|
Red Zone Conversions |
3-8 (37.5%) |
7-13 (53.85%) |
+16.35% |
|
Goal to Go Conversions |
0-1 (0%) |
6-7 (85.71%) |
+85.71% |
|
Offensive Plays |
222 |
263 |
+41 |
|
Net Yards Rushing |
275 |
479 |
+204 |
|
Total Rushing Plays |
74 |
135 |
+61 |
|
Net Yards Passing |
983 |
772 |
-211 |
|
Pass Attempts |
142 |
119 |
-23 |
|
Pass Completions |
90 |
72 |
-18 |
|
Interceptions |
4 |
0 |
4 fewer |
|
Fumbles/Fum. Lost |
5-4 |
4-0 |
4 fewer lost |
|
Time of Possession |
24:20 |
31:18 |
6:58 more |
|
Turnover Ratio |
-6 |
+9 |
+15 |
