NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans have gone from a 10-0 start and the NFL's best record to becoming one of the league's last winless teams.
The Titans (0-5) have matched the winless start of 2006 and have the franchise-worst 0-10 start by the 1984 Houston Oilers within sight. It may only get worse with a road trip to New England (3-2) next Sunday.
This season sounds like a broken record. Another game, another loss. The same words.
The Titans insist they need to make a few plays, win a game. Coach Jeff Fisher insisted again Monday he's sticking with Kerry Collins because the veteran quarterback isn't the problem even though he inserted backup Vince Young late in Sunday night's 31-9 loss to Indianapolis.
His advice to those waiting for a switch to Young as the starter? Wait and see.
In the meantime, the approach that has resulted in seven straight losses since last season remains the same. Fisher told his Titans on Monday they will win a lot of games if they prepare and practice just like last week.
"As far as a quick fix is concerned, it's not there," Fisher said. "You keep doing what you're doing. You can go back, you look at the games. You correct them. You move forward. They're professionals. They expect to do the things we expect them to do. Fine-tune some areas, one in particular the run game. Get some people back healthy on defense, and we'll be OK."
His Titans keep singing in tune with Fisher -- for now.
Linebacker Keith Bulluck said after the Colts' loss that they need a win immediately. Receiver Nate Washington thinks sticking together and making plays are key.
Linebacker David Thornton couldn't have been more optimistic Monday.
"Even though this start isn't the script that we wrote out, we're not going to lose faith. This doesn't define us as a players or as an organization. We know we're winners. We've just got to continue to improve. Work hard and hope things get better for us," Thornton said.
Well, the Titans are 3-9 since that 10-0 start.
They've all taken turns contributing to losses through turnovers, a defense ranked next to last in yards passing allowed, receivers dropping passes and now Fisher said the run game needs improving. Chris Johnson went into the Colts game as the NFL's leading rusher and was held to just 34 yards on nine carries.
They have rushed for only four touchdowns this season and have only one over the past 10 quarters. That was Collins' run in the fourth quarter of a 37-17 loss at Jacksonville on Oct. 4. They had to settle for three field goals after failing to get closer than the Colts 25.
"This is a collective effort. We need to run the football better. I would start there. We run the football better, then all those other things happen down the field," Fisher said.
Fisher's biggest roster move this season came Sunday night with defensive end Jevon Kearse a healthy scratch. Kearse left the stadium, and Fisher said he would not be fined. A move may be needed with the top three defensive backs all hurt and Nick Harper and Vincent Fuller both out with broken right arms.
During the 0-5 start in 2005, Young was made the starting quarterback over Collins for a team that rallied to finish 8-8. Fisher was asked if he will switch to Young once the team is mathematically eliminated. The coach said he did not say he would make a switch.
But a third straight playoff berth, which has never happened under Fisher, isn't likely.
Now more fans wore paper bags to this latest loss, something not seen until now with this franchise in Tennessee.
"They have every reason to be frustrated as we are. This is the National Football League. We were a 13-3 team last year. We had high expectations, and we've yet to win a game," he said. "I understand their frustrations."
