The Tennessee Titans have lost six straight games and fired their head coach this week. But yet, thanks to the futility of the AFC South, they are closer to the top of their division than the 4-4 New Orleans Saints.
Titans vs. Saints 2015 live stream: Start time, TV schedule and how to watch online
Believe it or not, the one-win Titans are actually closer to first place than the Saints.
That is the bizarre reality in which the Titans find themselves. They may be tied with the fewest amount of victories in the league, but are just one game out of first place in the loss column. If the Indianapolis Colts fall to the undefeated Denver Broncos Sunday, the Titans could find themselves threatening for a playoff spot if they can knock off the Saints.
That promises to be a tough task, considering New Orleans is currently riding a three-game winning streak. Drew Brees has rebounded after a rough start to the season, completing 73 percent of his passes for 1,072 yards with nine touchdowns over the last three weeks. His seven-touchdown, 505-yard performance against the New YOrk Giants last week was an all-timer.
The Saints have averaged 36.7 points per contest during this stretch, and their defense has played well, too. New Orleans has recorded 12 sacks during this winning streak.
This game figures to be a challenge for the Titans on both sides of the ball, but especially on the offensive end. Tennessee ranks 31st in points scored and offensive yards per game. None of the Titans' running backs average more than 40.4 yards and rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota has missed the last two weeks due to injury, though he'll be back under center Sunday.
Until Mariota suffered an MCL sprain after a low hit from Miami Dolphins defensive end Olivier Vernon, he was enjoying a solid rookie season. The No. 2 overall pick completed 63.6 percent of his passes in six games for 1,239 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions. But it wasn't enough to produce more Titans victories or save Ken Whisenhunt's job.
Mike Mularkey, who went 16-32 as a head coach in Buffalo and Jacksonville, will take over Whisenhunt's duties for the rest of the season. The final straw for Whisenhunt came following last week's lackluster 20-6 loss to the Houston Texans.
“After thoughtful consideration, the decision has been made to relieve Ken Whisenhunt of his head coaching duties,” Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement Tuesday. “We have expected more progress on the field, and I felt it was time to move in a different direction. I would like to thank Ken for his efforts with our team, as he worked very hard to try to move us forward.”
The Titans went 3-20 under Whisenhunt, so the bar isn’t set all that high for Mularkey. And thanks to the wretched state of the AFC South, just a couple of victories could put the Titans in prime position to capture a division title.
But beating the 4-4 Saints on the road will be a challenge. New Orleans is always dangerous inside of the Superdome and is rolling now. This game appears to be a mismatch, even though the team that will probably be on the losing end is actually closer to first place.
How to Watch
When: 1 p.m. ET
Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans
TV: CBS
Commentators: Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon
Online: NFL Game Pass
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