Power Rankings: Titans won't fool you, just beat you up

Updated Oct. 21

I love telling my favorite Jeff Fisher story, and actually might have mentioned it here already, but it certainly applies now.

A few years back, I was sitting at a table at the league meetings with some other writers and Fisher, the Tennessee Titans' feisty head coach. The conversation turned to Fisher's passion for running the football. I, being the pass-happy guy I am, questioned the run-first mantra.

"If it's such a great philosophy, what do you do when you get a holding penalty that puts you in second-and-17?" I asked Fisher.

"Run it harder," Fisher said.

So his team does. Fisher's way is to pound the football, play a physical brand of defense and make your team leave each Sunday feeling as if it were beaten up by the big, bad bully.

Leave the fancy stuff for the other guys.

You could almost sense the glee in Fisher's voice Sunday when his team ran for a franchise-record 332 yards in the Titans' 34-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Tennessee quarterback Kerry Collins threw just 18 passes, only two to wide receivers, as the Titans went to 6-0, the last remaining unbeaten team in the league.

That 6-0 start has the Titans staying atop the CBSSports.com Power Rankings, but the next month will test them. They play Monday at home against division rival Indianapolis, play host to the Green Bay Packers and then have a road game at Chicago before closing out the four-game stretch at Jacksonville.

Brutal.

The skeptics will say the Titans have feasted on weak competition so far, since none of the teams they have defeated has a winning record and they have a combined 12-26 mark.

Nobody will argue about the way they've achieved their success. The numbers don't lie.

The Titans are fourth in the league in rushing with 154.5 yards per game, but just 26th in passing. They are second in rushing attempts per game with 34.3, while their 25.8 passing attempts a game is the lowest in the league.

Poll Can the Titans run the table in the regular season?   88%  No     12%  Yes     Total Votes: 27607

In order to play that style, a team must have a dominant defense. The Titans do. They are first in points per game at 11 and third in total defense.

That type of defense can hide the fact the Titans don't throw it all that well. But the margin for error with their style is small. At some point, the Titans and Collins will have to throw it better.

If they can't, who knows what will happen?

Then again, Jeff Fisher just might make them run it harder and it won't matter.

The Power Rankings through Week 7:

Power Rankings
Current		Team	Previous
	1	Colts · Trends	1
	They won four games in November by a total of 10 points. They're not dominating, but they are winning.
	2	Saints · Trends	2
	They get a major test next week when the Patriots come to town for a Monday night game. Is that the end of the unbeaten season?
	3	Vikings · Trends	3
	Brett Favre might be having his best season. Who said he would flop? Oh, me.
	4	Patriots · Trends	5
	They bounced back nicely against the Jets and have a two-game lead in the division, but the Saints will be a great barometer for where they are now.
	5	Cowboys · Trends	7
	They beat the Redskins, but they still looked off. They'll get it going Thursday against the Raiders.
	6	Bengals · Trends	4
	What was that in Oakland? That reminds us a little of why they're still the Bengals. They had no business losing that game.
	7	Chargers · Trends	9
	They are rolling again after a slow start. What else is new for this team? They are the class of the AFC West, just like we thought they'd be.
	8	Cardinals · Trends	10
	They played a decent road game against the Rams, even if they made it interesting in the end. The running game is getting cranked up, which is great for the playoff run.
	9	Eagles · Trends	11
	They snapped a two-game losing streak against the Bears to keep their playoff chances solid. This is the time when the Eagles usually get it going.
	10	Steelers · Trends	6
	They just haven't looked that good this season. Something is off. It might be wise to work on that kickoff coverage.
	11	Giants · Trends	12
	Eli Manning's big game saved their season against Atlanta. Now they face a tough road game at Denver on a short week.
	12	Broncos · Trends	8
	Was their start a fraud? It sure looks like it. They aren't playing well on either side of the ball, but especially on offense.
	13	Jaguars · Trends	16
	If the playoffs started today, they'd be in. Wow. They aren't winning pretty, but they're finding a way.
	14	Packers · Trends	17
	Losing Al Harris and Aaron Kampman for the season will impact that defense in a big way. It's good that the offense is playing better now to help offset it.
	15	Falcons · Trends	14
	They have three consecutive homes games to turn their season back around. The defense just gives up too many big plays.
	16	Dolphins · Trends	21
	Chad Henne is growing up. As he does, they will be better. The playoffs are still possible. But don't lose at Buffalo.
	17	Ravens · Trends	15
	They've been a disappointment so far. If they lose to the Steelers this week, they can say goodbye to the playoffs.
	18	Texans · Trends	13
	That loss at home to the Titans is a big hit to their playoff chances. They just never got it going on offense. Kris Brown choked two weeks in a row. Now the Colts come to town.
	19	Titans · Trends	22
	They are somehow still alive at 4-6. Winning four consecutive games after opening 0-6 is impressive. Vince Young is doing a nice job.
	20	Jets · Trends	18
	Mark Sanchez is playing like a rookie. But it doesn't mean he should sit down. He needs to grow and playing is the right way.
	21	Panthers · Trends	19
	They will likely have a new coach next season and that could mean the end for Jake Delhomme. He just isn't good enough.
	22	Bears · Trends	20
	Is Lovie Smith in trouble? He might be. Cutler sure hasn't lived up to the expectations. He needs help.
	23	49ers · Trends	23
	They can forget the playoffs now. The rest of the season is about finding out if Alex Smith is the long-term answer at quarterback.
	24	Bills · Trends	25
	Perry Fewell's first game showed a team that will still fight. And there was a Terrell Owens sighting. Amazing.
	25	Seahawks · Trends	24
	Count this team as one of the biggest flops of the season. But injuries have played a big part. Is Mike Holmgren coming to the rescue?
	26	Chiefs · Trends	26
	They're on a two-game winning streak. Beating the Steelers is a big step for this young team. The Chiefs are improving.
	27	Redskins · Trends	27
	The best thing to come out of the Cowboys loss is that Jason Campbell played better. They're still fighting.
	28	Raiders · Trends	28
	Say hello to the bench, JaMarcus Russell. Bruce Gradkowski is the guy the rest of the way.
	29	Lions · Trends	31
	Matt Stafford showed against the Browns that he was the right pick last April. They have their building block.
	30	Rams · Trends	29
	Do you feel sorry a little for Steven Jackson playing on this team? He's having a huge season. And now Marc Bulger is out? Ouch.
	31	Buccaneers · Trends	30
	Josh Freeman played like a rookie against the Saints, but he will have those days. It's hard to believe that's a Bucs defense we've been watching. It tells us why Jim Bates was fired.
	32	Browns · Trends	32
	The good news is Brady Quinn is looking better. The bad news is the defense regressed. They have a long way to go to being able to compete for a playoff spot.