The Titans had an unusually high number of important player injuries during the 2004 season. Their 5-11 record was their third-worst since the Houston/Tennessee Oilers merged to form the Tennessee Titans. The previous year, they'd lost 34 games under Jeff Fisher when they finished last in their division.
The most notable injury was probably that of quarterback Steve McNair, who missed the entire season with a knee injury. He was replaced by rookie Vince Young. Another significant loss was that of running back Eddie George, who was picked up by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Defensive end Jason Babin went on to win the Jack Lambert Award as the best defensive player in the league. But besides them and McNair, no other Titan reached even 500 yards rushing or passing. Young did manage to throw for 2,426 yards but he also threw 51 interceptions. Only Drew Brees (57) and Aaron Rodgers (53) more picks than Young.
The team's only victory came at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who were then in last place in the AFC South. They'd go on to lose their next five games before finishing the season with a victory over the Oakland Raiders.
The Titans, then the Houston Oilers, ended the regular season 13-3, but progressed to their first Super Bowl in franchise history after entering the playoffs as a wild-card team. Tennessee finished second in the AFC Central, trailing the 14-2 Jacksonville Jaguars. The top two finishers in each conference qualified for the playoffs; since the Titans were not among the three highest scoring teams, they played in Week 17 against the Colts. It was the first postseason game at Nissan Stadium, which opened the previous year.
In the opening round, the Titans traveled to Indianapolis and lost 26-16. They were eliminated from playoff contention with the loss.
This article lists the final regular season standings including wins, losses, ties, and overtime/shootout results. For the post-season schedule, see Tennessee Titans all-time post-season roster. For other seasons of note, see the list of NFL seasons results page.
The Titans ended the 2000 season with an NFL-best 13-3 record and earned their third AFC Central title—their first as the Tennessee Titans. While still known as the Oilers, they won the Central Division in 1991 and 1993. The last time the Oilers had three consecutive division titles was when they were part of the AFC West from 1998 to 2000.
Tennessee opened the year with five straight wins before losing to Pittsburgh 24-21 in overtime at Heinz Field. The Titans rebounded by defeating Chicago, Jacksonville, and Miami during a five-game winning streak that stood as a franchise record until 2010 when they went 6-0 for the first time since 1999. Tennessee closed out the regular season with three straight losses to finish off the unbeaten season at 14-0. The only team to beat the Oilers during this run was Jacksonville due to a Jim Harbaugh suspension.
Quarterback Steve McNair led the league in passing yards with 3,877 while running back Eddie George finished second with 1,690 rushing yards. Defensive end Jason Taylor was selected unanimously as the AFL Player of the Year after he recorded 11 sacks. Three other players were chosen as first-team all-pro picks by the Associated Press: Taylor, cornerback Kevin Dennis, and center Todd McClure.
The Titans made their first appearance in the playoffs since 1996 when they lost to Buffalo 21-14 in the opening round.
The Titans went on to upset the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis before defeating the Jaguars in the AFC Championship Game in Jacksonville.
When the Oilers relocated to Tennessee in 1997, they became the league's first franchise to do so. In 1999, the franchise dropped the nickname "Oilers" and became known as the "Titans."
Titans of Tennessee In 1984, the Oilers hired quarterback Warren Moon from the Canadian Football League, and the club quickly became known for having one of the most potent offenses in the league, led by Hall of Fame lineman Bruce Matthews. From 1987 through 1993, Moon guided the Oilers to seven consecutive postseason appearances,...
The Titans ended the 2000 season with an NFL-best 13-3 record and earned their third AFC Central title—their first as the Tennessee Titans. While still known as the Oilers, they won the Central Division in 1991 and 1993.
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