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Thursday, October 14
 
Baxter Bits: Titans vs. Saints

By Russell S. Baxter
Special to ESPN.com

The Titans head south to the Superdome for the second time in the regular season in four years as these interconference foes square off in the regular season for the first time since 1996 (the Saints managed a 12-11 victory this summer at Adelphia Coliseum).

It's all even between these clubs (4-4-1), the Titans posting a 31-14 victory in '96 at the Superdome in the last regular-season clash between the clubs.

The Titans are 3-2 lifetime at the Superdome dating back to 1976 as the road team owns a 5-3-1 mark in this infrequent setting.

Numbers: The Titans have limited the opposition to 17 or fewer points in 18 of their last 33 contests dating back to '97. After giving up just five touchdown passes in their first seven games, the Titans have allowed 25 TD passes in their last 14 contests dating back to '98. The Titans have been limited to fewer than 100 yards rushing in three straight games.

The Saints have been outscored a combined 34-0 in the fourth quarter in four games in '99. They have allowed 63 points in seven wins (17 or fewer points in each contest), 368 points in 13 losses (30 or more points in 8 of those contests) dating back to '98. The Saints have forced 61 turnovers in 23 wins, but have just 60 takeaways in 45 losses since 1995. New Orleans has totaled three or more sacks in five straight games and 26 of their last 36 contests dating back to '97.

Things To Look For: The Titans continue to win the games they're supposed to, meaning the struggling Saints don't figure to be much of a problem. But New Orleans' defense is aggressive enough to cause Titans' QB Neil O'Donnell some anxiety, especially if the Tennessee running game continues its mysterious struggles. Just whatever happened to former Heisman winners Eddie George and Ricky Williams?

Etc.: Titans head coach Jeff Fisher "played" for Saints' head coach Mike Ditka in Chicago for four seasons (1982-85) and was a member of the Bears' Super Bowl XX championship team (Fisher spent the '85 season on injured reserve with an ankle injury, but served as an "unofficial coach" for defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan). The Titans are 11-1 vs. AFC Central rivals, 1-8 vs. the rest of the NFL dating back to '98. They are just 15-22 vs. NFC competition since '90 (1-4 since '98). Since 1995, the Titans are 17-18 at home and 18-16 on the road.

The Saints have lost three straight games. They are 31-17 vs. AFC competition since '87 (1-3 in '98) after going just 12-42-2 vs. AFC teams from 1970-86, and are just 18-29 in their last 47 contests at the Superdome dating back to 1993...





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