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Tuesday, December 7
 
Titans sort through wreckage

By Teresa M. Walker
Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans can't explain what happened to them against the Baltimore Ravens, and with a game coming up Thursday against the Oakland Raiders, there isn't time, anyway.

Eddie George
The Titans were bummed in Baltimore, but they must get back on track quickly.
"This is probably the biggest game of the year for us considering the circumstances we're in," coach Jeff Fisher said.

The Titans (9-3) might have blown their chance at the AFC Central title Sunday in their 41-14 loss at Baltimore, the Titans' worst defeat since December 1997. The Titans trail Jacksonville by two games and must hope the Jaguars stumble before they meet again on Dec. 26.

They play host to Oakland (6-6) on Thursday night in a nationally televised game that starts a three-game homestand.

"It doesn't allow you time to fester about what you did wrong," left tackle Brad Hopkins said. "There were a lot of mistakes in that ballgame that we made. We don't want to dwell on that."

Some Titans pointed the finger at a lack of intensity or overconfidence for their problems with Baltimore. Whatever the reason, they struggled again when faced with a tough defense and didn't get past into Ravens territory for most of the second half.

The Titans have had trouble on offense most of the season. They have topped 26 points in only three games, and two of those were against expansion Cleveland.

Tennessee hasn't thrown a touchdown pass in five games. Steve McNair, 4-2 since returning from back surgery, ranks ahead of only two benched quarterbacks -- Pittsburgh's Kordell Stewart and the Jets' Rick Mirer -- among AFC QBs in passer rating.

McNair misses receiver Yancey Thigpen, sidelined by a sprained ankle the past three games. Kevin Dyson, the team's No. 1 pick last season, bobbled and dropped a pass he should have caught in the first quarter Sunday.

Dyson spent the second quarter on the bench, but coach Jeff Fisher said they don't want Dyson dwelling on his drops.

McNair said he's confident the Titans will fix their problems.

"The bad game is gone," McNair said. "That was Sunday. Now is the tale of when all the great teams rise to the occasion and rise to the top ... We're looking for that breakout game, and this is it."

At least publicly, Fisher isn't beating up anyone over the loss. He put the Titans through a short workout Monday, treating the day as a Thursday in a normal game week of preparation, and he said he liked the way players went full speed.

He also wants the Titans to remember something very important.

"We have the third-best record in the NFL right now. Yes, we collapsed (Sunday), and we're embarrassed. We weren't ourselves and didn't play well, but we've got to go on. It makes no sense to walk around feeling disappointed because we can't miss another opportunity to prepare for this upcoming game," he said.





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