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Ultimate Standings: Titans' dismal 2014 leads to rankings drop

Marcus Mariota. AP Photo/John Bazemore

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Tennessee Titans

Overall: 117
Title track: 102
Ownership: 111
Coaching: 106
Players: 114
Fan relations: 110
Affordability: 84
Stadium experience: 113
Bang for the buck: 99
Change from last year: -13

Only the Redskins stand in the way of the Titans ranking dead last among NFL teams in our standings. Last year's 2-14 disaster was the franchise's worst record since 1994, when it was still based in Houston, prompting Tennessee fans to give their team the second-worst score in the league when asked if it demonstrates a commitment to winning.


What's good

Tennessee dropped in every category, but the shortest slide was in affordability. The Titans are one of just nine NFL teams that kept their average attendance cost per season below $1,000 in 2014, and the average ticket was just $67.15, nearly $20 below league average. Of course, even $67 can feel like too much when your team won exactly -- wait for it -- one game at home last season.


What's bad

Speaking of ... the Titans fell 38 spots in bang for the buck after their third straight losing season. In fact, Tennessee hasn't had double-digit wins since 2008, which is due in large part to the lack of stability under center. Over the past five seasons, the Titans have had five different leading passers and will likely have a sixth if No. 2 overall pick Marcus Mariota remains healthy (hence the No. 114 players ranking and one of the worst scores in all of sports for "consistently wins more games than they lose").


What's new

This year's biggest drops came in bang for the buck and coaching, but that may be mostly because the team had the most room to fall in those areas -- they were among only a few categories not already in triple digits. And of course, head coach Ken Whisenhunt and his staff, which now includes Hall of Famer Dick LeBeau as defensive coordinator, will all look smarter if they are running a team with a real franchise QB -- and Mariota might just be that. The former Oregon Duck appeared as good as advertised after throwing for more than 400 yards and six TDs (no picks) in his first two games. Off the field, Steve Underwood, the interim CEO and team president, has beefed up the front office and pledged to improve the game-day experience. When the University of Tennessee opened this season against Bowling Green at Nissan Stadium, Underwood was outside, in a suit, helping to make sure people got in smoothly. The team is now owned by five Bud Adams heirs, but Underwood speaks and works on their behalf and is a giant upgrade in terms of fan support.

Next: Washington Redskins | Full rankings