The Titans are 12-1 heading into Week 15 against the Texans. Tennessee clinched the AFC South division last week with a 28-9 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
Jeff Fisher is in his 14th full season as head coach of the Tennessee Titans. Fisher is the NFL leader among active coaches in longest tenure with one team.
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Kerry Collins is the NFL's second-leading active passer with 36,997 career yards and 185 touchdowns thrown. Since taking over the Titans' starting quarterback spot in Week 2, Collins has led the Titans to an 11-1 record. Though he averages only 175.4 passing yards per game, Collins has kept his mistakes to a minimum with only six interceptions compared to his 11 touchdowns this season.
Running back: LenDale White has rushed for 674 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. His 14 rushing touchdowns lead the AFC and are tied for first in the NFL with Atlanta's Michael Turner. White is joined in the backfield by the Titans' 2008 first-round draft choice from East Carolina, speedster Chris Johnson. Johnson is first among rookie running backs and sixth in the NFL with 1,094 rushing yards. Johnson also has scored nine total touchdowns.
Wide receiver/tight end: Wide receiver Justin Gage has caught 26 passes for 471 yards and leads the team with five touchdowns catches this season. Starting opposite Gage is receiver Justin McCareins, who has caught 20 passes for 310 yards this season. Receiver Brandon Jones has caught 36 passes for 385 yards and one touchdown. Tight end Bo Scaife leads the team in receptions with 50 and receiving yards with 517. Scaife has developed into a reliable target for Collins and has scored two touchdowns this season.
Offensive line: All five players on the Titans' offensive line have started every game this season. Michael Roos starts at left tackle for the Titans' offense and has started every game in his career. Left guard Eugene Amano spent his first four seasons in the NFL as the Titans' reserve center and guard, but has played in all but one game in his career. Six-time Pro Bowler Kevin Mawae starts at center for the Titans. Mawae has blocked for a 1,000-yard running back in 12 of his 15 NFL seasons, including Johnson this year. Jake Scott, who was signed in the offseason, starts at right guard. Scott started 55 consecutive games for the Indianapolis Colts from 2005-07. David Stewart started all 16 games at right tackle for the first time in his career in 2007 and has continued that streak this season.
DEFENSE
Defensive line: The Titans' defensive line is anchored by Pro Bowl defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who is seventh in the AFC in sacks with 8.5. He also has 47 tackles and three forced fumbles this season. Joining Haynesworth in the middle of the line is defensive tackle Tony Brown. Brown has 45 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Defensive end Jevon Kearse, a three-time Pro Bowler, has 30 tackles and 2.5 sacks this year. On the opposite end of the line is defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch, a two-time Pro Bowl selection who has registered 24 tackles and 4.5 sacks this season.
Linebacker: The Titans' linebacking corps is led by Keith Bulluck, who leads the team with 80 total tackles. Bulluck has led the team in tackles in five of the past six seasons and is third in Titans franchise history with 1,032 career stops. Joining Bulluck at linebacker are David Thornton and Stephen Tulloch. Thornton is in his seventh season in the NFL and has 65 tackles and two forced fumble this season. Tulloch has 60 total tackles and two passes defensed.
Secondary: The Titans' secondary is anchored by safeties Chris Hope and Michael Griffin. Hope leads all Titans defensive backs with 66 tackles and also has four interceptions this year. Griffin was the Titans' first-round draft choice in 2007 and has 52 tackles and five interceptions this season. At cornerback, the Titans start Nick Harper and Cortland Finnegan. Harper has registered 55 tackles and two interceptions, while Finnegan has 60 tackles and five interceptions, one of which he returned 99 yards for a touchdown against the Texans in Week 3. He also leads the team in passes defensed with 17.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicking: Kicker Rob Bironas has made 24-of-27 field goals this season and has converted all 36 extra point attempts. Punter Craig Hentrich has punted 69 times this season with a 42.8-yard average.
Receiving: Cornerback Chris Carr handles the Titans' primary punt and kickoff return duties. He has 31 kickoff returns for 854 yards, a 27.5-yard average, and has returned 28 punts for 283 yards.
