I'm really tired of hearing about how great Tennessee's D from all the talking heads out there (and some of the commentors on this site.) Yes they're good, but so are we. But let me set something straight: Tennessee, in no way, shape, or form is going to walk all over us this game, defensively or offensively. Because I'm most annoyed with the coverage their D is getting, and how they're going to shut down our running game, let's start there.

Titans rushing defense:

The rushing offenses the Titans have faced have totaled 848 yards this year. For us that number is 841 yards (essentially equal). The difference is that we've given up almost 20 yards less per game rushing than the Titans. What gives?

If we just look at rushing, they've played against the 13th, 24th, and 29th best rushing attacks. Of all those rankings, only Jacksonville's 13th best rushing attack stands out as noteworthy. That's also the closest game for Tennessee all year (a 17-10 win).

I think, at this point, it's safe to say that AD + Chester > Fred and MJD.
According to the stats:
Through 3 games, AD + Chester = 421 yds, 85 carries, 4.95 ave.

For the other two, Fred and MJD = 325 yds, 80 carries, 4.06 ave.

Thus, we are the best rushing attack they have seen yet, and don't be fooled into thinking that they have the second coming of Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa waiting for our boys.

Titans Pass defense:
Where Tennessee really excels is defending the pass (3rd in the NFL). So far this year they've only given up 454 yards through the air--all year. We've allowed 631 yards through the air (good for 20th.)

A little further analysis paints a slightly different picture, though.

If we look at the total passing yards of the three teams the Titans and the Vikings have faced this year, we discover that the Titans haven't played many--if any--good passing attacks, while the Vikes have already faced two:

• Titan's opponents total passing = 1254 yards.
• Viking's opponents total passing = 2004 yards

Those numbers tell us, again, that the Vikings have faced much better overall passing attacks this year than the Titans have. So how did each team fair against the quality of passing they faced?

• The Vikings allowed 680 of those 2004 cumulative passing yards, or 33.9% of the total.
• The Titans, interestingly, allowed 537 of their opponents' 1254 passing yards, or 42.8% of the total. So when viewed this way, while the Vikings have allowed more yards through air, they've been more effective at limiting the pass against better competition.
  

In the final analysis, Tennessee has a very solid defense, one which will, believe it or not, receive its greatest challenge of the season this Sunday. But to say that the Titan's D is outstanding is to jump the gun prematurely. So far the only thing they've proven is that they have done what they should have done against inferior competition. How they would fare against a Green Bay or an Indy is anyone's guess.

So far the numbers have shown that we've done an even better job defensively against much better competition than Tennessee, so don't be swayed by the hype. Our defense is for real, and the Titans have more to worry about offensively this Sunday than we do.