Tennessee TITANS   2002 Record: 11-5 Head Coach: Jeff Fisher 76-58-0 overall, 4-3 postseason TEAM LEADERS   Passing Steve McNair 301-492, 3,387 yards, 22 TDs, 15 INTs   Rushing Eddie George 343 carries, 1,165 yards, 12 TDs   Receiving Derrick Mason 79 catches, 1,012 yards, 5 TDs   Kicking Joe Nedney 25-31 FGs, 36-36 PATs, 111 points Schedule | Roster | Statistics | Stadium

By B. Duane Cross, SI.com

Is there a team that wins uglier than the Titans (and we don’t mean those tacky uniforms of the flaming thumbtack logo)? Burdened with a WR corp that couldn’t scare a high school team, Jeff Fisher nonetheless continues to pile up the victories.

A large part of Tennessee’s success can be attributed to QB Steve McNair and the return to health of RB Eddie George. And while opposing defenses know McNair’s options are a) hand the ball to George or b) throw mid-range passes to marginal receivers, the Titans still managed to score 22.9 points per game (13th in the NFL, ahead of such noted offensive juggernauts as Indianapolis and St. Louis).

Defensively, Tennessee was 11th (20.2 ppg) and allowed an AFC-low seven rushing TDs. With second-year DT Albert Haynesworth clogging the middle, DEs Kevin Carter and Jevon Kearse can rush the passer with controlled abandon. When healthy, that trio is among the game’s best and takes a lot of the pressure off an unspectacular group of linebackers and a better than average secondary.

The Titans will be favored to win the AFC South again, but it won’t be pretty. Of course, nothing ever is with this group. Now about those wide receivers …

>> Impact Signing

Well, no one. The Titans spent their money on players already on the roster.

The biggest name to re-up: former Pro Bowl punter Craig Hentrich, who was slapped with the Transition tag. Hentrich had 28 of 65 punts downed inside the 20-yard line last season and a 41.9-yard average, tied for 11th in the league.

Feel free to argue among yourselves the merits of the others to re-sign: G Zach Piller, DE Juqua Thomas, LB Frank Chamberlin, G Tom Ackerman, QB Billy Volek, LB Peter Sirmon.

>> Impact Loss

DT John Thornton -- A young and talented on-his-way-up DT, Thornton was regarded by many in the league as one of the best values in this year’s free agency crop. Though overshadowed by 2002 first-round pick Albert Haynesworth, Thornton is better than the Titans’ current No. 2 DT, Robaire Smith, and will show his wares in Cincinnati as one of five Tennessee defensive free-agent defections.

>> Fantasy Stud

QB Steve McNair -- He's among the most beat-up players in the NFL, but McNair continues to pile up solid fantasy stats year after year, even if they don't look like it on the surface. The passing numbers are solid if unspectacular (he set a career high with 22 TD passes last year), but his rushing stats are what give him his value. After being held without a rushing TD in 2000, he's rattled off eight the past two years while averaging more than 400 yards a season.

>> Fantasy Sleeper

RB Chris Brown -- After an injury-plagued 2001 season, Eddie George bounced back with 1,165 yards and 14 total TDs. However, there's no guarantee George will stay healthy again, so Brown, a third-round pick out of Colorado will serve as solid insurance. Brown, who rushed for 1,800 yards and 19 TDs last year for the Buffaloes, is a very similar runner to George and could be used in the same way.

>> Titans will not make the playoffs because...

Standing pat on an 11-5 team isn’t unheard of, but there was plenty of room for improvement. Does anyone else believe WR Tyrone Calico, a second-round draft pick, will get Tennessee over the hump by himself?