NFL: 10 teams that are better (or worse) than their records indicate
BETTER: Tennessee Titans (1-4)
The most intriguing storyline for this season’s rookie class is also it’s most obvious. How would the top two picks perform? And had the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made the correct choice by selecting Jameis Winston over Marcus Mariota?
Through five games for each team, the answer has tilted in favor of the latter. Mariota and Tennessee won the meeting easily between both teams in Week One, and Mariota has clearly outperformed Winston on the stat sheet:
Jameis Winston (5 games)
1,174 yds, 56.6% comp. rate, 7 TDs, 7 INTs, 7.7 yds/att
Marcus Mariota (5 games)
1,239 yds, 63.6% comp. rate, 9 TDs, 5 INTs, 7.6 yds/att
At the same time, the Buccaneers sit at 2-3 while the Titans rest at 1-4. Both teams have eerily similar team stats on offense, with both averaging close to 340 yards and 22 points per game. On the other side, Tennessee has enjoyed the better defensive statistics in terms of yardage (3rd to 5th) and importantly points (20th to 31st). Even their strength of schedule is the same; removing their Week One matchup, both the Titans’ and Buccaneers’ opponents have gone 10-13.
The difference for these two teams can be seen in their point differential: The Titans average out to -3.4, whereas the Bucs are at a -7.6. Two of the Titans losses (Indianapolis and Buffalo) have come by a combined three points, both of those teams being quality opponents. The Titans have shown flashes of competence against good opponents, and with the exception of games against the Panthers and Patriots, their schedule appears to be getting easier.
Final record: 6-10
The Titans play in what might be the worst division in the NFL. They have yet to play either the Jacksonville Jaguars or the Houston Texans within their own division, and they could conceivably go 3-1 in that quartet of games. Mariota has already been sharp through five, and he will only improve as the offensive playbook opens up throughout the season.
Next: Denver Broncos