Oct 30, 2008 - 7:24 PM
0 shoutsBy Chip Cirillo PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Tennessee Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck knows the doubters are still out there.
The Titans hammered the Indianapolis Colts, 31-21, in front of a national audience on Monday night, but the critics are still chipping away at Tennessee's 7-0 record -- the best in the NFL.
"That win doesn't silence the doubters because now the doubters are saying the Colts aren't that good," Bulluck said. "Just let it be what it is. Every week until the season is over, we have a game to play and that's our opportunity to go out there and silence the doubters."
Swaying the media isn't high on Bulluck's list of priorities. Critics say the Titans' record is misleading because only one of their victories came against a team with a winning record.
That doesn't bother Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, a Pro Bowl starter in 2007.
"Not a lot of people know about us," Haynesworth said. "We've got to keep it like we're a small town. We've got a bunch of no-name guys out here and we're just going to go out there and be a team, not individuals. We're still the underdog no matter who we play."
Actually, the Titans are a 5 1/2-point favorite on Sunday against Green Bay (4-3), another team with a winning record and a chance for Tennessee to improve its credibility.
"This is a huge test for our defense," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. "This football team we're playing is very solid in all areas - special teams, offense and defense."
So are the Titans, who boast the NFL's fourth-ranked defense after allowing an average of 275.4 yards per game.
Defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch, the Titans' top pass rusher, missed Monday's game with a groin injury, but Tennessee still put the clamps on Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning.
"It wasn't a surprise on Monday night," said Vanden Bosch, a two-time Pro Bowler who had started the previous 54 games. "Regardless of who we've had on the field this year, guys have stepped up and responded and played really well. The guys we have on this team have played well through (organized team activities practices), training camp and really any chance they've had this year. It's kind of what we expected."
But no one could have expected the best start in franchise history, although the Titans did make the playoffs last year with an early exit at San Diego.
Cornerback Cortland Finnegan and free safety Michael Griffin are part of a five-way tie for the league lead in interceptions with four. Tennessee has held five of its opponents to 12 points or less.
"We feel like we have a good enough defensive line that they are going to put pressure on the quarterbacks, so we know the ball has to come out pretty fast," cornerback Nick Harper said. "So all we do is just drive on the ball. We know the plays are going to come. You've just got to be patient."
Veteran quarterback Kerry Collins has been patient, serving mainly as a backup in his first two years with the Titans. He came off the bench in the opener against Jacksonville when Vince Young suffered a knee injury and has played so well that Fisher has kept him as the starter.
"We expect that (poise) from him since this is his 14th year in the league," tight end Bo Scaife said. "It's just everyone else's job to follow his lead and stay poised and stay calm and make plays. No one picked us to be where we're at right now, except everyone in this locker room - so it's a good feeling for us."
Collins said the Titans remind him of the 1996 Carolina Panthers he led to the NFC Championship game during his second NFL season.
"The defense is very similar, real good defense," Collins said. "We ran the ball real well and we were efficient in the passing game."
Wide receiver Justin McCareins said the Titans' unselfish mentality has been one of the big keys for success.
Another big component: the running game that ranks fourth in the league by averaging 145 yards per contest. LenDale White has reached the end zone 10 times, more than any other running back in the NFL.
Rookie running back Chris Johnson has made a quick impact with 626 rushing yards, No. 1 in the AFC.
"CJ is an unbelievable football player and he does a lot of the dirty work, too," White said. "Just because he has speed doesn't mean he can't run between the tackles and get the job done that way. We share the reps and I'm not as banged up at the end of the day, so I definitely love him. Smash and dash or however you guys want to call it. I think I'm dash right now and he's smash, so we're good."
When Tennessee hasn't found the end zone, Pro Bowl kicker Rob Bironas has made 13 of 14 field goal attempts.
The Titans aren't flashy, but they keep finding ways to win. That hasn't convinced the doubters, but Tennessee doesn't seem to mind.
