The 2006 Tennessee Titans season was the franchise's 47th season overall, 37th with the National Football League (NFL), and tenth in Tennessee. The season began with the Titans trying to improve on the 4–12 record from their 2005 season. The team improved to 8–8, but missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season.
The Titans signed Pittsburgh Steelers safety Chris Hope, Indianapolis Colts linebacker David Thornton, New England Patriots wide receiver David Givens, New York Jets center Kevin Mawae, Oakland Raiders quarterback Kerry Collins, and brought back defensive tackle Robaire Smith after he was released by the Houston Texans.
The Titans, with the third 2006 overall pick, chose Vince Young, star quarterback out of the University of Texas, and with their second round pick, picked USC running back LenDale White. Then, they used the rest of their picks on Penn St. Safety Calvin Lowry, North Carolina St. LB Stephen Tulloch, Miami University (OH) LB Terna Nande, Tennessee DT Jesse Mahelona, Wisconsin WR Jonathan Orr, Samford corner Cortland Finnegan, Utah LB Spencer Toone, and Utah RB Quinton Ganther.
However, the Titans were winless for five consecutive games before winning their first game against the Redskins in week 6.
This was also the final season where Floyd Reese was general manager for the Titans as he resigned following the season.
Offseason NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 2006 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeAhmard HallFullbackTexasColin AllredLinebackerBaylorSean ConoverDefensive endBucknellJamie PetrowskiTight endIndiana State
Personnel
Staff
Roster
Schedule Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record 1 New Orleans Saints L 16–19 0–1 2 at Denver Broncos L 10–35 0–2 3 Atlanta Falcons L 6–20 0–3 4 at Green Bay Packers W 35–21 1–3
Regular season Apart from their regular games with AFC South division rivals, the Titans played against the AFC East and NFC East according to the NFL's schedule rotation, and also played against the Ravens and the Chargers, who in 2005 had like the Titans each finished third in their division. Week Date Opponent Result Record Attendance 1 September 10 New York Jets L 16–23 0–1 69,143 2 September 17 at San Diego Chargers L 7–40 0–2 64,344 3 September 24 at Miami Dolphins L 10–13 0–3 72,733 4 October 1 Dallas Cowboys L 14–45 0–4 69,143 5 October 8 at Indianapolis Colts L 13–14 0–5 57,021 6 October 15 at Washington Redskins W 25–22 1–5 88,550 7 Bye 8 October 29 Houston Texans W 28–22 2–5 69,143 9 November 5 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 7–37 2–6 66,524 10 November 12 Baltimore Ravens L 26–27 2–7 69,143 11 November 19 at Philadelphia Eagles W 31–13 3–7 69,232 12 November 26 New York Giants W 24–21 4–7 69,143 13 December 3 Indianapolis Colts W 20–17 5–7 69,143 14 December 10 at Houston Texans W 26–20 (OT) 6–7 70,760 15 December 17 Jacksonville Jaguars W 24–17 7–7 69,143 16 December 24 at Buffalo Bills W 30–29 8–7 54,765 17 December 31 New England Patriots L 23–40 8–8 69,143 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Regular season Week 1: vs. New York Jets
at LP Field, Nashville, Tennessee
The Titans opened the regular season at home against the New York Jets on September 10. After a scoreless first quarter, the Titans started to seriously trail as opposing RB Kevan Barlow scored on a one-yard TD run (extra point attempt was good) and an 8-yard TD pass to opposing WR Jerricho Cotchery (extra point attempt failed). In the third quarter, things didn't get any better, as opposing kicker Mike Nugent kicked an 18-yard field goal to make Tennessee trail 16–0. In the fourth quarter, the Titans made a valiant attempt to come back, as RB Travis Henry got a 3-yard and a 1-yard TD run, which were both followed by successful two-point conversions. However, the Jets were just too much as opposing TE Chris Baker caught a 12-yard TD to put the game away. With the loss, the Titans began their season 0–1.
Week 2: at San Diego Chargers
at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
In Week 2, the Titans played their first road game of the year against the San Diego Chargers. From the get-go, the Titans trailed as opposing kicker Nate Kaeding kicked a 28-yard field goal in the first quarter. Things only got worse in the second quarter, as San Diego unleashed their ultimate weapon, RB LaDainian Tomlinson, as he got a 4-yard and an 8-yard TD run and Kaeding got a 31-yard field goal to give Tennessee a 20–0 halftime deficit. Things weren't any better in the third quarter, as Kaeding got a 35 and a 44-yard field goal for San Diego. In the fourth quarter, the game was put well out of reach as opposing QB Philip Rivers completed a 12-yard TD pass to WR Vincent Jackson. By this time, QB Kerry Collins was taken out and rookie QB Vince Young came in to complete an 18-yard pass to WR Drew Bennett. However, the Chargers delivered one more blow as opposing QB Charlie Whitehurst ran 14 yards for the game's final TD. With the loss, the Titans fell to 0–2.
Week 3: at Miami Dolphins
at Dolphin Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Staying on the road, the Titans traveled to Dolphin Stadium for a Week 3 contest against the Miami Dolphins. From the get-go, the Titans trailed as kicker Olindo Mare got a 40-yard field goal. The Titans took the lead before halftime as QB Kerry Collins completed a 27-yard TD pass to TE Bo Scaife in the second quarter. However, in the third quarter, the Dolphins retook the lead as QB Daunte Culpepper got a touchdown on a 5-yard QB sneak. Titans kicker Rob Bironas tied the game up on a 22-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Dolphins walked away with their first win as Mare booted a 39-yard field goal to drop the Titans to 0–3.
Week 4: vs. Dallas Cowboys
at LP Field, Nashville, Tennessee |Weather= (Sunny)
Back at home, the Dallas Cowboys traveled to Nashville to face off against the Titans. The Titans started their rookie quarterback Vince Young after veteran Kerry Collins produced dismal results after the first 3 games of the season. The Titans were able to score with a field goal on their opening drive making it the first time this season that they were able to score in the first quarter. The Titans were held to two field goals in the first half while the Cowboys had a lead at halftime with two 13-yard TD passes from Drew Bledsoe to WR Terry Glenn to put them up 14–6.
The Cowboys continued to drive up the score during the 3rd quarter with a 5-yard touchdown run by RB Julius Jones. During this play Titans' DT Albert Haynesworth stepped on the face of Cowboys center Andre Gurode. Haynesworth was flagged for Unsportsmanlike Conduct and ejected from the game. He protested his ejection by taking off his helmet and throwing it on the ground. He was then flagged again with another Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty. Gurode left the field with an ice pack to his face and required stitched above his left eye. He did not return to the field. Head Coach Jeff Fisher as well as Haynesworth later apologized for his actions. Vince Young connected for his second touchdown of the year to TE Ben Troupe. During the 4th quarter, the Cowboys scored on a field goal by Mike Vanderjagt. LB Brady James intercepted Vince Young's pass intended for Ben Troupe and returned it for a touchdown. The Cowboys sealed the win with a 7-yard TD run by Tyson Thompson with a final score of 45 to 14. The Cowboys moved to 2 and 1 while the Titans continued to losing streak dropping to 0–4.
Week 5: at Indianapolis Colts
at the RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana
Hoping to get their first win of the year, the Titans traveled to the RCA Dome for Week 5, as they played an AFC South match-up with the Indianapolis Colts. The Titans got off to a surprising start, as QB Vince Young ran 19 yards for a touchdown. Tennessee followed it up in the second quarter, as kicker Rob Bironas kicked a 22-yard field goal to give the Titans a 10–0 halftime lead. In the third quarter, Tennessee got an unpleasant wake-up call, as Colts QB Peyton Manning completed a 13-yard TD pass to WR Marvin Harrison. The Titans got another field goal, as Bironas kicked a 47-yarder. Tennessee remained winless on the year, as Manning completed a 2-yard TD pass to WR Reggie Wayne in the fourth quarter. With their loss, the Titans continued to stay at the bottom of the AFC South at 0–5.
Week 6: at Washington Redskins
at FedExField, Landover, Maryland
The Titans won their first game of the year, and Vince Young earned his first NFL win in a game against the Washington Redskins at FedExField.
The Titans got on the board first as K Rob Bironas connected on a 32-yard field goal five minutes into the game. The Skins responded with a 10-yard touchdown run by RB Clinton Portis. On the first play of the second quarter, Skins QB Mark Brunell hit TE Chris Cooley with a 24-yard touchdown pass. Titans K Bironas converted a 26-yard field goal, and Young hit WR Brandon Jones with a 3-yard touchdown near the end of the first half, to pull the Titans to within one going into halftime. Titans RB Travis Henry rushed for a career-high 178 yards and scored on a 2-yard run in the third quarter. On the Skins next possession, Titans FB Casey Cramer blocked a Derrick Frost punt out of the end zone for a safety. Skins RB Portis ran for his second touchdown early in the fourth quarter, and Brunell hit WR Santana Moss for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 22. Titans K Bironas kicked a field goal from 30 yards out with 5 minutes left to give them a 25–22 lead. The Skins had one last chance but Brunell threw an interception to S Lamont Thompson to seal the deal for the Titans. With the win, the Titans went into their bye week at 1–5.
Week 8: vs. Houston Texans
at LP Field, Nashville, Tennessee |Weather= (Sunny)
Coming off their Bye Week, the Titans went home for an AFC South battle with the Houston Texans. After a scoreless first quarter, Titans QB Vince Young started the scoring with a 20-yard TD run. Afterwards, Texans kicker Kris Brown kicked a 27-yard field goal. Tennessee struckback with DE Tony Brown returning a fumble 40 yards for a touchdown. In the third quarter, Young completed a 20-yard TD pass to WR Bobby Wade, while Houston QB Sage Rosenfels (who replaced starting QB David Carr early in the quarter) completed a 10-yard TD pass to WR Andre Johnson. In the fourth quarter, Adam "Pacman" Jones helped the Titans boost their lead by returning a punt 53 yards for a touchdown. The Texans fought back, as Rosenfels completed a 1-yard TD pass to rookie TE Owen Daniels (Extra Point Attempt Failed) and a 2-yard TD pass to Daniels (2-Point Attempt Failed). In the end, Tennessee had consecutive victories, and improved to 2–5.
Week 9: at Jacksonville Jaguars
at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
Hoping to build on their recent victory over the Texans, the Titans flew to Alltel Stadium for an AFC South fight with the Jacksonville Jaguars. From the get-go, the Titans fell behind, as Jags QB David Garrard completed an 11-yard TD pass to WR Ernest Wilford and a 14-yard TD pass to TE George Wrighster in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Jaguars kicker Josh Scobee kicked a 47-yard and a 21-yard field goal in the second quarter, giving Jacksonville a 20–0 lead over Tennessee at halftime. In the third quarter, the Titans woes continued as Garrard hooked up with Wilford again on a 22-yard TD strike. Then, DB Scott Starks returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown. Finally, Scobee kicked a 39-yard field goal, putting the game out of reach. In the fourth quarter, Tennessee got their only score of the game, as QB Vince Young completed a 32-yard TD pass to WR Drew Bennett. With the loss, the Titans fell to 2–6.
Week 10: vs. Baltimore Ravens
at LP Field, Nashville, Tennessee |Weather= (Sunny)