The 2004Tennessee Titansseason was the franchise's 35th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 45th overall and their eighth in the state of Tennessee. The Titans attempted to improve upon their previous output of 12–4, but only managed to win five games for the season.[1] The Titans missed the playoffs for the first time since 2001, and this was their worst record since 1994 when they were still based in Houston.[2]
In addition to their regular games with AFC South division rivals, the Titans played games against the AFC West and NFC North according to the NFL’s schedule rotation, and also played games against the Miami Dolphins and the Cincinnati Bengals based upon finishing positions from 2003. The Christmas Day game was the first occasion the franchise had played the Denver Broncos since the Houston Oilers met that team in 1995.[3] This is because between 1978 and 2002 non-divisional conference games were scheduled exclusively based upon the preceding season’s finish without any rotary cycle.[4]
^ abIndianapolis clinched the AFC #3 seed instead of San Diego based upon head-to-head victory.
^ abNew York Jets clinched the AFC #5 seed instead of Denver based upon better record against common opponents (New York Jets were 5–0 to Denver’s 3–2 against San Diego, Cincinnati, Houston, and Miami).
^ abcJacksonville and Baltimore finished ahead of Buffalo because they each defeated Buffalo head-to-head.
^ abJacksonville finished ahead of Baltimore based upon better record against common opponents (Jacksonville were 3–2 against Baltimore’s 2–3 versus Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Buffalo and Kansas City).
^ abHouston finished ahead of Kansas City based upon head-to-head victory.
^ abOakland finished ahead of Tennessee based upon head-to-head victory.
^ abMiami finished ahead of Cleveland based upon head-to-head victory.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.
^Urena, Ivan (2014). Pro Football Schedules: A Complete Historical Guide from 1933 to the Present. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company Inc. p. 221. ISBN9780786473519.
^Urena (2014). Pro Football Schedules. pp. 85–88, 116–119.