Preview: Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints 09/24/07

Two games into the 2007 season, the Tennessee Titans, look more like a playoff contender than the New Orleans Saints, do.

A popular preseason pick to reach the Super Bowl, the stumbling Saints (0-2) host the Titans (1-1) in their home opener Monday night.

After two embarrassing losses, the defending NFC South champions look to avoid their first 0-3 start since 1997 - and prove they're worthy of the hype surrounding them after reaching the NFC championship game last season.

"I'm very surprised. We really need to take a deep look at ourselves, identify the problems and figure out how to fix it,' Saints quarterback Drew Brees said.

A return to the Superdome could help the Saints, who will be playing at home for the first time since a 27-24 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in a divisional playoff game Jan. 13.

New Orleans remains confident knowing teams have reached the playoffs after starting 0-2. Kansas City did it last season, while Dallas in 1993 and New England in 2001 even won Super Bowls.

"By no means are we out of it," said Brees, who has thrown just one touchdown and three interceptions. "It sets you back, but it's nothing we can't overcome."

The first step is to get by the Titans in the first pro matchup between Tennessee's Vince Young and New Orleans' Reggie Bush. Young carried Texas past Bush and Southern California 41-38 in a thrilling BCS championship game on Jan. 4, 2006.

Tennessee fell just short and lost 22-20 at home to defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis last week, but has won seven of its last nine games. The strong play earned coach Jeff Fisher a contract extension through 2011.

Monday's matchup is likely to be less emotional than the national title game meeting, but still important for Bush's current team as it tries to bounce back from a 31-14 loss at Tampa Bay. The Saints fell 41-10 to the Indianapolis Colts to open the season.

Owner of the NFL's top offense last season, New Orleans has turned the ball over five times and scored just two touchdowns in 2007 - both in the second half against Tampa Bay.

The Saints' formidable backfield of Bush and Deuce McAllister combined for just 76 yards on 20 carries last weekend, and duo has yet to score a TD.

Brees, meanwhile, has a passer rating of 66.4 - compared to 96.2 in 2006 - and didn't throw his third interception until the sixth game last season. He'll have a chance to improve against a Tennessee defense that has allowed 497 yards passing.

"I think we have the ability to be a very good offense," said Brees, who was 16-for-20 for 206 yards and three touchdowns in San Diego's 38-17 victory over the Titans on Oct. 3, 2004 - his only appearance against Tennessee. "One of the best, if not the best, in the league. Unfortunately we're not playing like it right now.'

Defensively, New Orleans is allowing 391.0 yards per contest - second-highest in the NFC to the New York Giants' 423.0.

The Saints added free agents Jason David and Kevin Kaesviharn to the secondary during the offseason, but the team has already allowed 11 plays of 20 yards or more.

Up front, New Orleans will be trying to stop the Titans' powerful rushing attack, which is averaging an NFL-best 211.5 yards per game. Tennessee ran for 141 yards against the Colts and 282 in a 13-10 win at Jacksonville on Sept. 9.

"If you can run the football, typically what happens over the course of the year is your scoring efficiency increases and improves, because teams become more and more concerned about the run," Fisher said.

While Young and fullback LenDale White - Bush's teammate at USC - combined for 117 yards on 20 carries against Indianapolis, veteran Chris Brown has started strong, rushing for 209 yards on 31 carries for the Titans.

Brown, though, will be looking to bounce back after rushing for just 34 yards on 12 carries last week.

Young will try for another strong performance Monday night after going 17-for-27 for 184 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown pass against the Colts. Young, though, was unable to connect on a fourth-down throw in the final seconds.

"Anytime the ball's in Vince Young's hands, everyone feels like we're going to win the game,' Titans defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch said. "We were just waiting for something magical to happen.'

The Titans will try for their fourth straight victory over the Saints and third in a row at the Superdome. Tennessee won 27-11 on Sept. 21, 2003 in the teams' most recent meeting.

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