The Titans play in possibly the best division in the NFL, have an ancient starting QB, they lost one of the league’s most dominant players this offseason via free agency, and they have a petulant “franchise” QB-in waiting taking up a giant portion of their salary cap. But they also play a hard-nosed brand of football that gives every opponent headaches, manage to turn mid-level free agents into above-average starters, and are led by a mafioso-looking quasi-genius coach. They’re quite the enigma.

What happened in 2008: The Titans started 10-0 [Ed. Got worked by the Jets at home!], smacked both the Colts and Steelers around in Nashville…and then bowed out in their first playoff game, a turnover-filled disaster against the Ravens.

Offseason happenings: Albert Haynesworth took Dan Snyder’s fat sack of cash and moved to Washington. The Titans actually have some up-and-coming defensive line talent that should make his absence not as noticeable as, say, Shawne Merriman’s was to San Diego last season. But can the additions of Nate Washington and first-round pick Kenny Britt add enough spark to the Titans offense to keep defenses from bringing a safety up to stop the — formerly known as — Smash & Dash tandem of LenDale White and Chris Johnson?

From the schedule gods…: They play in the AFC South, so there’s no such thing as an easy schedule. But look at this: at Pit, at NE, at IND. Those are three crappy road games. Hard to see a win from one of those three. But stranger things have happened.

Projected finish: 10-6, second in AFC South.

What’s missing: A dominating defensive tackle, he of the giant sack of cash.

Why they’ll be a playoff team: Because two teams other than the Patriots, Steelers, Chargers and Colts have to make it, and they — along with the Ravens — are the best of that second tier.

Why they can’t win the Super Bowl: Strange things happen in sports, particularly in the NFL. Big Ben won a Super Bowl with a 26 QB rating. Eli Manning won a Super Bowl the same year he nearly lost his starting job. But Kerry Collins, Super Bowl-winning QB? Unless the Titans defense can play at a 2002 Bucs-level for four straight playoff games, a Super Bowl victory’s not happening.

Blog of choice: Music City Miracles

Video of choice: You can’t call yourself a football fan and not love to watch Chris Johnson hit the open field.

2009 NFL Previews

NFC East: 2009 Dallas Cowboys Preview | 2009 Philadelphia Eagles Preview | 2009 New York Giants Preview | 2009 Washington Redskins Preview

NFC North: 2009 Chicago Bears Preview | 2009 Detroit Lions Preview | 2009 Minnesota Vikings Preview | 2009 Green Bay Packers Preview

NFL South: 2009 Tampa Bay Bucs Preview | 2009 Atlanta Falcons Preview | 2009 New Orleans Saints Preview | 2009 Carolina Panthers Preview

NFL West: 2009 San Francisco 49ers Preview | 2009 St. Louis Rams Preview | 2009 Arizona Cardinals Preview | 2009 Seattle Seahawks Preview

AFC East: 2009 New England Patriots Preview | 2009 New York Jets Preview | 2009 Buffalo Bills Preview | 2009 Miami Dolphins Preview

AFC North: 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers Preview | 2009 Baltimore Ravens Preview | 2009 Cleveland Browns Preview | 2009 Cincinnati Bengals Preview