The2013 season was theTennessee Titans' 44th in theNational Football League (NFL), their 54th overall, their 17th in the state ofTennessee, and their third and final season underhead coachMike Munchak. It was also their final season under the ownership of founderBud Adams, who died on October 21. The Titans slightly improved on their 6–10 record from2012 but missed the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season.
^[a] The Titans traded their original second- (No. 40 overall) and seventh- (No. 216 overall) round selections, along with their2014 third-round selection to theSan Francisco 49ers in exchange for the 49ers' second-round selection (No. 34 overall).
^[b] The Titans traded their original sixth-round selection (No. 176 overall) to theMinnesota Vikings in exchange for the Vikings'2012 seventh-round selection.
The Titans traveled to Pittsburgh for their season opener against the rival Steelers. The first play of their season was a mental error by kick returnerDarius Reynaud, who tried to kneel down for a touchback, but fielded the ball just outside the end zone, which resulted in a safety for Pittsburgh. Notwithstanding, Tennessee got off to a strong start, scoring a touchdown and 3 field goals for a 16-2 lead. In the fourth quarter, the Steelers cut the Titans' lead to 16-9 after they scored a touchdown. However, Tennessee ran out the clock, ensuring themselves a victory. With the convincing win, the Titans started the season at 1-0, but since the Colts beat the Raiders, 21-17, and the Texans later defeated the Chargers, 31-28, Tennessee tied for 1st place in the AFC South, since the Jacksonville Jaguars were humiliated, 28-2, at home by the Kansas City Chiefs.
For the first time since1992 the Titans franchise defeated the Chargers, winning on a 34-yard touchdown throw fromJake Locker toJustin Hunter with 15 seconds to go. Locker finished with 367 all-purpose yards – 299 passing yards, 68 rushing yards.Chris Johnson finished with 90 rushing yards.
The Titans forced four Jets turnovers;Jake Locker threw three touchdowns off turnovers as the Titans led 24–6 at the half. Locker was knocked out of the game in the third quarter following hits fromMuhammad Wilkerson andQuinton Coples, suffering a right hip injury; a subsequentMRI showed no major damage to Locker's hip and he was sidelined for the next two games.Ryan Fitzpatrick finished the game, throwing a 77-yard score toNate Washington.Geno Smith of the Jets was intercepted twice, but the most-popularized play came when he fumbled behind his back at the Titans goalline andKarl Klug fell on the touchdown. Tennessee won 38–13.
The game was the first meeting between the Titans and their former coach,Jeff Fisher, and the first game for the club since the passing of its founder,Bud Adams. For the first time in 7 years, it was also quarterbackRyan Fitzpatrick's first return to St. Louis since he was traded from the Rams following the2006 season. Fitzpatrick played his first 2 seasons in and was drafted 250th overall by St. Louis in 2005. The game lead tied or changed on every score as the Titans erupted to 198 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Chris Johnson scored twice amid 170 all-purpose yards (150 on the ground) whileJake Locker overcame two interceptions to throw for 185 yards and run in a six-yard score.
^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.
