Titans ready to see how much they’ve improved

It’s not cockiness from their season-opening win at Jacksonville, when they put 282 yards rushing in 13-10 win against a top defense. It’s confidence from winning seven of their last eight games overall, a streak that included their first victory over Indianapolis since 2002.

The Colts (1-0) offer the perfect measuring stick. They have the NFL’s best regular-season record since 1999 at 90-39, and have lost only twice in September since coach Tony Dungy took over in 2002.

‘It’s a big game for this organization,’ Titans defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch said. ‘We started off good. If we want to take that next step and really make a name for ourselves and make a splash, I think playing well against the Colts will be it.’

The Titans finally started holding up their end of this divisional rivalry last season between the only teams to win the AFC South since realignment.

They held the Colts to 31 points, losing 14-13 on the road before snapping a seven-game skid to Indianapolis last December on Rob Bironas’ 60-yard field goal. Vince Young became the first quarterback in NFL history to lead two comebacks of 14 points or more as a rookie.

The Colts went on to win the Super Bowl, but haven’t forgotten losing that game in Nashville.

‘They beat us last year and really handed it to us,’ Colts cornerback Marlin Jackson said. ‘We didn’t play that well, and they have a good running game right now.’

Being able to run the ball very well is the reason for the Titans’ revival. They ran for 433 yards combined against the Colts last season and opened 2007 with 282 yards rushing, including a career-high 175 yards from Chris Brown.

‘I was surprised knowing how good Jacksonville’s defense is,’ Colts defensive tackle Raheem Brock said. ‘We know how good their offense is, so we’ve got to get after them.’

Manning and the Colts are pretty good, too.

They picked up where they left off in the Super Bowl, routing New Orleans 41-10 on Sept. 7 in an emotional night where they hung the championship banner in the rafters. Manning threw for 288 yards and three touchdowns, and Joseph Addai ran for 118 yards.

The run defense that stiffened in the playoffs hasn’t gone anywhere, either, and neither has the rivalry between the two teams.

Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney agrees.

‘I’ve always loved to play Tennessee,’ he said. ‘It’s a rowdy atmosphere, and they don’t like us, and we don’t like them.’