Titans rewarded with two Monday night games

The NFL released the 2007 schedule Wednesday, and they rewarded the Titans and the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year with their first two prime-time games since 2004. Tennessee will visit New Orleans on Sept. 24 and Denver on Nov. 19.

?As I posted the season schedule today in the weight room, the level of excitement among the players quickly increased as the first thing they looked for were nationally televised games and saw the two Monday Night games,? Titans coach Jeff Fisher said in a statement.

The Titans had three prime-time games in 2004, but the franchise won only nine games combined in 2004 and 2005, which kept them off any national broadcasts in 2006 when they drafted Young with the No. 3 pick overall and made him their new starting quarterback.

Tennessee finished 2006 with an 8-8 record despite starting 0-5 and missed the playoffs after losing the last game of the season.

?I too was happy to see that the momentum we built at the end of last season translated into two Monday night games, an experience we havent had over the last two seasons,? Fisher said.

?Opening this season or any regular season versus a division opponent is a challenge. The final four games are against playoff teams from a year ago and this year?s bye falls a little early, but byes always come at a good time.?

The NFL also will have flexible scheduling for Sunday night games between Weeks 11 and 17, and teams are given two weeks? notice if they are being moved to prime-time.

The schedule was released 24 hours after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Titans cornerback Adam ?Pacman? Jones for the upcoming season. Jones will have his status reviewed after the Titans? 10th game, which will be at Denver.

They also will host the New York Jets in a 4:15 p.m. EST on Dec. 23.

Tennessee opens 2007 on the road Sept. 9 at Jacksonville as part of consecutive games against AFC South rivals, hosting the Super Bowl champion Colts on Sept. 16 and concluding Dec. 30 in Indianapolis.

The schedule includes five playoff teams in six games, and the Titans will play in Denver during the regular season for the first time since 1992 with their first trip to Invesco Field. That game will match up two of the top three quarterbacks drafted last year with Denver?s Jay Cutler.

Tennessee also will visit Kansas City for the first time since 1995 on Dec. 16. They also visit Tampa Bay on Oct. 14 in their first trip to Raymond James Stadium as part of a two-game road trip that also goes to Houston on Oct. 21.

The Titans also will have three straight home games in the middle of the season for the first time since 2000 when they hosted Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Cleveland. This year, that three-game homestand features Oakland on Oct. 28, Carolina on Nov. 4 and Jacksonville on Nov. 11.

This will be the Carolina Panthers? first trip to Nashville, and San Diego?s inaugural visit will be Dec. 9. First-time visitors are 6-21 at the Titans? home field.