Blue-collar Titans figure to roll

Without much hype and with a roster of blue-collar players, Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher continues to build the NFL's best team nobody is talking about -- and it might be the league's best team, period.

How is he doing it?

Fisher is working with a recycled quarterback (Kerry Collins), an anonymous rookie running back (Chris Johnson) and a defense that barely has a recognizable name to the average fan.

None of that matters. The underrated Titans, 5-0 straight up and against the spread, are the league's last undefeated team because Fisher understands he can win with an offense that's just good enough and a defense that's dominant.

Tennessee leads the league in scoring defense, allowing 11.2 points per game. Tackle Albert Haynesworth stuffs the run and has five sacks, and Cortland Finnegan and Michael Griffin share the league lead in interceptions with four each.

Collins' passing numbers are not impressive, and it's tough to trust him for the long haul. He's as steady as former starter Vince Young was erratic, though, and the results are solid.

The Titans are not high on style points, but they should cover 81/2 points on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

The Chiefs (1-4) are banking their slim hopes on the return of Brodie Croyle, the Kim Kardashian of NFL quarterbacks -- in other words, he has no talent and his popularity is a mystery.

The Tennessee defense should be all over Croyle, and to make matters more difficult for Kansas City, star running back Larry Johnson will sit out for violating team rules.

The Chiefs are 1-6 against the spread in their past seven games at home, where they have been outgained in 10 consecutive games.

And to top it off for the Titans, here's a stat from Playbook.com: Undefeated favorites off a bye week are 15-1 the past seven years.

Four more plays for Week 7 (Home team in CAPS):

• DOLPHINS (-21/2) over Ravens: This game will be no fun to watch for those who like offense. Baltimore is No. 1 in the league in total defense. Ravens rookie quarterback Joe Flacco has one touchdown pass and seven interceptions. Miami is improving on defense, and veteran quarterback Chad Pennington and running back Ronnie Brown can produce enough points to cover.

• Saints (+3) over PANTHERS: New Orleans' Drew Brees leads the league with 1,993 yards passing, but Carolina's defense ranks No. 3 against the pass. Running back Reggie Bush, wideout Marques Colston and tight end Jeremy Shockey are probable to play for the Saints. The Panthers are at home, but does that matter? In this strange series, the road team is 10-2 straight up and 12-0 against the spread.

• Jets (-3) over RAIDERS: It's not asking too much of Brett Favre to outplay Raiders rookie JaMarcus Russell, who completed 13 of 35 passes in last week's 31-point loss at New Orleans. The Jets will win if they stop the run. Oakland is 2-11 against the spread at home.

• REDSKINS (-7) over Browns: Washington's Clinton Portis is the league's rushing leader with 643 yards. Cleveland's defense ranks 25th against the run. The Redskins are a good team off a bad loss. The Browns aren't as good as they looked in Monday's upset of the Giants.

Last week: 2-3 against the spread

Season: 17-11-2

Review-Journal sportswriter Matt Youmans can be reached at 387-2907 or myoumans@reviewjournal.com.