We used to go through entire generations of NFL players without the New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans competing against each other. The two teams met once every three years until the league expanded in the early 2000’s, at which point those games were spaced out in four-year increments.
That changed radically in 2021 with the introduction of a 17-game schedule that put more AFC-NFC matchups in the rotation. The Saints and Titans have used that opportunity to forge a fun geographic rivalry. They’ve split the last four games 2-2, with the Saints losing a close one 23-21 in 2021.
Buy Saints TicketsThe Titans own the all-time series record at 9-6-1, going back to their early franchise history when they were still known as the Houston Oilers. Preseason games aren’t often remembered but the Saints have played more of them with the Titans franchise (30) than many other teams.
It’s interesting to see a rivalry kind of organically develop here. Nashville is easier for Saints fans to visit than most NFL cities, being a seven-and-a-half hour drive from New Orleans (with some flights clocking in at just a few hours). And when they haven’t been competing on the field the two teams have been often targeting the same players in the offseason, like cornerback Caleb Farley in the 2021 NFL draft or free agent wide receiver Adam Humphries in 2019. Janoris Jenkins landed with the Titans after leaving the Saints. So did Kenny Vaccaro.
And so did their longtime nemesis Julio Jones. The Saints weren’t able to cut a trade for Malcolm Butler back in the day and he wound up signing with the Titans. Former Saints head coach Jim Haslett was on Mike Vrabel’s coaching staff for a few years before he took over the XFL’s Seattle Sea Dragons. You see all these connections? That’s history.
Hopefully the Saints can get a win on Sunday to tip that all-time record a little closer in their favor. It’ll take some time to even things out completely, but a victory at the Caesars Superdome this week would go a long way.
