Raiders at Titans

A prediction of 2,500 yards rushing this NFL season seems ludicrous since the record is 2,105 yards.

But when Chris Johnson sets that projection, it’s worth taking serious. Johnson opens defense of his rushing title when his Tennessee Titans host the Oakland Raiders Sunday at 10 a.m. (PT).

The Titans currently are six-point NFL spread favorites with the 'total' at 40 ½.

Johnson led the NFL with 2,006 rushing yards in 2009, finishing the season with 11 straight 100-yard ground games. Barry Sanders holds the record with 14 consecutive 100-yard rushing games. Johnson ran the ball an NFL-high 358 times, averaging 5.6 yards per rush attempt behind one of the best offensive lines in football.

“The goal is 2,500 so I am going to stick to that,” Johnson was quoted as saying. “I feel like it is very realistic. People didn’t think 2,000 was realistic when I set the goal last year and I made a lot of people believers, so I am going to stick to that.”

Johnson already owns the record of three touchdowns of 85-plus yards in a career. He’s the only player to accomplish that feat.

Oakland finished 29th in run defense last year, but the Raiders believe they have shored up their rush defense adding former Jacksonville tackle John Henderson and drafting linebacker Rolando McClain of Alabama.

Tennessee began last year losing its first six games. The Titans rebounded by winning eight of their last 10 games after coach Jeff Fisher switched quarterbacks from Kerry Collins to Vince Young.

The Raiders are finally excited about their quarterback spot after going 7-18 in 25 starts with JaMarcus Russell behind center. Oakland hasn’t won more than five games since its Super Bowl appearance eight years ago, a direct contrast to Al Davis’ motto of commitment to excellence.

Oddsmakers believe Oakland will be improved assigning the Raiders a regular-season ‘over/under’ win total of 6 ½. The Raiders were 5-9 last year. Tennessee’s win total is 8 ½. The teams last met in 2007 with the Titans winning 13-9 at home.

Some believe the Raiders can’t help but be improved after finally parting ways with Russell, who was paid an obscene $39 million after being selected No. 1 overall in the 2007 draft.

New Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell was maligned in Washington where he was 20-32 as a starter there. In Oakland, though, Campbell is being hailed almost as a savior.

Campbell certainly is an upgrade on Russell, Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye. Campbell should mesh well with first-year offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, who favors a balanced attack and doesn’t like to take big risks.

The 28-year-old, 6-foot-5, 230-pound Campbell has taken a pounding being sacked 102 times during the past three seasons, including 43 times last year, behind the Redskins’ injury-ravaged offensive line.

Early money has been on the Raiders and the ‘under.’ Tennessee opened seven-point favorites at some places with the ‘over/under’ at 41.

Oakland’s passing game is in transition right now and lead running back Michael Bush has a broken left thumb. Chaz Schilens was expected to be the Raiders’ top wide receiver, but he’s out with a knee injury.

Linebacker David Thornton is out with a hip injury, but other than that the Titans are healthy.

The Titans have covered nine of their last 11 games in September. They are 6-2 ATS in season-openers.

The ‘over’ is 10-4-1 in the Titans’ past 15 home contests.

Tennessee went 2-2 straight-up and ATS during preseason. Oakland won three of its four preseason matchups going 2-1-1 ATS.

The early weather forecast is for temperatures in the 70s with a chance of thunderstorms.