NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans are no stranger to being overlooked when it comes to the Vegas betting odds. Tennessee opens the season as a 4.5-point road underdog against the Chicago Bears this Sunday.

It is a role that they embrace.

“Since I’ve been here, we’ve always been the underdog,” said defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. “No one expects us to do anything, but I think that the mindset we have in this locker room is ‘We have enough.’ Everyone in our locker room believes it. We can compete with anybody in this league no matter who’s on their roster.”

Following seasons that produced only seven wins in 2022 and six wins last year, the Titans projected win total for 2024 comes in at 6.5 at nearly every sportsbook.

This, despite near top-of-market offseason acquisitions of receiver Calvin Ridley, corner L’Jarius Sneed, and center Lloyd Cushenberry as foundational pieces. Tennessee traded with the Los Angeles Rams to bolster their linebacker group, adding Ernest Jones IV just last week. They are also counting on left tackle JC Latham, nose guard T’Vondre Sweat and receiver Jha’Quan Jackson to be instant impact rookies as well.

Quarterback Will Levis echoed Simmons’ sentiments on Wednesday after practice.

“No, we're just worried about what's going on in this building,” said Levis. “Like you said, we know that this group is good enough to go out and beat anyone in this league. So, we're going to let people talk about whatever they want to. But, we're going to talk to ourselves and ourselves only and let our play speak.”

It is a huge opportunity to turn a narrative that figures to follow Tennessee all season on its head.

The Titans were favored in only one game ( vs New England Patriots), according to DraftKings. Coach Brian Callahan’s team has the longest odds of any club in the AFC South to win the division (+1000). To make the playoffs, you can get Tennessee at +400 before the season begins.

“I can't wait to see what our team is,” Callahan said on Monday. “I think we've had glimpses of what I think we're capable of over the course of training camp in the preseason. Again, we haven't faced a starting NFL defense yet and that's okay, other than our own in a little bit of Seattle. But I do think that's the part that I'm looking forward to, to see what see what we are. And that's the exciting part about every season is you get a chance to learn, your team is going to grow, it's going to change. And that's the fun process. That's the journey part of it that I enjoy the most, and we've got ourselves a journey ahead of us. There's no doubt.”

Tennessee returns to action at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sept. 8. Watch/listen to Titans Radio's pregame coverage starting at 9am CT on 104.5 The Zone in Nashville.

Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.