Titans looking to rebound against Patriots
Mounting injuries make uphill climb of today’s game
The Tennessee Titans (8-3) travel to face the New England Patriots (7-4) at Gillette Stadium on Sunday (noon CT, CBS) in hopes of bouncing back after a deflating loss to the Houston Texans.
Tennessean sports writer Ben Arthur breaks down the game and offers his prediction:
Titans’ offense vs. Patriots’ defense
The Titans’ offense is a shell of itself because of injuries. Stars Derrick Henry (foot) and Julio Jones (hamstring) are on injured reserve. Pro Bowler A.J. Brown is out due to a chest injury. And another one of its top receivers, Marcus Johnson, landed on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday with a hamstring issue.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill has little help around him at the skill positions and hasn’t given Tennessee the consistent play it has needed with Henry sidelined. He threw a career-high four interceptions last week.
A Henry-less backfield and a decimated wide receiver group will take the field in Foxborough against a Patriots team that leads the NFL in scoring defense (16.1 points/game allowed) and ranks third in total defense 313.2 yards/game allowed).
Who has the edge? Patriots
Titans’ defense vs. Patriots’ offense
After struggling with contain against Texans dual-threat quarterback Tyrod Taylor, the Titans’ front four could find more success against Patriots rookie signal caller Mac Jones.
Jones has been the most accurate and effective of the league’s rookie QBS, but he’s a traditional pocket passer, which plays to the favor of the Titans’ pass rush. Tennessee ranks ninth in the league with 27 sacks.
If New England’s defense can give Jones short fields, making his job easier, it could be a long day for the Titans. The Patriots lead the NFL in average starting field position (own 32.6-yard line). The Texans last week began four drives in Titans territory thanks to offensive miscues – and a muffed punt – leading to 13 points.
Self-inflicted wounds leading to short fields for this Patriots’ offense, which ranks sixth in scoring (27.33), will make life more difficult for a Titans’ defense that’s already tasked with carrying the load for a banged-up team.
Who has the edge? Titans
Score prediction
Patriots 28, Titans 16: The Titans have a propensity for winning games no one thinks they’ll win (think the Bills and Rams games this year). But the Texans game showed the mounting injuries on offense are growing too tough to overcome. Tennessee heads into its muchneeded bye week on a two-game losing streak.
BUCCANEERS (7-3) AT COLTS (6-5)
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox
Tipico Sportsbook line: Bucs by 31⁄2 Buccaneers’ keys: They need to keep the ball safe. The Colts lead the NFL with 25 takeaways. The line has to keep QB Tom Brady clean so he can find holes against the zone-heavy defense.
Colts’ keys: The offense starts with RB Jonathan Taylor, the NFL leader in rushing yards (1,122) and rushing TDS (13).
JETS (2-8) AT TEXANS (2-8)
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS
Tipico Sportsbook line: Texans by 21⁄2 Jets’ keys: DT Quinnen Williams has been able to generate interior pressure. Stopping the run will force Houston to play one-dimensional. Texans’ keys: Houston has won the turnover battle in its wins. QB Tyrod Taylor showed in Week 11 he can protect the ball and use his
legs to supplement the running game .
EAGLES (5-6) AT GIANTS (3-7)
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox
Tipico Sportsbook line: Eagles by 31⁄2 Eagles’ keys: New York is susceptible to runs up the middle. Pounding the ball with RBS Miles Sanders and Boston Scott will draw the safeties in, allowing TE Dallas Goedert to feast.
Giants’ keys: The Giants must find ways to keep QB Daniel Jones upright and give him time to read the field.
PANTHERS (5-6) AT DOLPHINS (4-7) TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox
Tipico Sportsbook line: Panthers by 21⁄2 Panthers’ keys: The running game needs to be on point; QB Cam Newton and RB Christian Mccaffrey combined for 105 yards and a TD in the Week 11 win.
Dolphins’ keys: The Dolphins need to pick up their offensive output; that unit hasn't done anything exceptionally well this season.
TITANS (8-3) AT PATRIOTS (7-4)
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS
Tipico Sportsbook line: Patriots by 61⁄2 Titans’ keys: Considering how good the Patriots have been in defending the run, looking extremely stout in recent games, it's not smart for the Titans to think they'll have success.
Patriots’ keys: They need to establish an early lead. New England plays its best when it can rely on its defense.
STEELERS (5-4-1) AT BENGALS (6-4) TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS
Tipico Sportsbook line: Bengals by 31⁄2 Steelers’ keys: When the teams met in Week 3, QB Ben Roethlisberger was sacked four times and threw two picks over 58 attempts and his defense let up three passing scores.
Bengals’ keys: More looks for TE C.J. Uzomah could highlight a way other teams have hurt the Steelers' defense.
FALCONS (4-6) AT JAGUARS (2-8)
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS
Tipico Sportsbook wire: Falcons by 11⁄2 Falcons’ keys: Clean up protection issues for QB Matt Ryan, who was hit or sacked eight times in Week 11. Jaguars’ keys: They've hurt themselves by putting QB Trevor Lawrence in thirdand-long situations and helping offenses stay on the field with crucial penalties.
CHARGERS (6-4) AT BRONCOS (5-5) TV: 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS
Tipico Sportsbook line: Chargers by 21⁄2 Chargers’ keys: The Broncos' run defense has struggled lately, great news for Los Angeles RB Austin Ekeler, who's on pace to have his best season.
Broncos’ keys: QB Teddy Bridgewater has done a good job protecting the ball, but he's not going to beat a team with his arm.
RAMS (7-3) AT PACKERS (8-3)
TV: 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox
Tipico Sportsbook line: Rams by 11⁄2 Rams’ keys: The Rams need to keep QB Matthew Stafford protected after he was sacked a total of seven times in consecutive losses. Packers’ keys: Protecting QB Aaron Rodgers with a makeshift line is the first step. On defense, the secondary has to play better vs. WRS Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr.
VIKINGS (5-5) AT 49ERS (5-5)
TV: 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox
Tipico Sportsbook line: 49ers by 31⁄2 Vikings’ keys: Put the offense on the shoulders of RB Dalvin Cook. If he churns out yards early, he could allow QB Kirk Cousins to work off play-action and tear up a shoddy 49ers secondary. 49ers’ keys: The Niners' defense will rely heavily on LBS Fred Warner and Azeez Al-shaair to slow the run.
BROWNS (6-5) AT RAVENS (7-3)
TV: 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday, NBC
Tipico Sportsbook line: Ravens by 31⁄2 Browns’ keys: Cleveland will have to get off to a fast start, or at least hold its own vs. the Baltimore offense. Ravens’ keys: Baltimore will need to use a balanced attack on offense to beat a Cleveland defense that has plenty of stars on it but hasn't lived up to expectations.
SEAHAWKS (3-7) AT WASHINGTON (4-6) TV: 8:15 p.m. ET Monday, ESPN
Tipico Sportsbook line: WFT by 1⁄2 point Seahawks’ keys: Seattle and QB Russell Wilson must find ways to get top playmakers WRS Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf more involved as Washington's secondary has struggled.
Washington’s keys: Washington should still continue to lean heavily on the run, setting up play-action.