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The Carolina Panthers may be 3.5-point favorites to defeat the Tennessee Titans at home on Sunday, but the visitors are all too able to perform the upset. Coming off the heels of two wins, the Titans are rolling. They should continue to do so for these four reasons.
4. Derrick Henry and the run-game
Tailback Derrick Henry — as most estimated heading into the season — is on-pace to have a career year. At the mid-way point of the season, the Titans' lead back has 159 touches for 709 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns. Over a full season, that would be 318 touches for 1,418 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns.
Why does that matter heading into Sunday's matchup? The Panthers have struggled to stop the run all season long. Last week's five ground touchdown onslaught from the San Francisco 49ers is an exclamation point to that notion. Carolina is 27th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (135.1) and dead-last in touchdowns allowed (12).
3. Red-hot red zone play
Quietly, the Titans have been efficient in the red zone since Ryan Tannehill became the full-time starter. In the last two games, with Tannehill leading the way, Tennessee is a perfect six of six in the red zone. Their newfound ability to score in the most crucial area of the field has led to back-to-back wins and has catapulted them into the top-three in NFL red zone efficiency.
While the Titans are scoring when they want in the red zone, the Panthers are struggling to stop their opponents in the same area. Their 66.67% red zone opponent touchdown rate is 29th in the NFL. If Tennessee wants to keep up with an offense that can score in bunches at home, they will exploit the red zone mismatch.
2. Improved pass protection
Just as the red zone offense has been enhanced with Tannehill at the helm, the Titans' pass protection also looks markedly better. After allowing 25 sacks to Marcus Mariota in the first six weeks, the Titans have allowed just five in the last two to their new starter.
Tennessee's improvement as a pass protection team can partially thank Pro Bowl left tackle Taylor Lewan shaking off the rust after serving a four-game suspension. However, the offensive line has gelled as of late, while Tannehill shows better pocket awareness than Mariota.
The Titans' blocking unit must continue their good play against the Panthers. Carolina is second in the NFL in sacks (30) and can pressure a quarterback from any direction.
1. A shaky Panthers offensive line
While the Titans offensive line has shown improvement as of late, the Panthers' is still a shaky unit. Carolina has allowed 23 sacks on the year, ninth-most in the NFL. Last week, quarterback Kyle Allen showed what pressure could do to him: it can rattle him. Against the 49ers, he threw three interceptions with constant pressure getting to him.
The Titans must force those mistakes. It doesn't hurt that they can, especially with the emergence of interior lineman Jeffery Simmons. On the year, Tennessee is 12th in sacks (22). Though they need to create pressure consistently, they should, theoretically, be able to get to Allen, as he sits behind a so-so blocking unit.
