With the Tennessee Titans Week 9 matchup being against the Los Angeles Rams, all eyes will be watching on Sunday Night Football to see who the best team in the NFL is this year. Both franchises have been red hot lately, which means we should be in for a doozy. We'll be going over this Titans-Rams game with some of our Titans Week 9 predictions in mind.
Tennessee's defense has steadily improved recently, as they've looked impressive against some of the better offenses in the league. It'll be a tough game though, as Matthew Stafford and the Rams have been electric throughout the season. However, the Titans perform their best when they're doubted, making this an intriguing matchup.
Although the offense will be without Derrick Henry, the Titans still have some solid weapons to work with. The front office brought in Adrian Peterson and he should be a nice compliment to Jeremy McNichols. Additionally, Tennessee will be relying on their passing game much more, so we could see a big game out of Ryan Tannehill and AJ Brown.
With that said, here are four bold Titans Week 9 predictions for their game against the Los Angeles Rams.
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Titans Week 9 Predictions
4. Titans defense surprisingly shuts down the Rams passing attack
The pass rush has been phenomenal of late, but the secondary is still adjusting. Tennessee is dealing with multiple injuries on this side of the ball, which doesn't bode well for their chances against the Rams. Even so, the Titans defense has followed the “bend but don't break” mantra and it's been working.
For the Titans to win this game, they have to get into Matthew Stafford's face and make him uncomfortable. LA doesn't have the best interior offensive lineman, which means we should see the Titans attack the middle as often as possible. This should be a key to victory for Tennessee as they aim to upset the high-powered Rams.
3. Adrian Peterson and Jeremy McNichols combine for 100+ rushing yards and 1 touchdown
Nobody can replace Derrick Henry. However, the Titans don't necessarily need an exact replica of their superstar running back. They brought in Adrian Peterson to fulfill their needs, while Jeremy McNichols will receive an expanded role.
Between the two, the Titans could generate a solid one-two punch out of the backfield. The offensive line is built for run blocking, which means Adrian Peterson will have the best group in front of him in recent years. The run game isn't dead yet, as the Titans could surprise the Rams with a consistent rushing attack.
2. Ryan Tannehill proves he can lead the team without Derrick Henry
Nearly everyone (outside of Titans fans) will say that Tennessee “just runs the ball with Derrick Henry.” There is some truth to that, but Ryan Tannehill has been a phenomenal quarterback since taking over as the Titans' starter. Tannehill has two elite receivers and a competent run game to relieve him of any pressure. Look for Ryan Tannehill to prove the haters wrong on Sunday night.
1. AJ Brown erupts for 150+ yards and 2 touchdowns
He has an incredibly difficult matchup, as AJ Brown is pitted against Jalen Ramsey. This should be an exciting competition, as they're two of the best within their position. Even so, Brown has been on fire recently. With Derrick Henry out of the picture, the offense will look for him to step up and become the focal point of the offense. If AJ Brown can manage that, the Titans should be in good hands.