For the second consecutive postseason, the Baltimore Ravens will open its playoff campaign against the long-time rival Tennessee Titans. However, the tables have been turned all the way around in 2020-21 as the No. 4 seeded Titans will now host the No. 5 seeded Ravens in Nashville after being forced to capture a victory on the road in Baltimore one season ago.
Of course, the Ravens were the top seed in the AFC in 2019-20, a team that just so happened to encounter a red-hot Titans squad that couldn't be stopped regardless of where the game was played. Flash forward to one year later and the Ravens the lower-seeded team, but are also the hotter team at the present moment. As a result, these two AFC powerhouses should be gearing up to put on quite the showdown in Music City come Sunday afternoon.
It is also worth noting that the Titans and Ravens once again met in Baltimore during the 2020-21 regular season with Tennessee emerging victorious yet again. Even so, that 30-24 overtime victory by the Titans back on Nov. 22 is still no doubt on the minds of the Ravens ahead of this weekend.
1. Ryan Tannehill will score at least three TDs
Because of the presence of Titans running back Derrick Henry, quarterback Ryan Tannehill rarely receives the credit that he deserves for his career revival in Nashville over the course of the last two seasons. After taking over under center as the team's starting quarterback midway through last season, the former Miami Dolphins signal-caller led the Titans all the way to the AFC Championship Game before upping the ante even further this time around en route to a stellar season and a divisional crown.
Because the Ravens' defense—like many units before them—will be keying almost solely on the aforementioned Henry, Tannehill will be able to both throw the football and utilize his legs via the ground game. As a result, and with Henry slated to line up alongside a slew of talented wide receivers and tight ends, Tannehill will score at least three total touchdowns come Sunday afternoon against the Ravens.
2. Derrick Henry will tally at least 150 yards
Despite the fact that every defense that plays against the Titans has running back Derrick Henry at the forefront of their respective game plans, no opponent in 2020-21 has truly been able to stop the league's most vicious rusher. Not only that, but King Henry topped the 2,000-yard rushing plateau while plowing through all 16 of the Titans' opponents thie season—the Ravens included. The Ravens couldn't stop Henry last postseason in Baltimore and they were unable to do so for a second time at home during the 2020-21 regular season.
With Henry even throwing a touchdown pass in Baltimore in the 2019-20 divisional round, the Titans workhorse running back then produced 28 carries for 133 rushing yards and a touchdown via the ground, which came in overtime to solidify his team's Nov. 22 win on the road. There is no reason why Henry won't run right through the Ravens for a third consecutive game, especially after his performance in Week 17 against the rival Houston Texans. Henry will easily surpass 100 yards on the ground come Sunday with 150 yards being the more likely target.
3. Titans defense will force multiple turnovers
It is no secret that the Titans have one of the worst defenses in the entire league as this AFC South franchise was carried—and then some—by its high-powered offense all season long. However, some of the Titans' misfortune on defense was the result of a key injury within the team's secondary as cornerback Adoree' Jackson missed the majority of the 2020-21 campaign. With Jackson back in the fold and the Titans previously acquiring another veteran defensive back in Desmond King, formerly of the Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee has been able to create some timely turnovers despite its lack of pass rush.
With the tandem of Jackson and King slotted alongside safeties Kevin Byard and Kenny Vaccaro in addition to cornerback Malcolm Butler, who is currently in the midst of an incredible season, expect the Tennessee secondary to show up against quarterback Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. It is worth noting that the Titans' defense stifled Jackson and company last postseason with both Byard and Vaccaro picking him off in Baltimore. If the Titans are going to win this game, Tennessee must create more than one turnover on Sunday afternoon.
4. Titans will defeat Ravens for third time in last two seasons
When the Titans entered the 2019-20 postseason as the sixth and final seed in the AFC, the upstart franchise was not expected to deliver once the playoffs officially kicked off. However, Tennessee had very different plans as the Titans initially defeated the heralded New England Patriots in Foxborough, effectively ending current Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady's time with the franchise.
Following the team's march through Foxborough and before its trip to the AFC title game, the Titans made a pit stop in Maryland to take on the top-seeded Ravens in the divisional round. Not only did the Titans knock off the surging Ravens on the road but Tennessee did so in impressive fashion. With the Titans leading that game from start to finish, Tennessee would then be forced to return to Baltimore during the 2020-21 regular season.
Although this year's matchup was much closer as the Titans ultimately prevailed in overtime, it just appears as though Tennessee continues to have Baltimore's number. With these two long-time AFC rivals slated to duke it out once more come Sunday afternoon in Nashville, the Titans will again be victorious thanks to the presence of quarterback Ryan Tannehill, running back Derrick Henry and the rest of the team's potent offensive attack. The Titans quite literally need to play the slightest defense if its offense is firing on all cylinders, which has become commonplace in 2020-21.
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