The Tennessee Titans are coming off of an anemic loss to the Indianapolis Colts in their home opener and are looking to right the ship on Thursday night when they take on the struggling Jacksonville Jaguars.
Although the Jaguars are 0-2, they are at home, and they are still a divisional opponent, so this won't be an easy win for the Titans.
Jacksonville's defense may no longer be as stout as it as two years ago, but it remains solid, and Jalen Ramsey will be on the field and will probably be covering No. 1 receiver, Corey Davis.
That means Titans tight end Delanie Walker could be pivotal in Tennessee snagging a victory.
Walker has been the Titans' leading pass-catcher, as he has hauled in nine receptions for 94 yards and a couple of touchdowns over Tennessee's first two games.
Even at 35 years old, Walker is one of the most productive tight ends in the NFL, as his versatility makes him a tough cover.
We know that Marcus Mariota has been struggling for two years now, so Walker should represent a very reliable security blanket for him throughout the season.
Mariota certainly relied on Walker an awful lot in Week 1 in a blowout win over the Cleveland Browns, and I expect more of the same in this Week 3 AFC South showdown.
Ramsey and A.J. Bouye represent one of the best cornerback tandems in the league, so the Titans may have to make good use of the middle of the field and attack the Jaguars' safeties.
That's where Walker comes into play.
This is probably going to be a low-scoring game, as these are two smashmouth teams that depend on their ground games to generate offense. For that reason, short-yardage plays may end up deciding the outcome.
And who better to go to in short-yardage situations than your tight end?
The Titans missed Walker dearly last year, as he played in just one game before suffering a gruesome ankle injury. Prior to 2018, he had made three straight Pro Bowl appearances.
It seems like he has picked up right where he left off this year, and he may end up being the difference in a potential Tennessee win in Jacksonville on Thursday evening.
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