The New Orleans Saints travel to Tennessee to take on the Titans with playoff implications and positioning on the line.
The Titans come in at 8-6 and winners of six out of their last seven after losing the Texans last week. The Saints come in at 11-3 off a win at home that saw Drew Brees break yet another NFL record.
The Titans are holding out hope of securing a spot in the postseason. Currently behind the Steelers for the sixth and final spot in the AFC, the Titans would most likely need to win out and get some help to secure the final Wild Card spot. The Saints are currently the No. 3 seed in the NFC. To secure a first-round bye and perhaps even home field advantage throughout the entire playoffs, they likely need to win out and hope for some help.
Keys to the game
Saints
- Get in his face
Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill has been on an impressive roll in the eight games he’s started. Last week, the Texans’ defense disrupted his rhythm at just the right times. The Saints’ defense needs to do the same.
- Secure the ball
The Titans’ defense has been an opportunistic bunch. They have a knack for poking the ball out at just the right time. Last week, they picked off two passes in the red zone.
- Don’t keep him in too long
If the Titans get the upper hand, Sean Payton may want to pull Brees. After all, they are already in the playoffs. You don’t want to derail your postseason run before it starts.
Titans
- Limit Michael Thomas
Michael Thomas is the best receiver in the NFL and he’s essentially unstoppable. The Titans need to crack the code and force the Saints to use other players.
- Get to Brees
As the Falcons and 49ers proved, Brees is slightly less effective with the defense getting to him consistently. The Titans’ defense needs to copy that.
- Leave it all out there
A loss here and the season is over. It doesn’t help that Derrick Henry will be inactive, so the rest of the cast needs to give it their all. Ryan Tannehill needs to not make mistakes and the receivers and tight ends have to catch the ball.
Game Info
Date: Dec. 22, 2019
Start time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Stadium: Nissan Stadium
TV Info: FOX
Betting Odds
Point Spread: Saints -3
Over/Under: 50.5
The Saints are favored on the road by three points.
Prediction
The Titans come in as the underdog at home against a solid team, similar to when they hosted the Chiefs. They won that game. I think the Titans will give everything they have, but Derrick Henry being inactive will be painful.
Tannehill and the passing game will make some big chunk plays. Drew Brees will be Drew Brees, but the Titans’ defense will get after him all game. Michael Thomas will have his usual game but be kept out of the end zone.
The game will come down to defense and a late-game turnover in the Titans’ favor.
Final Score: Titans 31, Saints 27
