The Tennessee Titans are coming off an embarrassing loss to the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football and are 0-2 ahead of Week 3. To make matters worse, they’re dealing with several injuries and the Jacksonville Jaguars have a one-game lead in the AFC South.
On the bright side, the Titans will be welcoming a winless Las Vegas Raiders team Sunday. While it won’t be easy, Tennesse can muster their first win of the season but for that to happen, their playmaker must show out in Week 3. With that in mind, here are five bold predictions for the game.
No. 5 Titans RB Derrick Henry will bounce back and go over 100 rushing yds
There’s no doubt Derrick Henry is one of the biggest disappointments of the 2022 season. As recently as 2020, he was the best running back in the whole league. Even last year, he was his dominant self. However, he suffered a foot injury that forced him to miss nine games. He was back for the Titans’ playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals but didn’t have much success running the ball, toting the rock 20 times for 62 yards.
Henry’s picked up where he left off last year and that’s not a good thing. Over the last two games, he’s racked up a mediocre 107 yards and is averaging a subpar 3.1 yards per carry. Fortunately, he has a favorable matchup in Week 3. The Raiders’ defense ranks 16th in yards allowed and has given up two touchdowns this year.
Moreover, Las Vegas has already ruled out linebacker Denzel Perryman, one of their best players against the run, so expect Henry to have a breakout game and log more than 100 yards Sunday.
No. 4 The Titans defense will double their takeaways totals in Week 3
The Titans are off to a slow start when it comes to takeaways this season. So far, they have two. An interception by Amani Hooker and a fumble recovery by Tre Avery. On the other hand, defensive players, such as safety Kevin Byard, haven’t created any big plays. That will change Sunday when Byard snags an interception.
Moreover, defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons will sack Derek Carr and force a fumble. The Raiders quarterbacks’ struggles to hold onto the ball will surface in Week 3. Last year, Tennessee recorded 22 takeaways, and while outside linebacker Harold Landry is out for the season and Bud Dupree won’t suit up Sunday, the rest of the defense will pick up the slack and create over 20 turnovers again.
No. 3 The Raiders won’t log a single sack against the Titans
The Titans’ offensive line has surrendered three sacks this season and they will be without left tackle Taylor Lewan, who suffered a knee injury against the Bills. On paper, this has the potential to be bad news for quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby is one of the best in the business and he has a solid bookend pass rusher in Chandler Jones.
The problem is that Jones has been a non-factor so far and Las Vegas lacks impact players in the trenches. This has allowed opposing teams to devote extra attention to Crosby. Even without Lewan, the Titans should be able to neutralize the Raiders’ front four and keep Tannehill’s jersey clean.
2. Titans WR Treylon Burks will haul in 100 yards and one touchdown
Wide receiver A.J. Brown, now with the Philadelphia Eagles, is proving he deserved to get a top-market contract, and looking back, the Titans should have paid him what he asked. To fill the void left by Brown’s trade, they traded for Robert woods and used a first-round pick on Treylon Burks.
In two games, the duo has caught a combined 12 receptions for 154 yards, with Burks accounting for seven of those catches. The talent is there, it’s just a matter of giving him a bigger workload, which will happen against the Raiders.
1. Ryan Tannehill will go over 250 yards with 2 TDs and no INTs
With Derrick Henry playing at a high level, the Titans have had a hard time moving the ball. Heading into Week 3, their offense ranks 27th in total yards and 28th in points scored. If they want to get back at the AFC South, they will need to start scoring points and racking up wins. That’s where Ryan Tannehill comes in.
The veteran quarterback has completed less than 60 percent of his passes with two touchdowns and two interceptions. That kind of output won’t help you win many games. On the bright side, Tannehill has been a capable signal-caller for the Titans and he might currently be undergoing a slump. But he will put it all together and throw for two touchdowns with no interceptions against the Raiders.