It’s been a rough week for fans of the Tennessee Titans – the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. The team climbed to #1 in the AFC – not the South, the whole damn conference – after defeating the Indianapolis Colts for the second time this season. The next morning, we learned that MVP candidate Derrick Henry had fractured his metamucil or something. He wouldn’t be back until the playoffs, if at all this season. Yeah – we were ready to walk right off the ledge. But, it took a few days to simmer down, and we were all comforted by the knowledge that our team had nearly made it through the toughest stretch of its season and already had, effectively, a four-game lead in the AFC South.
There’s still plenty of reason for optimism with this team, but it might take a little time to recalibrate for life after Henry. That’s why I think it’s a tall order to ask this team to go across the country and win this game. Possible? Fuck yeah. Look at how this team has shown a propensity for winning games with their backs against the wall under Mike Vrabel. Likely? I don’t know. But, Titans fans shouldn’t be concerned for the bigger picture in 2021. I thought this was an interesting Xs and Os match-up before Henry went down, and I still don’t think it’s all doom and gloom. I do think there’s a path to a Titans victory…so let’s dive in.
Titans Keys to Victory: @ Rams, 11/7/21
*Manufacture a run game – It’s there if they can jell quickly enough. This Rams defense is giving up some yardage, and the opportunity to run on ’em is there. It’s just a matter of who it’s going to be between Jeremy McNichols, D’Onta Foreman, and the newly acquired Adrian Peterson. But, if they can get some sort of semblance out of a decent run game, then it’ll make the whole Titans offense go through play-action. And, the Titans like to control the time of possession. They can still do that if they can run the ball. It might just take the effort of three men to come up with anything close to what Henry commanded on his own.
*Pass pro – I don’t know how much confidence Dillon Radunz will inspire against Aaron Donald with Nate Davis out, and let’s be real, pass pro has been a bit inconsistent this season even with a healthy offensive line. But, the reality is that protecting Ryan Tannehill is going to be of paramount importance on Sunday night. Losing Henry means that everyone on this offense is going to have to step up a little bit.
*Confuse Stafford – I know I joke about Sean McVay and how everyone who has ever had a cup of coffee with the guy ends up being a head coach in the NFL, but the man is a football genius at coming out in formations that get defenses to tip their hands. Matthew Stafford is excellent at identifying it in real time and identifying where the pressure is coming from. They scheme up mismatches. Shane Bowen and company need to have an ace up their sleeve to try and rattle Stafford and throw him off his game. Maybe that’s just pure power with a four-man rush that has been effective so far this season – just dominate the line of scrimmage and get in his head a little more. I don’t know – I think this is the type of game that the Titans defense can’t lose before the ball is snapped.
*Tackle – I usually only put together three keys to victory, but this is going to require a mammoth effort, and so I’m adding one. This YAC bois for the Rams are going to get their catches – Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp are two of the best route-running sure-handed wide receivers in the game. But, they can also make you pay in the YAC department. This Titans defense can’t make it easy on ’em. Tackle. Tackle. Tackle.
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If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to The Unofficial Titans Podcast on Apple Podcasts, follow us on Spotify, or simply smash that play button on the embed below to check out the latest episode. On this week’s episode, I welcomed in Doc Holliday from Bleav in Rams: Ramblings and The Doc Holliday Show to break down this Rams team.
Listen to “Ep. 83: Previewing the Los Angeles Rams with Doc Holliday” on Spreaker.Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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