Titans-Texans MNF Prediction: Will the Real Tennessee Titans Please Stand Up?
If anyone can figure out the Tennessee Titans, please let me know. Two weeks ago, the Titans completely shut down the New England Patriots, who at the time were playing some of their best ball of the season.
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Last week, the Titans traveled to Indianapolis and were embarrassed by Andrew Luck and the Colts 38-10. The Titans were able to beat the Texans in Week 2 this year, without Marcus Mariota, but that Texans team is completely different than the one they are putting on the field now. Tennessee currently sits at 5-5 and has their biggest game of the season sitting right in front of them. A win on Monday gets them right back into the AFC playoff hunt and AFC South division race. They will be +3.5 underdogs when they travel to Houston for Monday Night Football.
Titans Should have QB
All signs point to Marcus Mariota suiting up for the game, thanks to the extra day of rest granted by the national game. Do not get me wrong, Mariota is world’s better than Blaine Gabbert, but Mariota has been pretty subpar so far this season. In a year when quarterback play has been ridiculously good, Mariota has struggled to an 88 quarterback rating with 7 touchdowns to 6 interceptions. The entire Tennessee franchise rests on Mariota’s arms and legs and so their middling status speaks volumes about his play as a whole. The Tennessee offense is 28th in the league in points scored this year and they just simply have to play better. It is not all on Mariota though as both Derrick Henry and Dion Lewis are averaging less than four yards per carry. Quite simply, something needs to change on the offensive side of the ball.
The offense needs to get better and get better quickly because they are wasting a tremendous defense. Through ten games, the Titan defense is the best in the league in points allowed. You are not going to watch a Titans game and see superstars all over their defense, but there is no doubt that they have been among the league’s best units.
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Keys to Win
For the Titans to win this game, Mariota is going to have to show some signs of what made him a top NFL draft pick. He was brought in to be the franchise quarterback and has not lived up to those expectations. He has certainly shown signs, but the whole package is not just there. Going into Houston, Mariota will have a quarterback dual on his hands with a guy who is younger and was not a top-2 pick. If Mariota cannot outplay Watson, then this one is well in the bag for the Texans.
These are two very good defenses squaring off on Monday night. Right now, the Houston offense just has too much to offer, this could easily be a game where the Titans score in single digits. That’s just not going to be enough to stop the red hot Texans. Take Houston to win and cover the spread by a score of 24-14.
