Should be a good game. Stiff competition and a chance for the fins to once again silence the critics. I hope both teams stay covid free for the sake of good competition
This is one game that worries me. If the Titans still had Henry, it would terrify me. Our defense is stout…elite, and the Titans are committed to the run. They don’t abandon it. They’re one of the more effective teams that balance both the pass and the run to keep defenses honest. Thankfully we won’t have to worry about Henry and his ability to wear down a defense. The key for this game is going to be our offense. We’re going to have to get out front. We’re going to have to get points in the board, get a lead and force the Titans into being one dimensional. I like Tannehill. He’s a damned good quarterback who has what it takes to win games. But this is going to be that game where if we can force the Titans into passing the ball all of the time, our defense is going to be able to put heat on him and force Tannehill into a mistake. Like I said, the offense really needs to show up for this game
Tannehill is the last thing we need to worry about. Without Henry, Tannehill has been one of the worst QBs in the league this year with an abysmal 78.3 rating, 5 TDs and 7 INTs over 219 passing attempts. Even with Henry he wasn't who he was in 2019 or 2020. With Henry, Tannehill had a 90.2 rating with 10 TDs and 7 INTs over 262 passing attempts. League average rating is 90.8 so basically average. The worry in this game will be whether our offense can finally produce. We can't keep relying on the defense, though Vegas does seem to think neither offense will do much as they have total points at 40 lol (for comparison, average total points per game this year is 45.6).
On one hand I completely agree with you- I think we'll be all over him and put him in bad situations. Add in that X has years of knowledge in RT's tendencies, etc. and it could be ugly. I'm guessing he doesn't throw that way very often, LOL. But on the other hand, this was his home for seven seasons and there's a lot of pride in this game for him. It is the first match-up all these years later, so I'm sure he has a lot to prove like any player naturally would. The Titans also need this win since Indy is right on their heels. I just don't know how to call this one- I feel like we will shut their offense down and I'd be shocked if we don't have a strip sack or two. But I really fear the revenge game as well.
I've never seen any statistical evidence for the "revenge game". People like to remember the times where it seems like that happened, but then ignore times when it didn't. It's also worth noting that with the current model of free agency where a large number of players play against former teams, it would be pretty unlikely for there to be a statistical trend. Anyway, until I see good evidence to the contrary, I don't think players magically play better due to some motivation to prove themselves against a former team. They're under constant pressure to prove themselves regardless of the opponent.
I think we lose this game. It's been a great run, but I think this one on the road is going to be too tough. I'll be happy if we split our last two games.
I'm seeing 38 degrees, snow and rain mix and 20 mph winds for Nashville on Sunday now. This is not good.
I'm expecting a loss on Sunday. 8 in a row is pushing it. We've had some success but this is still a flawed team, particularly on offense, and the Titans, although not one of the best, can clinch the division at home. They've struggled and will be looking to get back on track. Unless Covid strikes again and eliminates the core players for the opposition and leaves us alone, I think the Titans take this one.
I'm expecting a loss on Sunday. 8 in a row is pushing it. We've had some success but this is still a flawed team, particularly on offense, and the Titans, although not one of the best, can clinch the division at home. They've struggled and will be looking to get back on track. Unless Covid strikes again and eliminates the core players for the opposition and leaves us alone, I think the Titans take this one.
If I take emotion out of this and look objectively, this is a very tough game for Miami but it's equally tough for the Titans. I feel like the story of the game will be Tannehill versus Howard and who imposes their will. I think our defense wins this game in another low-score contest. A lot of us are thinking, "The Titans have the #7 ranked D and it will be tough on Tua." That's 100% true. But also remember, we have the #1 ranked D in this stretch and the numbers aren't even close. Sacks, yards given, third down conversions. opposing QBR....we're at the top of the charts for most major stats. Our D is elite folks, and RT doesn't usually excel against elite defenses in December. I think we'll be all over him in the backfield and Tannehill will make some critical mistakes. For the Tua/Waddle talk, we're starting to see that come full circle as players creep up closer to the LOS cutting off those shorter routes...which opens up the deeper passing lanes. I think Tua connects this week on a few long ones to Parker/Gisecki and Waddle will break the rookie reception record. I also think we'll establish the run and do just enough to cruise to another semi-comfortable victory. 24-10 Miami.
Last game against buffalo last year. That's what i'm expecting to happen this week. As much fun as this run has been, it has been against some weaker competition. Not discounting or discrediting it at all, it has been a monumental turn around. Until this team beats solid competition late in the year when it really matters, no reason to believe that they will do it this year. The offense is just too flawed still. We've called this defense elite before only to see them give up 40+ late in the year...will it happen again this year???
That depends on how fresh the offense keeps the D. If we have scoring drives and not to many 3 and outs, I think our D can keep this up except there were injuries. I think the Tennessee game is the easier one from the last two games but I stopped looking ahead. I just hope Ryan Tannehill has a really bad day against us.
I’m not saying Miami has beaten the best of the best, but I think you are sorely misreading the Titans. Buffalo beat down incoming ? Titans last 5 games they have lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans and got blasted by the Patriots (by 23). They beat the Jaguars (worst team in football) and beat the 49ers at home by a field goal. They are not that good. They haven’t scored more than 20 points in a game over that stretch. They are nowhere near capable of beating anyone that badly without Henry.
If we lose to Tenn, everyone who said the Phins are pretenders will say "I told you so", even though we had a 7-game winning streak. This is the make-or-break for the media.
Ugly. So who can run the ball better featuring Duke Johnson and Philip Lindsay versus D’Onta Foreman and Jeremy McNichols. Exactly how I expected the playoffs to be determined….SMH. At the start of November I think McNichol was the only guy out of the 4 rostered by these teams.
You know what's interesting? That with-Henry vs. without-Henry difference is seen not only on offense but on defense, except that the Titans got WAY better on defense without-Henry lol. With-Henry the Titans scored 28.4 ppg and gave up 24.4 ppg. If done over an entire season that's the 4th best offense and 22nd best defense. Without-Henry the Titans scored 18.6 ppg and allowed 18.7 ppg, which would be the 25th best offense and the 4th best defense. So without Henry they're scoring ~10 fewer points per game (that's HUGE) but simultaneously allowing ~6 fewer points. Maybe that second stat is one of those correlation without causation things, but it's interesting.
Last year's defense was a mirage benefiting from X's interceptions creating opportunities to score. This year opposing teams are cautious about throwing toward him. This year's squad is much better balanced and more aggressive and, you can't underestimate the effect of chemistry, the guys are having fun. John Harbaugh didn't have an answer for it. Vrabel should be much better prepared since he played with Flores but, it all boils down to Tannehill's decision making in the face of pressure.
Simms triples down on his clown take. Anything to throw shade at Tua. He is all of a sudden a big Tannehill fan ?? It’s basically a Shtick for attention at this point.
Great take. Sometimes it takes the offense to take a hit that the defense arises to the calling. I think that’s our team personified.
You just shut your dirty whore mouth right now! Blasphemy! Sedition! FAKE NEWS!!! Go slap yourself until you regain your wits!
I lived in Memphis for a year. They're going to have as much problem with inclement conditions as we are. This is definitely going to come down to which team's defense can make the right plays at the right time. I'm not necessarily expecting a loss, but winning on the road against a good team is always hard, especially to extend a seven-game win streak. I'm still not counting us out. I did that already, after week 8.
Cool answer because he starts out 100% honest- RT can't handle pressure, but then switches to a more politically correct answer of "I'm sure he'll do a lot of great things against us." LMAO I guarantee you that Howard is salivating at the chance to finally face RT in a game that matters. Nothing against RT, still love the guy and all, but we're going to be after him hardcore and I really think it turns ugly for the Titans. Just a gut feeling I've had all week now.