The Tennessee Titans (2-2) will hit the highway as soon as once more this week to tackle the Washington Commanders (1-3) in what would be the first assembly between these franchise since 2018, when the Titans gained, 25-16.
Whereas Tennessee isn’t precisely conversant in this Commanders group, they do know an entire heck of rather a lot about its quarterback, Carson Wentz, who spent the 2021 marketing campaign with the Indianapolis Colts.
And what a disastrous marketing campaign it was for the Colts and Wentz after shedding each video games to the Titans earlier than failing to safe the division and melting down within the ultimate two weeks to overlook the playoffs totally.
However I digress…
Tennessee rolls into this contest having gained every of their final two video games, whereas the Commanders are in search of their first win since Week 1 after dropping their final three.
Right here’s a have a look at six burning questions for the Titans forward of their Week 5 matchup at FedEx Discipline in opposition to Washington.
Can Titans play a full 60 minutes?
Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports activities
You understand the story: the Titans’ offense hasn’t proven up within the second half as soon as this season. In actual fact, Tennessee’s offense hasn’t scored within the ultimate two quarters three video games in a row, and the Titans have been outscored 64-7 in second halves alone this season.
Regardless of the Titans are doing within the locker room at half time, do the alternative and see if that works.
Tennessee should do a greater job executing general within the second half (you already know, play higher, coach higher), however offensive coordinator Todd Downing can’t proceed to get tremendous conservative with an early lead.
Regardless of the case could also be, the Titans should do a greater job of placing collectively a full 60 minutes, because the protection can’t be anticipated to face on its head for a complete half each week simply to maintain Tennessee within the lead, and in video games basically.
Will any IR, PUP record gamers return?
AP Photograph/Mark Humphrey
There are three notable gamers eligible to return off injured reserve and one off the PUP record this week in linebackers Probability Campbell and Monty Rice, vast receiver Racey McMath and cornerback Elijah Molden.
On Monday, head coach Mike Vrabel stated Rice’s 21-day window to return will doubtless be opened this week. Nevertheless, that doesn’t imply he’ll play.
Whereas we didn’t get an replace on Campbell, Vrabel did say that Molden and McMath had been unlikely to return this week. Molden’s continued absence particularly is a matter with the troubles Tennessee’s secondary has had in attempting to exchange the slot cornerback.
Will Zach Cunningham return?
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports activities
One motive why the Titans might use Rice again is that Cunningham is coping with an elbow harm that compelled him to overlook the Week 4 sport. Sadly, it isn’t clear if Cunningham will swimsuit up in Week 5.
Regardless of not having considered one of their greatest run defenders in Week 4, the Titans had been capable of restrict Jonathan Taylor to only 42 yards and a couple of.1 yards per carry.
That’s little question spectacular and hats off to guys like Joe Schobert and Dylan Cole who performed effectively in Cunningham’s absence, however this protection gained’t be at its greatest with out Cunningham on the sector.
Will Bud Dupree play?
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports activities
Dupree left the Week 4 contest early with a hip harm, the identical harm he handled that compelled his early exit in Week 2 and absence in Week 3.
Dupree’s affect on the pass-rush when wholesome is simple, even when he doesn’t get to the quarterback; nonetheless, he has turn into unreliable throughout his stint in Nashville due to harm.
A pass-rush that’s already lacking Harold Landry can ill-afford to lose Dupree for any period of time.
Hopefully the veteran edge rusher can play sooner moderately than later, and by sooner we imply in Week 5 in opposition to a quarterback in Carson Wentz who folds like an inexpensive swimsuit when beneath stress.
Will Titans keep away from a letdown sport?
Syndication: The Tennessean
With the Titans favored on this sport, and the Commanders coming in like a wounded animal after having misplaced their final three, together with the final two by a mixed rating of 49-18, this sport is setup for a kind of typical letdown performances the Titans have had so many instances over the previous few years.
Nevertheless, with the way in which the Titans have performed to this point in 2022, it’s not like there’s that large of a niche between these two groups. Washington’s protection is horrible, however the offense does have some spectacular weapons, albeit with Carson Wentz throwing to them.
That stated, it is a sport the Titans ought to win, even with it being on the highway, so you already know what which means: attainable letdown sport.
How do Titans change Treylon Burks’ snaps?
Syndication: The Tennessean
It hasn’t been made official but, however chances are high Burks goes to overlook not less than one sport, and it’s doubtless he’ll miss greater than that together with his turf toe harm.
Whereas Burks wasn’t producing a ton, his mere presence on the sector gave opposing defenses one thing else to consider, and his snaps had been rising the previous two weeks, with 40 and 35, respectively.
We’re doubtless going to see much more Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Robert Woods on the skin, and hopefully Kyle Philips is more healthy and capable of play extra snaps out of the slot.
However we’ve seen the Titans give 5 completely different receivers snaps on any given week. Cody Hollister was already getting common snaps, however the remainder of the leftovers determine to go to Josh Gordon, who ought to get promoted to the lively roster or, on the very least, elevated from the observe squad.
However that is Todd Downing we’re speaking about right here. Don’t rule out Cody Hollister seeing 50 snaps per sport with Burks out whereas Gordon and Philips waste away on the bench.
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