Titans Huge Underdogs in Week 9 Despite AFC’s Longest Win Streak

Over the past six weeks, the Tennessee Titans dug out of a 0-2 gap, rattled off 5 consecutive wins and ascended to the AFC’s second seed within the course of.

They’ve edged the Las Vegas Raiders and Washington Commanders, swept the Indianapolis Colts and completely throttled the Houston Texans, 17-10, on Sunday in a sport that was not as shut because the rating.

What the Titans have in all probability not carried out, nevertheless, is show to a skeptical public that they should be counted among the many NFL’s elite because the midpoint of the season approaches.

One indication? The early BetOnline unfold for subsequent Sunday’s showdown at Kansas Metropolis – one other 5-2 group – makes the Chiefs a whopping 9.5-point favourite, not the sort of line one usually expects in a conflict of division leaders, particularly when the Titans personal the longest successful streak within the convention.

“It’s not going to get simpler,” Titans coach Mike Vrabel informed reporters Sunday. “However (we’re) definitely pleased with the very fact … that we’ve gained one sport in a row 5 occasions. That’s all we’ve carried out. It’s going to be a brand new problem, a much bigger problem coming on this week.”

Even the Titans’ fan base, in a minimum of one respect, appears hesitant to actually consider in its group. By way of their first 5 video games, the Titans’ common TV score was simply 20.6, means beneath 2021 (27.1) and decrease than any season-ending score since 2017 (19.9).

Right here’s what we all know: In placing collectively their five-game win streak – the group’s third in as many seasons – Tennessee has crafted a really particular method:

• They’ve handed the ball to Derrick Henry and let him rumble, because the 2020 NFL Offensive Participant of the Yr has carried 132 occasions for 648 yards (4.9-yard common) and 6 touchdowns in the course of the stretch. He was unstoppable towards a foul Texans run protection Sunday, working 32 occasions for 219 yards and two touchdowns.

• They’ve performed smothering run protection, permitting a median of simply 57 yards on the bottom within the final 5 video games. The Titans held the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor to a mixed 30 carries for 100 yards within the two-game sweep, and restricted promising Texans rookie Dameon Pierce to 35 yards on 15 carries.

• They’ve made one huge, momentum-changing play after one other on protection. The Titans, as an example, have recorded three sacks in every of the group’s final 4 video games. As well as, they’ve a plus-5 turnover ratio in the course of the win streak, benefiting from performs like Andrew Adams’ 76-yard interception return for a landing towards the Colts.

However will that method work towards a Chiefs group that is without doubt one of the most explosive within the NFL, particularly contemplating the Titans haven’t scored greater than 24 factors in a sport this season?

Kansas Metropolis has posted 30 or extra factors in 4 of its seven video games. Going into this weekend, the Chiefs led the league in factors per sport (31.9) and landing passes (20).

Did we point out the Chiefs will probably be coming off a bye week? Kansas Metropolis is 6-3 on lengthy relaxation since 2018.

It’s not possible to not assume again to Week 2, when Tennessee went to Buffalo underneath related circumstances – going through a well-rested, extremely explosive AFC energy on the highway. The outcomes had been dismal, a 41-7 loss in entrance of a Monday Night time Soccer viewers.

The Titans deserve reward for his or her win streak, which has come regardless of a big quantity of accidents together with the lack of two lynchpins, exterior linebackerHarold Landry and left deal with Taylor Lewan.

However even assuming a wholesome Ryan Tannehill returns because the group’s starter this week, are the Titans able to show they’re able to competing with a presumed Tremendous Bowl contender this time round?

A win in Kansas Metropolis – even a aggressive sport – would possibly present us this Titans group has a minimum of an opportunity for greatness this season.

A one-sided loss would possibly cement the assumption of many, that the Titans are doing the whole lot of their energy simply to be good.