Tennessee Titans prepare for unbeaten Carolina Panthers

Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Mularkey said in his Thursday afternoon presser that although the 34-28 overtime win against the New Orleans Saints last Sunday may have put a little extra spirit in practice this week,  this team always comes to work and goes about their business.

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It’s been that way since he came to Music City, but he agreed that a win may have helped boost the intensity.

The intensity will need to continue as the 8-0 Carolina Panthers come to town for a week ten matchup that will test the resolve of this young team.

The Panthers have seemed to get to the halfway of the 2015 season with smoke and mirrors, but this team proved that whatever they are doing, is working and it’s has worked against some pretty good teams.

The success in Carolina has come from solid fundamentals and playmakers making plays at key times in a game.

They have a big physical quarterback that is hard to get on the ground who can extend plays until receivers get open , and they protect the football. They are great at playing mistake-free football for 60 minutes or beyond if necessary.

If the Titans are to win a third game of the year on Sunday and their first at home since last season, they will need to find a way to keep linebacker Luke Kuechly out of the backfield, and they will need some players on offense to step up and make key plays.

It’s not hard to find the disparity between these two teams.

The Carolina Panthers are averaging 28.5 points per game, which is good for fourth place in the NFL behind the Cincinnati Bengals(28.6), The Arizona Cardinals(32.9) and of course, the New England Patriots(34.5).

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The Titans are ranked 28th in points per game at 19.9.

They will need to find some more points somewhere if they are to win their third game.

Coach Mularkey also said in his presser that the Carolina Panthers are exactly what the Titans want to be in a football team.

They’re pretty much what we’re preaching, a very disciplined football team. They’re kind of methodical. They’re going to do it this way, people know they’re going to do it that way. They don’t hurt themselves. You look at their turnovers, they just don’t turn the ball over. The offense is very efficient, schemed well. Defense is very sound, very confident in what they’re doing. Their special teams, again, they’ve got some core players that are good that we have to take care of. It’s just a solid football team. You can’t make a lot of mistakes. It’s going to be one of those games.

With Kendall Wright missing practice this week and questionable for this game, Justin Hunter and Dorial Green-Beckham will need to step up and make some plays.

We know we should get a good game, and some plays from tight end Delanie Walker. Walker is leading this team again with 42 catches for 456 yards and three touchdowns. None bigger than the 61 yard fluke catch last week at the Superdome.

That catch may have turned a lost season around, and given everyone hope for a strong finish.

ESPN Fantasy expert Matthew Berry has Walker as his Love/Hate pick tight end for the week.

Next: Visiting Panthers offer hope

Another strong game from Antonio Andrews and Dexter McCluster will go a long way in keeping Superman on the sidelines and Luke Kuechly away from Marcus Mariota.

The Carolina Panthers are not going to go 17-0 on the season, and what better place to lose their virginity that at Nissan Stadium on Sunday afternoon!