Predicting the Tennessee Titans’ Record for 2017
As the OTA’s and the start of summer begin, let’s take an in-depth look at and predict the Tennessee Titans’ 2017 record.
Week 1: Oakland Raiders – The Tennessee Titans’ season and home opener is against a very good Raiders team. A look back to last year: the Titans could have won, but some late penalties killed them. Evaluating the additions both teams have made, they have the ability to become the two best teams in the AFC. Both quarterbacks are coming back from similar injuries, and both teams have tried to bolster their defenses. I give a slight edge to the Titans because it’s the home opener, and they get their first victory. (1-0)
Week 2: at Jacksonville Jaguars – Many new additions to the Jaguars this year: new coach, heavily paid athletes and new draft additions. The result of this could mean the Jags can be an up-and-coming team. With this being said, the Jags still have Blake Bortles, who is coming off a horrible year even though he had talent around him. The Jaguars will run the ball to try to take some pressure off Bortles. The Titans run defense was their strength on defense last year and I think that will continue. Bortles’ play and the Titans’ run defense gives them the edge, resulting in the Titans getting win number two. (2-0)
Week 3: Seattle Seahawks – Second home game of the season for the Titans and it brings on a heavy hitter. Both teams like to play the same style of football; run first with a mobile QB and a solid defense. This game is going really help tell the fans early on what kind of team the Titans will be. Even though they are at home, I think Russell Wilson and the tough Seahawks defense will give the Titans their first loss. This game will be a nail biter, which will only give the Titans hope that they can play with top-tier teams. (2-1)
Week 4: at Houston Texans – The second divisional game, but against who I think might be the toughest defense in the NFL. The big question mark is who is playing quarterback for this team? Is it Deshaun Watson or Tom Savage? Either gives the Titans a bit of an advantage. I don’t overlook guys like this because in recent memory young guys like this have killed the Titans. I give the Texans a slight edge because of their defense and them being at home. The AFC south is getting competitive, so the game will be another tight one and a tough loss for the Titans. (2-2)
Week 5: at Miami Dolphins – Back-to-back road games for the Titans that could provide a rough stretch of games for them. The Dolphins haven’t had a huge, splashy offseason and no one is really talking about them. If Ryan Tannehill can continue to play like he did late last season, they can be playoff contenders. What I think will give the Dolphins trouble is their offensive line and secondary, which bodes well for the Titans considering the defensive line and wide receiver group by this time could both be strengths on the roster. That’s why I am giving the Titans the edge over the Dolphins to break the two-game losing streak. (3-2)
Week 6: Indianapolis Colts (Monday Night) – The Titans’ first Monday night game in a very long time. Last time they had Monday night game was against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014. It has been a long time and the Titans have changed so much. I think the Colts before the start of the season might be the team to beat in the AFC South. Even though I say this, I can’t see the Titans not taking the opportunity to show the NFL world that they are here to stay. I give them the edge at home against a tough Colts team. (4-2)
Week 7: at Cleveland Browns – I feel like at times over the past few years, teams would just pencil in a win if they played the Titans. I feel that this is starting to change for the Titans, but sadly for the Browns, it hasn’t. The Browns have made some good strides these past two drafts to get better. On paper, they look better than in years past, but quarterback and the secondary continue to be their big weaknesses. I think the Titans pull this one off and take another win into the bye. (5-2)
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: Baltimore Ravens – Over the next few weeks, the Titans have a run against one of the best divisions in all of football, the AFC North. The Titans have two weeks to prepare and should be well rested. The Ravens have always been a staple of good defense with a run-first mentality on offense. The big question mark for me is their lack of playmakers at the skill positions. That being said, if Joe Flacco has to try to do it all, the Titans will be able to win this game. (6-2)
Week 10: Cincinnati Bengals – This game for me is tough. I think the Bengals are going to look to have a rebound from last year. For Andy Dalton, this could be a make or break type of year and the team will be successful if he plays well. I look at the Bengals and they continue to add young playmakers around Dalton, such as John Ross and Joe Mixon. An aging defense is what I think might hold them back, but I do think the Bengals have an edge and will give the Titans their third loss of the season. (6-3)
Week 11: at Pittsburgh Steelers (Thursday Night) – Another primetime game for the Titans and on a very short week. I think the Steelers’ dynamic offense will be too tough for the Titans, as the secondary is our biggest weakness thus far. The Titans will have the ability to again show they are no pushover. The game will be close, but the Steelers offense will be too much to overcome. (6-4)
Week 12: at Colts – Round two against a very talented team with Andrew Luck in full swing and with all the talent that they have brought in this offseason, plus being at home. This will be a close one, but the Colts even the series. (6-5)
Week 13: Texans – Round two with another tough division opponent. The Titans being 2-2 within the division thus far, they still have a chance to take the division. This game will be the true deciding factor. With the game and the division on the line, at home and the quarterback play still in flux with Houston, I give the edge to the Titans, giving them a 3-2 division record. (7-5)
Week 14: at Arizona Cardinals – Two West Coast games back-to-back and what I consider the last challenging game the Titans have on their schedule. Titans fans can hope that we see the 2016 Cardinals; the veteran team that broke down as the season progressed. Titans fans don’t want to see the 2015 Cardinals that proved to be a dominant force in the NFL. The Cardinals will be very competitive, but the young Titans team will be able to win this game late. (8-5)
Week 15: at San Francisco 49ers – The second of the two West Coast games comes against a rebuilding 49ers team. The Titans will be able to take a nice hold of their record here if they can win out. The 49ers are a team still looking to add pieces, but don’t have enough to win just yet. I give the Titans their ninth win, tying last year’s win total. (9-5)
Week 16: Los Angeles Rams – The Titans play the fourth and final NFC West opponent, the LA Rams. The Rams are another team in a rebuilding mode, but don’t write this game off. I think another team the Titans have the ability to overpower is the Rams. The Rams are a team the Titans are expected to beat if they want to be taken seriously. This will hold true and give the Titans win number 10. (10-5)
Week 17: Jaguars – Final game and probably the most important game for the Titans to take the division. Who knows if Bortles will still be playing quarterback for the Jaguars at this point? With the division on the line, they should be able to pull this off and win the division. (11-5)
The Titans have the ability to become a top-tier team in the NFL and I think this season will show that. The Titans have the ability to be a playoff contender. Before the offseason began, I thought the Titans for sure could be a nine-win team. After free agency and the draft, Jon Robinson has been able to take this team to new heights. The season is less than 100 days away and it’s an exciting time to be a Titans Fan.