The Titans got right by shutting out the Jaguars in Week 14, but another tougher test looms against an angry Steelers team that’ll be desperate in Week 15.
The Tennessee Titans so desperately needed a get-right kind of game in Week 14 after dropping back-to-back games to see their hold atop the AFC playoff picture slip away in recent weeks.
Thankfully, a 20-0 shutout drubbing of the Jacksonville Jaguars was exactly what head coach Mike Vrabel and Co. needed, especially considering quarterback Ryan Tannehill was without his top two wide receivers, A.J. Brown and Julio Jones, who are still out with injuries.
Now at 9-4, Tennessee holds onto the No. 2 seed in the conference, but the level of competition amps up a bit in Week 15 with a road contest against the 6-6-1 Pittsburgh Steelers, who suffered a frustrating Thursday Night Football loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 14 and will look to use the mini bye week to their advantage before hosting the Titans this Sunday.
Pittsburgh is in the No. 11 seed, yet there are a number of seven-win teams bunched up between seed Nos. 6 and 10, so the Steelers will want to ensure they handle their business against this visiting Tennessee squad despite their own offensive and defensive deficiencies.
Perhaps the Titans can take advantage of the lessons seen during Pittsburgh’s loss to Minnesota.
Titans vs. Steelers odds Week 15
Tennessee’s offense is no longer the juggernaut it was earlier this season, and losing running back Derrick Henry to a foot injury that could last the rest of the year can have that kind of impact.
Granted, the Steelers have had their offensive problems, too, especially quarterback Ben Roethlisberger no longer having an arm, and their offensive line being more than just a little permeable.
It’ll probably be a low-scoring affair, and it’s not overly shocking to see the oddsmakers over at WynnBET list Tennessee only as a two-point favorite for this contest, while the over/under is 41.5.
The Titans’ opening moneyline is -135, while Pittsburgh’s is +115.
Titans vs. Steelers prediction Week 15
One has to figure head coach Mike Tomlin will get the Steelers’ defensive woes solved ahead of this game, especially knowing full well Tennessee doesn’t currently have the offensive firepower as the Vikings do.
But the Titans’ keys to the game have to focus on frustrating Roethlisberger in the pass-rush department, while also cutting down on just how much rookie running back Najee Harris impacts the Pittsburgh offense.
If Tennessee does both well enough, it’ll be a win in Week 15.
Still, that could be challenging enough for the road squad in this case, particularly against a desperate Steelers team, which unfortunately leads to a tough prediction in favor of a Tennessee road loss in this one, as the Titans fall to 9-5 after losing 24-21.
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