The Detroit Lions (5-1) will host the Tennessee Titans (1-5) on October 27. The Lions are currently 11-point favorites heading into this week’s matchup. The Lions will look to continue their run of dominance, extending their win streak to five games. Meanwhile, the Titans are desperately searching for a win to keep their season from getting off the rails.
Detroit Lions vs. Tennessee Titans Football History & Excerpts
The Lions have never faced the Titans in the Dan Campbell era, but the Titans hold a record of 10-3 versus the Lions. The Lions’ last win versus the Titans came in 1995 when the Titans were called the Houston Oilers.
Ahead of this week’s game, Dan Campbell emphasized that his team cannot overlook this Titans team based on their record. They are a professional football team, and preparation needs to respect that. Campbell said, “If all you’re looking at of this team we’re getting ready to play, you’re wrong. This is a fast-starting team. They’ve got a physical o-line and d-line. They’ve got damn good coaching. This defense could potentially be the best defense we’ve faced up to date. And I know we just faced a good one, but you talk about physical? This [Jeffery] Simmons, he’s gonna bring it among others.”
The Titans, statistically, have an incredible defense, so making sure the offense is ready to go, as dominant as they have been, must be the team’s main priority.
First-year head coach Brian Callahan has struggled to win games, but his team’s mistakes have kept them out of position to stay competitive. This will be a tough test for the Titans’ defense, which has played exceptionally well. About Jared Goff, Callahan said, “Just in terms of efficiency and finding completions,” he said of Goff. “It feels like every game I look up he’s got like four incompletions. They’ve done a great job of finding their playmakers. He deals the ball. Jared, I think, is an underrated quarterback. He is probably playing the position as well as anybody in football right now, and that is a large reason why they are 5-1.”
Jared Goff will be one of the best quarterbacks they’ve faced this year, so performing well defensively will be the key to winning the game for the Titans.
Key Players for the Lions
Offensively, Jared Goff has been phenomenal since Week 3. Since Week 3, he has completed 84 percent of his passes, thrown for 1048 yards, nine touchdowns, and just one interception, while averaging 12 yards per pass attempt(He also has a receiving touchdown). He is keeping the ball out harm’s way, moving the ball down the field efficiently, and making this offense arguably the best in the league.
Goff is slowly cementing himself as an MVP frontrunner, playing the best football of his career.
Wide receiver Jameson Williams was suspended for two games, so losing his game-breaking speed will be a big hit. However, Jahmyr Gibbs had the best game of the season last week versus the Vikings, and Amon-Ra St. Brown has been getting better every week. Right tackle Penei Sewell is becoming the best offensive lineman in the NFL, as he hasn’t allowed a sack all season.
Defensively, Alim McNeil, D.J. Reader, and Levi Onwuzirke were great last week trying to fill in for Aidan Hutchinson’s pass rush presence. They will be critical on the defensive line once again.
Linebacker Jack Campbell once again turned another great pass coverage game, and the second-year player is not becoming one of the best linebackers in the entire NFL.
In the secondary, Terrion Arnold had the best game of his career, only allowing 3 catches for 35 yards and no penalties. If Arnold continues to improve each week, this defense will become even more dangerous.
Key Players for the Titans
The Titans were active on the trade market this week. They traded wide receiver Deandre Hopkins to the Kansas City Chiefs for draft compensation. With no Hopkins and the chance of no Calvin Ridley, the Titans are at a severe disadvantage when it comes to playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. Mason Rudolph will likely be the starting quarterback, holding that offense back even more. Tony Pollard must have a phenomenal game to keep this Titans offense moving down the field.
Defensively, the Titans traded linebacker Ernest Jones, who they acquired at the beginning of the season, for Seattle Seahawks linebacker Jerome Baker and draft compensation. Losing Ernest Jones was a big hit, as he was one of their best players.
The Titans defensive line is phenomenal. Harold Landry, Jeffery Simmons, T’Vondre Sweat, and Arden Key combine to make it a great unit. Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie and safety Quandre Diggs have helped bolster the secondary to improve the secondary wildly.
Keys for the Lions to Win
Stop the Titans Running Game
If the Titans can’t run the ball, they won’t be able to move the ball consistently. Tony Pollard is having a career year, but with the lack of weapons in the receiving game, a struggling offensive line, and inconsistent quarterback play, the Titans are desperately relying on a solid run game to keep them afloat until they cant figure out their quarterback situation.
Control the Time of Possession
There is no need for the Lions to get cute and make this game closer than it needs to be. Running the ball efficiently with your great running back tandem, keeping Jared Goff protected, and making sure they limit the turnovers is how they can walk out of this game with a blowout victory.
Force Tennessee Turnovers
Tennessee has struggled with turnovers all year, and even without Will Levis, they have struggled with Mason Rudolph at quarterback when it comes to protecting the football. If the Lions can force turnovers to gain extra possessions in prime field position, it will allow to put this game out reach early.
