Titans Hit The Road To Face NFL’s Hottest Team

A date with the high-flying Patriots (7-4 SU, 7-4 ATS) is the last thing the Titans (8-3, 7-4) need after losing 22-13 to the Texans in Week 11 in one of the biggest upsets of the season. New England, the hottest team in the NFL with five consecutive victories, opened as the 2.5-point home favorite.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

Tennessee’s shock defeat has caused its stock to fall around the league, though some experts weren’t completely shocked by the loss given Derrick Henry’s continued absence. The Patriots are now available at -5.5 as the home team. If you think Tennessee still has the ability to score without Henry, you may be tempted by the +5.5 spread.

Tennessee News & Notes

After the Titans beat the Colts, Rams and Saints, many believed Tennessee was going to be able to cope without Derrick Henry. A loss to the lowly Texans suggests otherwise as Ryan Tannehill’s weak performance made Henry’s absence particularly noticeable.

Without their biggest star, their quarterback can’t afford to have off games if they want to beat top teams. Tannehill tossed four interceptions against the Texans and now faces a New England defense that is one of the hottest in the league at the moment.

Tannehill’s confidence could be shaky going into this matchup and he hasn’t gotten much help from A.J. Brown, who apart from two noteworthy performances has been a shadow of his former self. To make matters worse, Julio Jones remains on injured reserve until at least Week 13.

It’s going to take a monumental effort for the Tennessee defense to bounce back from its worst performance of the season.

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New England News & Notes

A five-game winning streak is impressive in its own right. When you consider the margin of New England’s victories, with the Patriots outscoring opponents 175-50 over their last five games, it goes from impressive to spectacular.

The two biggest factors in the streak have been the play of Mac Jones and the defensive prowess of the Patriots, with New England allowing an average of 169.6 passing yards per game.

The Pats should have no trouble keeping Tannehill under 200 yards and while Jones is far from the most explosive quarterback in the NFL, he brings a certain stability to the team that is invaluable. He makes the most of several weapons in a score-by-committee concept that seems to be working extremely well.

How Tennessee Will Cover

Simply put, the Titans are going to need their best performance of the season against the hottest team in the league. Tannehill in particular has to have a perfect game and can’t be careless with the ball against this New England defense.

How New England Will Cover

The Patriots must be wary of the wounded animal that is Tennessee. Their defense should overwhelm Tannehill, Sportsbook the door for Mac Jones and company to get points on the board early and often against a poor Titans defense.

Computer Pick: Patriots -6.5

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