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Pick: Tennessee Titans +6½
After beginning the season 7-3, the Titans have misplaced six straight, with a type of defeats a 14-point house loss to the Jaguars staff they face once more Sunday in Jacksonville with the AFC South title on the road. Tennessee will once more trot out Joshua Dobbs at quarterback, regardless that it picked him up off the Detroit Lions’ apply squad solely on Dec. 21. The Titans have 23 players on injured reserve, tops within the NFL.
Nonetheless, I like Tennessee getting practically a landing towards a Jaguars staff that has gained 4 straight and has allowed six complete factors over its final two video games.
Considering he had been on the staff for solely eight days, Dobbs wasn’t horrible towards the Cowboys in Week, 17, throwing for 232 yards and a landing whereas additionally throwing an interception and dropping a fumble. But Dallas has the NFL’s third-ranked cross protection by way of DVOA. The Jaguars rank twenty ninth in that division, regardless that their final two video games have been towards the Texans (homeowners of the league’s second-worst offense behind the Colts) and the Jets (who began the sport with Zach Wilson at quarterback and ended it with somebody named Chris Streveler throwing passes). Add a rested Derrick Henry, who sat out the Cowboys loss, and Tennessee might transfer the ball. Henry had 121 speeding yards and averaged 7.1 yards per carry towards the Jaguars final month.
For all their accidents, the Titans are getting more healthy on protection. Starting cornerback Kristian Fulton (who hasn’t performed since a Dec. 4 loss to the Eagles due to a groin harm) and beginning security Amani Hooker (who missed the final three video games with a knee harm) ought to each be again. Defensive deal with Jeffery Simmons (ankle) and linebacker Denico Autry (biceps) additionally ought to return after sitting out the Cowboys loss as a precaution.
The Titans have been three-point favorites once they misplaced to the Jaguars on Dec. 11 however now are 6.5-point underdogs? That’s an enormous swing, even with Dobbs changing the injured Ryan (*18*) and the change in venue. It’s an overreaction. Take Tennessee.