TENNESSEE TITANS 2021 WIN PREDICTION

BY ADAM GREENE

As the Tennessee Titans watched their season come to an end with the Baltimore Ravens stomping on their logo in the center of their own field, they had to know one thing — they must improve their defense.

So, of course, they spent this offseason mostly working on their offense, though they did add some solid defensive pieces in free agency in the draft. Was it enough? Anything would be an improvement to a team that recorded just 19 sacks as a team last year. The only teams worse at getting after the passer were the Cincinnati Bengals and Jacksonville Jaguars.

It’s hard to fault any of the moves the Titans made to boost their offense, considering what they were. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill must stay upright for this team to compete, so adding offensive line is just smart. Bringing in Julio Jones (if he can stay healthy) probably gives Tennessee the best starting receiving corpse in the league after adding former Los Angeles Ram Josh Reynolds to A.J. Brown in the free agent period.

Tennessee remains ahead of the rest of the AFC South, even the Indianapolis Colts, so it’s their division to lose. But as a team that made it to the AFC Championship only two seasons ago, just making the playoffs can’t be enough.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Last season: 11-5, 1^st place, AFC South

2021 odds: over 9.5 wins -120, under 9.5 wins -110

2021 NFL Draft: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech – Round 1, Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State – Round 2, Monty Rice, LB, Georgia – Round 3, Elijag Molden, CB, Washington – Round 3, Rashad Weaver, DE, Pittsburgh – Round 4, Racy McMath, WR, LSU – Round 6, Brady Breeze, Safety, Oregon – Round 6

UDFAs: Mekhi Sargent, RB – Iowa, Chandon Herring, OL – BYU, Naquan Jones, DL – Michigan State, Tory Carter, FB – LSU, Miller Forristall, TE – Alabama, Justus Reed, DL – Virginia Tech, Briley Moore, TE – Kansas State, Blake Haubeil, K – Ohio State, Cole Bawart, OG – Iowa, James Smith, P – Cincinnati

Acquisitions: Julio Jones, WR – Trade, Bud Dupree, Edge – Free Agent, Janoris Jenkins, CB – Free Agent, Denico Autry, Edge – Free Agent, Kendall Lamm, LT – Free Agent, Brian Hill, RB – Free Agent, Matthias Farley, Safety – Free Agent, Morgan Cox, LS – Free Agent, Justin March-Lillard, LB – Free Agent, Woodrow Hamilton, DL – Free Agent, B.J. Bello, LB – Free Agent, Trevon Coley, DL – Free Agent, Greg Mavin, CB – Free Agent, Quenton Meeks, Safety – Free Agent, Josh Reynolds, WR – Free Agent, Chris Jones, CB – Free Agent, Kevin Peterson, CB – Free Agent, Olasunkanmi Adeniyi, Edge – Free Agent

Key Losses: Jadeveon Clowney – Edge, Malcolm Butler, CB, Adam Humphries – WR, DaQuan Jones – DL, Corey Davis – WR, Kenny Vaccaro – Safety, Isaiah Wilson – RT, Dennis Kelly – RT, Stephen Gostkowski – K, MyCole Pruitt – TE, Jake Crawford – DL, Daren Bates – LB, Senorise Perry – RB, Will Compton – LB, Tye Smith – CB, Jonnu Smith – TE, Anthony McKinney – LT, Kareem Orr – CB, D’Onta Foreman – RB, Desmond King – CB, Kalif Raymond – WR, Matt Dickerson – DL, Jamil Douglas – RG, Joshua Kalu – Safety

PRESUMED STARTERS

QB: Ryan Tannehill

RB: Derrick Henry

WR: A.J. Brown

WR: Julio Jones

WR: Josh Reynolds

TE: Anthony Firkser

FB: Khari Blasingame

LT: Taylor Lewan

LG: Roger Saffold III

C: Ben Jones

RG: Nate Davis

RT: Dillon Radunz

LDE: Jeffery Simmons

NT: Teair Tart

RDE: Denico Autry

OLB: Harold Landry III

LILB: Jayon Brown

RILB: Rashaan Evans

OLB: Bud Dupree

CB: Janoris Jenkins

CB: Caleb Farley

SS: Amani Hooker

FS: Kevin Byard

K: Tucker McCann

P: Brett Kern

FORECAST

There’s a solid stretch in the second month of the season that could tell the Titans exactly how far they can go into the postseason. After a relatively light opening five weeks, where they could come out 4-1, they host the Buffalo Bills, then the Kansas City Chiefs, before traveling to the Colts (for their second match up) and then to Los Angeles to take on the Rams. If the New Orleans Saints have their act together, the following week will be tough as well.

Three of Tennessee’s final four games will likely serve as playoff games before the playoffs, as they travel to the Pittsburgh Steelers, host the San Francisco 49ers and then the Miami Dolphins. By that time the Titans should have their defense figured out or be winging through shootouts until they hit a brick wall in the divisional round.

Final Record Prediction: 12-5, AFC South Champion

The NFL season begins on Thursday, Sep. 9 and the Week 1 Schedule is already up and taking bets at BetOnline.AG.

Follow our BetOnline Twitter account for the latest sports news and betting odds, and stay tuned on the Instagram feed for more good information too.