SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: TENNESSEE TITANS AT LOS ANGELES RAMS

BY ADAM GREENE

Our first game flex into Sunday Night Football looks totally worth it as the Tennessee Titans make the trip across the country sans Derrick Henry to face off against the Los Angeles Rams in a possible Super Bowl LVI preview. At least, everyone involved would be down with that.

These teams are linked in some oddball ways. First, they shared a head coach, Jeff Fisher, and both had the pleasure of firing him. Fisher, before he was canned, cut a deal with the Titans to trade three first round picks to draft Jared Goff in 2016. Sean McVay then traded away two first rounders and a third to get rid of him.

They met up in one of the greatest Super Bowls every played, The Rams, then in St. Louis, beat the Titans 23-16 thanks to a last minute touchdown pass from Kurt Warner to Isaac Bruce and a last second tackle by Mike Jones on Tennessee wide receiver Kevin Dyson.

Counting that game, this will be the 14^th meeting lifetime between the two teams with LA holding an 8-5 advantage. Since that Super Bowl victory, the teams are 2-2 with the Rams winning 27-23 in December 2017 during Sean McVay’s first season. Fun fact, of all the players that threw, ran or caught TD passes in that game, only Cooper Kupp remains on either team.

TENNESSEE TITANS AT LOS ANGELES RAMS (-7.5, O/U: 53)

Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Calif. 

Broadcast: NBC

Kickoff: Nov. 7 8:20 p.m.

TENNESSEE TITANS (6-2)

Tennessee won its fourth consecutive game last week in a heated divisional contest with the Indianapolis Colts. It took an overtime period, but the Titans brought home the 34-31 road victory and all it cost them was the best running back in professional football for the rest of the regular season at least. Henry finished with 28 carries for 68yards. It was up to the defense and Ryan Tannehill to save the day and they answered the call. Tannehill finished 23 of 33 for 265 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. A.J. Brown caught 10 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown. The defense sacked Carson Wentz once and picked him off twice.

LOS ANGELES RAMS (7-1)

The Rams too picked up their fourth straight win in a game that was never in doubt, knocking off the Houston Texans 38-22 in a game that was nowhere near that close. LA pulled every starter when they were up 38-0 in the fourth quarter. Matthew Stafford continued his MVP campaign, throwing for 305 yards and three touchdowns. Darrell Henderson rushed 14 times for 90 yards and a TD and Cooper Kupp continued his record tear, catching seven passes for 115 yards and a score. The Rams defense sacked Davis Mills five times and intercepted him once.

THE PICK

If Derrick Henry was healthy, I kind of had this game penciled in as a loss for the Rams a few weeks ago, but everything has changed. Henry is obviously out and LA acquired Von Miller in a trade with the Denver Broncos and he’s expected to start here. The line started at Los Angeles -6 and has grown 1.5 points since and I agree with the thinking. Rams 34, Titans 23

Last week

Straight up: 5-10

Against the spread: 5-10

Season

Straight up: 76-46

Against the spread: 63-59

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