This week’s Sunday Night game features two division leaders, but the game lost some luster when one of the superstars suffered a significant injury. The 6-2 Tennessee Titans are without running back Derrick Henry as they travel west to take on the 7-1 Los Angeles Rams. The kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET at Sofi Stadium, and the game will be televised on NBC.
Both teams have moved cities in their history, and their most famous meeting came in the Super Bowl after the 1999 season as the Rams won by one yard. The last time they faced off was in Nashville in 2017 as the Rams won 27-23. The Rams hold an 8-5 edge, but the teams haven’t played in Los Angeles since 1990 when the Titans were the Houston Oilers.
Life After Derrick Henry
The Titans will play without star running back Derrick Henry for the first time after he suffered a foot injury in last week’s overtime win at Indianapolis. Henry leads the NFL with 937 yards and ten rushing touchdowns on the season while adding 20 receptions for 154 yards.
No other running back on the Titans roster has more than 40 yards this season, and the job will fall to Jeremy McNichols, who has 246 career yards in five seasons. The Titans also brought in future Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson, but his workload for Sunday night is yet unknown.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill has completed 66 percent of his passes this season for 2,002 yards. He has ten touchdowns with seven interceptions and is the Titans’ second-leading rusher at 165 yards.
Tennessee’s top wide receivers have all battled injuries so far this season. A.J. Brown has played in seven of the eight games and has 35 catches for 509 yards and three touchdowns. Julio Jones has 17 catches for 301 yards in five games, while Chester Rogers has 14 catches for 186 yards in seven games.
Miller Joins Rams in NFC West Battle
The Rams used the trade deadline to add to their already fearsome defense. They brought in All-Pro linebacker Von Miller to join Aaron Donald and Leonard Floyd as pass rushers, terrorizing opposing quarterbacks.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is second in the NFL in passing yards with 2,447 and second in touchdowns with 22. He is averaging 319.5 yards per game at home and has revitalized his career in Los Angeles.
Stafford has also found great chemistry with wide receiver Cooper Kupp who needs just 76 yards to become the fifth player in league history with 1,000 yards and ten touchdowns in the first nine games of a season. Kupp has 63 catches on the season while Robert Woods has 38, Van Jefferson has 24, and Tyler Higbee has 30. Woods has 458 yards and four touchdowns, while Jefferson has 293 yards and three scores.
On the ground, the Rams have used Darrell Henderson Jr. and Sony Michel as a 1-2 punch. Henderson has 507 yards for a 4.6 average to go with five touchdowns. Michel has 251 yards at a 3.9 average and one score, while the duo have combined for 22 catches.
Betting Analysis
- Tennessee Titans +7 (-110). Money Line +245
- Los Angeles Rams -7 (-110). Money Line -310
- Total Points: 52.5 Over -110. Under -110
Both teams have won four games in a row, but the Titans are losing a star while the Rams are adding one. Los Angeles is facing a step up in competition from the Giants, Lions, and Texans to a fellow division leader, and Sunday’s game is their lone home game in November. The Titans will have to find a run game quick to avoid being one-dimensional against a high-powered Rams team.
Betting Pick: Rams -7 (-110)
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