The Titans hope that returning home will help them defeat the struggling Panthers.
WR Adam Thielen is a Panther to keep an eye on. Without a doubt, the 33-year-old wide receiver has been the most valuable member of the struggling Panthers this season. Despite playing for an offense that is near the bottom of the league in almost every statistical category, Thielen has 76 receptions for 726 yards. Thielen has demonstrated a talent for huge plays. With 18 receptions on third down that resulted in a first down, he trails only Keenan Allen (19) in the league. Against Dallas last week, he also had two fourth down catches that moved chains.
Watch out for Titans wide receiver Derrick Henry. In order to become the 38th player in NFL history to reach 9,000 yards rushing in his career, the two-time NFL rushing champion only needs to gain 2 yards on Sunday. However, he would only become the eighth player to do so and score 80 rushing touchdowns before turning 30, joining Adrian Peterson and the six other players who have already been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Marshall Faulk, Eric Dickerson, Jim Brown, LaDainian Tomlinson, Barry Sanders, and Emmitt Smith.
ESSENTIAL MATCHUP: Panthers offensive line vs. Titans pass rush The quarterback has been vulnerable to pressure from the Panthers’ offensive line all season, giving up 39 sacks, which is the fourth-highest total in the league. In nine starts, rookie quarterback Bryce Young has been sacked 36 times, including seven times by Dallas last week. Young is nearly always under pressure, even when he isn’t being fired. With 25 sacks, the Titans aren’t exactly a dominant pass rush team, but that might not matter. Their coaches are bound to find a method to take advantage of this offensive line.
KEY INJURIES: Jaycee Horn, the Panthers’ starting cornerback, is expected to play for the first time since he sustained a hamstring injury in Week 1. TEL Due to the concussion protocol, Hayden Hurst might miss his second straight game. OG Due to a knee injury, Austin Corbett is out for the entire season. Treylon Burks, a wide receiver for the Titans, will probably miss his third straight game while under the concussion protocol. LT In order to clear the concussion protocol, Andre Dillard is working. RT Chris Hubbard (biceps) did not work out either, so he’s probably out. CB Sean Murphy-Bunting, who has missed the last two games due to a right thumb injury, may return.
from a house. The Panthers are 0-5, and the Titans are 0-6. The Panthers’ sixth consecutive losing season since David Tepper acquired the team in 2019 is guaranteed with nine losses. In the previous four games, the Panthers have only managed three offensive touchdowns. As the team’s starting quarterback, Young is 1-8 and has almost as many interceptions (eight) as touchdown passes (nine). With the top pick in the middle, the Panthers have only managed to score more than 21 points in a single game. In the previous three games, Young has thrown three pick-6s, two of which were against the Indianapolis Colts. RB Miles Sanders perceived a bigger part
the running game against Dallas last week following Frank Reich’s return to play calling. This season, Sanders has been almost nonexistent, but he had 11 carries compared to Chuba Hubbard’s 10. DJ Chark has been the second-most productive receiver for the team behind Thielen, with 17 catches for 229 yards and three touchdowns. Since 1999, when the Titans moved into their current stadium, they have a 62-39 record when playing NFC teams at home. Titans quarterback Will Levis will join Dan Pastorini (1971), Vince Young (2006), Zach Mettenberger (2014), and Marcus Mariota as the fifth rookie in franchise history to start at least five games.
Mariota, 2015.WR DeAndre Hopkins needs 52 receiving yards to reach 12,000 for his career, making him the 29th player in NFL history. In order to tie for 25th place with 900 career catches, he still needs five receptions. In addition to having already reached both milestones and racked up 75 touchdown receptions, Hopkins would become just the fifth player in NFL history to have all three of those stats in his first 11 seasons, following Marvin Harrison, Jerry Rice, Brandon Marshall, and Larry Fitzgerald. … WR Chris Moore of the Titans will play in his 100th NFL game on Sunday. … DL To become the first player on the team to have eight or more sacks in three straight seasons since Jevon Kearse in 1999 and 2001, Denico Autry needs two sacks. … K Nick Folk has made an NFL-high 74 consecutive
FANTASY TIP: In his three home games this season, Henry is averaging 116.7 yards from scrimmage. In the previous two home games, he has also gained at least 100 yards through his running.
