Game Overview ::
By papy324 >>
- The Seahawks are likely to get Geno Smith back after a multi-week absence due to a groin injury.
- The Titans haven’t been the same run defense since they lost DT Jeffrey Simmons and teams have started to notice.
- The Titans almost always give up one big WR stat line, but usually, it’s only one, creating an interesting choice between DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon-Smith Njigba.
- Will Levis has yet to practice early in the week with an ankle injury, setting up Ryan Tannehill to start. The Titans were notably more conservative early in the season with Tannehill under center.
- Derrick Henry has been in a timeshare with Tyjae Spears. The workload split tends to favor Henry in games the Titans win. Henry has been particularly effective in Tennessee, producing large home/away splits this season.
How seattle Will Try To Win ::
The 7-7 Seahawks come into Week 16 fresh off a thrilling final drive victory courtesy of Drew Lock on Monday Night Football. Lock’s heroics kept the Seahawks season alive, as they currently sit in a four-way tie with the Vikings, Saints, and Rams for the final two NFC playoff spots. Seattle desperately needed a win, having lost their previous three games. Five of the Seahawks past six opponents have been the Ravens, the 49ers twice, the Cowboys, and the Eagles. That’s about as tough a stretch as possible, and the Titans should provide a much needed reprieve from playing the best teams in the league. Pete Carroll spent most of his career calling conservative, run-oriented game plans. Ironically, after the departure of Russell Wilson, Carroll finally changed his philosophy. The Seahawks have played fast (fifth in pace) but they’ve been noticeably slower with Lock under center. Geno Smith is expected to return, which means there is a good chance Seattle will return to their up-tempo offense. Their offensive line has been poor (27th ranked per PFF), especially on the right side, where RG Anthony Bradford has been a turn-style the past two weeks, allowing pressure on 12.7% of pass plays. The Titans pass rush has been above average (ninth in sack rate), which means Seattle might have issues keeping Geno upright. The Seahawks want to throw as they are ranked ninth in pass rate over expectation (PROE) but the combination of leaky pass protection and Geno coming off a lower body injury may lead them to run more than usual this week.
The Titans have been solid against the run (11th in DVOA) and smoked through the air (27th in DVOA). The Titans have been one of the league’s premier pass funnels for the past several seasons but that has begun to change the past month after the loss of DT Jeffrey Simmons devastated their run defense, as they’ve had the fourth worst graded run defense and surrendered the sixth highest rushing success rate since Simmons’ injury. Teams have taken notice and have started to run more against the Titans. That doesn’t mean the Titans pass defense is good. They’ve still been hit for a big game by at least one enemy receiver practically every week, but it does show that teams are reacting to how poor the Titans have been against the run without Simmons. Assuming Geno plays, the Seahawks are still likely to lean pass, but probably not with the extreme pass rates that we have seen teams go with against the Titans in the past. Expect a pass leaning, but still balanced game plan from Seattle, with a willingness to try and run out the clock if they take the lead.
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