The Tennessee Titans are going to be plenty motivated in this game.  They need a win, a Bengals’ loss against the Ravens and a Jets win over the Dolphins to get into the playoffs.  All of those things could happen this Sunday.  The Titans will be looking for revenge against a Texans’ team that whacked them hard 41-7 in Nashville earlier this year.  The Texans are locked into the #3 seed in the AFC Playoffs, so it would be smart of them to limit the P.T. of their starting players in this game.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Titans have the ball:  The Titans are going to need balance offensively if they are going to win this game.  That means that RB Chris Johnson is going to have to pick up the pace this Sunday.  The Texans are only allowing 96.7 yards rushing per game and 4.1 yards per carry so far this year, so they can be run on.  The Texans are a heavy pass rushing team with 41 sacks and opposing QBs only have a 66.2 QB Rating against them this year, so Matt Hasselbeck is going to have to get rid of the ball quickly while also being careful.  To me that sounds like he will be throwing to his TEs and RBs a lot in this game.  TE Jared Cook and Chris Johnson could have big games for the Titans in the passing game.  WRs Nate Washington, Lavelle Hawkins and Damian Williams are going to have to catch short stuff and make plays after the catch.

When the Texans have the ball:  The Titans are going to have to stop the impressive RBs of the Texans if they are going to have any chance of winning this game.  That will be easier said than done as Arian Foster rushed for 115 yards and he also had 119 yards receiving in the first matchup between these two teams.  The Texans will probably limit Foster’s P.T., which should be a good thing for the Titans, but it won’t be.  That is because Ben Tate (855 yards rushing) could be the main man on the ground for most of this game for the Texans.  The Titans are going to have to get after rookie QB T.J. Yates as he will have WR Andre Johnson back for this game.  Johnson will likely only play a quarter or two, but he is going to help the Texans stretch the field.

PREDICTION:  TITANS 21, TEXANS 20

The Titans have lost two games in a row and this is a “must win game” if they are going to have any chance of making it to the playoffs this year.  They lost to the Jaguars in Jacksonville, 16-14 in the season opener.  The Jaguars have lost four of their last five games as they are not playing well right now.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Titans have the ball:  The Titans are likely going to come out throwing the ball against the Jaguars tomorrow.  He should have time to throw the ball, as the Titans’ O-Line has really pass blocked well so far this year.  He will likely spread the ball around to Nate Washington, Jared Cook, Lavelle Hawkins and Damian Williams in this game.  Chris Johnson has been up and down so far this year, so it’s hard to know what to expect out of him.

When the Jaguars have the ball:  The Titans are going to have to gang up to stop RB Maurice Jones-Drew.  That isn’t going to be too easy as the Titans are giving up 127.7 yards rushing per game and 4.4 yards per cary so far this year.  The Titans aren’t too worried about QB Blaine Gabbert and the Jaguars’ passing game.  That is because Gabbert doesn’t really have anyone to throw to.

PREDICTION:  TITANS 23, JAGUARS 13

This is a big game for the Titans as they are still very alive in the playoff hunt.  They beat the Colts 27-10 in the first meeting between these two teams in Tennessee.  The Colts have played  a little better since their bye week, three weeks ago, but they still have not won a game this year.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Titans have the ball:  The Titans are likely going to give the ball a lot to Chris Johnson in this game.  The Colts are giving up 144.3 yards rushing per game and they are allowing 4.1 yards per carry.  The QB situation is still up in the air as Matt Hasselbeck will start if he’s healthy, if not, Jake Locker will be making his first NFL start this weekend.  Either way, the Titans are likely go have a solid passing game this weekend.  Look for the Titans’ QB to spread the ball around to Nate Washington, Damian Williams, Lavelle Hawkins and TE Jared Cook against a Colts’ D that is giving up 240.5 yards passing per game so far this year.  Opposing QBs have a 108.7 Rating against the Colts so far this year.

When the Colts have the ball:  The Colts are going to try to be balanced on offense in this game.  The Titans’ front seven should be able to handle stopping RBs Donald Brown, Joseph Addai and Delone Carter.  The Titans are going to have to get after Dan Orlovsky as the Colts’ offense has looked better with him under center.  Pierre Garcon and Reggie Wayne are solid WRs, who can get down the field, so the secondary is going to have to step up this Sunday…..and I think they will.

PREDICTION:  TITANS 24, COLTS 13

The Titans have won two games in a row now and they are in the thick of the AFC South and wildcard chases, so this is a HUGE game for them.  The Saints have won four games in a row, but they are a different team on the road.  They are only 3-3 on the road this year, where they have been outscored 159-154!  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Titans have the ball:  The Titans are going to have to run the ball and play keepaway if they are going to beat the Saints this Sunday.  Chris Johnson is on a serious roll as of late and the Saints are giving up 114.6 yards rushing per game and 4.9 yards per carry, so he should have a good game.  If Johnson is effective, so will QB Matt Hasselbeck, using play action passes to attack the Saints’ secondary down the field.  The Saints are giving up 264.2 yards passing per game so far this year, so WRs Nate Washington, Lavelle Hawkins and Damian Williams should be able to make some plays this Sunday.

When the Saints have the ball:  The Titans must find ways to slow Drew Brees down a little bit this Sunday.  The Titans will likely blitz a little more than usual in an attempt to get Brees to rush the football.  It won’t be easy though as the Saints have an outstanding WRing corps that is deep.  He likes to spread the ball around, making things really tough on opposing secondaries.  TE Jimmy Graham and RB Darren Sproles are also huge weapons in the passing game, putting a lot of pressure on LBs and safeties.  The Saints also have a solid three headed monster at RB as Mark Ingram, Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas give them a spark when needed.

PREDICTION:  SAINTS 27, TITANS 24

The Titans are chasing the Texans in the AFC South and they are also trying to get a Wild Card spot in the playoffs, so this game in Buffalo is HUGE for them.  The Bills have lost four games in a row, but they showed some fight against the Jets in New Jersey yesterday before falling a tad short in the end.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Titans have the ball:  The Titans might feed the rock to Chris Johnson in this game as the Bills are giving up 123.8 yards rushing per game and 4.5 yards per carry so far this year.  If Johnson starts to really roll in this game, Matt Hasselbeck is also going to have a great game.  The Bills only have 16 sacks this year and the Titans’ QBs have only been sacked 16 times this year, so Hasselbeck should have a lot of time to throw the ball.  The Bills are having issues at corner right now, so look for Hasselbeck to be throwing the ball down the field to WRs Nate Washington and Damian Williams.

When the Bills have the ball:  The Titans are going to have to get after QB Ryan Fitzpatrick in this game, but it won’t be easy as he has only been sacked 15 times this year.  The smart way for the Titans to play this week is to double WR Steve Johnson and force the Bills to try to beat them throwing the ball to WR David Nelson, WR Brad Smith and TE Scott Chandler.  The Titans’ front seven will have to handle stopping C.J. Spiller.

PREDICTION:  TITANS 27, BILLS 20

The Tennessee Titans have alternated wins and losses the last five weeks.  If that holds true, they will win this game.  The Buccaneers have lost four games in a row by a combined score of 123-69!  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Titans have the ball:  I think the Titans are going to come out throwing the ball against the Bucs.  The Bucs only have 15 sacks this year and they are giving up 265.4 yards passing per game this year, so Hasselbeck should have time to throw the ball and success when he does.  WRs Nate Washington, Damian Williams and TE Jared Cook could all be in line for big games this Sunday in the passing game.  The Titans would also like to get RB Chris Johnson going this weekend and the Bucs have a very weak front seven.

When the Buccaneers have the ball:  The Titans need to focus on stopping RB LeGarrette Blount and force the Bucs to throw the ball.  Josh Freeman has 15 INTs to 11 TD passes, so the Titans’ secondary might have a big game.  The Bucs really don’t scare anyone with their set of TEs and WRs, so the Titans hope putting pressure on Freeman will force him into making some bad throws.

PREDICTION:  TITANS 27, BUCCANEERS 17

Both of these teams really need this football game and they are pretty evenly matched.  The Titans are coming off a 30-3 victory over the Panthers in Carolina last weekend.  The Falcons lost 26-23 in O.T. last week at home against the Saints.  The Titans are 2-2 on the road this year and the Falcons are 2-2 at home this year.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Titans have the ball:  Chris Johnson woke up last weekend and it made the Titans very hard to stop.  This week he’s going to have to work harder against a Falcons’ D that is allowing 90.3 yards rushing per game and 3.9 yards per carry.  The Titans’ O-Line has done a great job of pass blocking and the Falcons don’t have much of a pass rush, so Matt Hasselbeck should have time to throw the ball.  Damian Williams and Lavelle Hawkins have really stepped up lately and they should be able to get open against a Falcons’ secondary that is giving up 253.8 yards passing per game this year.  WR Nate Washington and TE Jared Cook are also nice targets in the passing game for the Titans.

When the Falcons have the ball:  The Falcons are probably going to be balanced offensively in this game as they are a good running and passing team.  They will probably start with RB Michael Turner taking on the front seven of the Titans.  The Titans need to stop him in order to make the Falcons’ offense one dimensional, but that probably isn’t going to work.  The Titans are going to have to get after Matt Ryan because he has some pretty good weapons to throw to in Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez, Harry Douglas and maybe Julio Jones (if he’s healthy enough to play).

PREDICTION:  FALCONS 26, TITANS 23

The Titans are only 1-2 on the road this year and they have lost three of their last four games, so they need a win this weekend to get things going back in the right direction.  The Panthers have played better at home this year, where they are 2-3 on the season and they are going to be well rested coming off of their bye week.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Titans have the ball:  The Titans will likely try to be more balanced than usual in this game.  They are going to try to get Chris Johnson going against a Panthers’ D that is giving up 133.3 yards rushing per game and 4.6 yards per carry.  If they are successful running the ball, it will set up things pretty good for QB Matt Hasselbeck.  The Titans hope to have Nate Washington ready to go in this game as he has a hip injury.  Young WRs Damian Williams & Lavelle Hawkins are starting to step up, and I look for that to continue this weekend against the Panthers.  TE Jared Cook will also likely give the Panthers problems this Sunday.

When the Panthers have the ball:  The Panthers are a pass first team and that will continue this weekend against the Titans, who are giving up 225.5 yards passing per game this year.  The Titans must get a good pass rush on Cam Newton, while containing him in the pocket, and that is not going to be easy.  The Titans will have to give safety help over the top to whoever is guarding Steve Smith, as he is having an awesome year for the Panthers.  He also likes throwing the ball a lot to TEs Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen, which will also challenge the safeties of the Titans.  The Titans can’t go all out to stop the pass though, as Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams are both outstanding RBs.

PREDICTION:  PANTHERS 27, TITANS 23

The Tennessee Titans got back on the right track last weekend at home against the Colts, by winning 27-10.  The Titans are now 3-1 at home on the season.  The Bengals have won four games in a row now and they are 3-1 on the year on the road.  However, the combined record of the teams that the Bengals have beaten this year is 12-25 and they have only beaten one team (Buffalo) with a winning record.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Titans have the ball:  The Titans would love to get Chris Johnson or Javon Ringer going in this game, but it isn’t going to be easy.  The Bengals are only giving up 85.4 yards rushing per game and 3.3 yards per carry so far this year.  If the O-Line gives Matt Hasselbeck time to throw the ball (he has only been sacked 9 times this year), he is going to have success against a Bengals’ D that is giving up 212.0 yards passing per game (they only have 3 interceptions this year!).  Look for Hasselbeck to spread the ball around in the passing game to keep everyone happy.

When the Bengals have the ball:  The Bengals are going to attack the Titans with Cedric Benson tomorrow.  The Titans need to stop Benson on the way to QB Andy Dalton.  Dalton has been solid so far this year and he does have good guys to throw to.  The corners are going to be challenged by Bengals’ WRs A.J. Green and Jerome Simpson, as they love to run deep patterns.  Dalton likes going to Andre Caldwell and the TE (Donald Lee this week) on the short stuff.

PREDICTION:  TITANS 21, BENGALS 20

The Titans have had two weeks to get ready for the Texans.  They are also catching the Texans at the right time as they have lost two games in a row and they will be without WR Andre Johnson once again.  This is a HUGE game for both teams as either the Titans or Texans are going to win the AFC South this year.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Titans have the ball:  The Titans are going to try to get Chris Johnson going this weekend.  The Texans are giving up 107.0 yards rushing per game and 4.6 yards per carry, so this could be Johnson’s chance for a breakout game to kickstart his season.  The O-Line is going to have to be ready for a challenge this weekend as the Texans already have 17 sacks so far this year, but, Matt Hasselbeck has only been sacked 7 times.  If the Titans give Hasselbeck time to throw the ball, he could have success down the field.  Nate Washington is likely going to be covered by CB Jonathan Joseph, so Hasselbeck will have to be careful when throwing the ball to him.  TE Jared Cook, TE Craig Stevens, WR Damian Williams and WR Lavelle Hawkins are going to need to step up in this game.

When the Texans have the ball:  The Titans are going to have to focus on stopping RB Arian Foster as both a runner and a receiver out of the backfield in this game.  The Titans are going to have to get a good pass rush on Matt Schaub, as he still has very capable WRs, TEs and RBs to throw to even with Andre Johnson out of action.

PREDICTION:  TITANS 23, TEXANS 17