The Titans want to keep onto the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and beating the Texans in 7 days 18 has to be of the utmost precedence to hold that declare.
The Tennessee Titans are beautifully poised to keep their hold as the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff photo heading into the postseason.
All they require to do is go on the road and knock off the lowly 4-win Houston Texans in Week 18.
It seems like an easy proposition. Nevertheless head coach Mike Vrabel will not want a repeat of what took place the final time these two AFC South rivals confronted, a surprising 22-13 victory for Houston, paired with the fact the Texans have shockingly gained two of their very last three video games.
But it’s crucial to bear in mind that 7 days 11 defeat was in the center of what turned into a hard stretch for Tennessee, a time when the crew wasn’t any place near to healthy.
It is attainable the Titans are setting up to get healthier now.
Let’s just take a look at some of the most up-to-date damage news, as properly as your up-to-date betting odds and how you can observe this frequent-period finale.
Which is it. The team is having healthful at the proper time soon after using a lengthy wave of accidents.
Of program, the largest harm ponder is the position of functioning again Derrick Henry, who has been poised to arrive off wounded reserve following suffering a foot fracture before this year.
And though some may argue the initially-round bye would be the greatest for Henry to have one much more week’s rest, ought to Tennessee protected the No. 1 seed, it is nonetheless hard not to get fired up in excess of one thing like this:
Titans vs. Texans odds, spread, around/less than & betting decide on Week 18
Having Henry back again for 7 days 18, assuming he performs a huge load, would effectively make the variance from a scrappy but susceptible Texans defense.
Nonetheless, the oddsmakers at WynnBET dropped Tennessee’s favorable line from -11 details down to -10, although it is an awfully large unfold anyway for a road favorite.
Tennessee’s moneyline is nevertheless a whopping -525, while Houston is at +400.
The around/under is 42.5.
Our first prediction for the matchup was possessing the Titans not only masking, but profitable large by a rating of 28-10.
CBS will broadcast Sunday’s contest concerning Houston and Tennessee, which will kick off at 1 p.m. ET from NRG Stadium on Jan. 9. NFL Community and Paramount+ will also broadcast this AFC South showdown.
With the division secured but the No. 1 seed even now up for grabs, it is not yet apparent if Tennessee will get pleasure from a first-spherical playoff bye through the Wild Card round.
The way things stand now, it would.
Nonetheless, here’s the remaining agenda for this season’s NFL playoffs:
The Titans hope they can prevent the surging 49ers though also having back again into the win column on Thursday Evening Football for Week 16.
It’s not generally about which opponents any crew winds up taking part in in excess of the training course of the year.
It is about when you play them. A lot more importantly, how very well they’re participating in.
This is precisely the circumstance for the Tennessee Titans hosting the San Francisco 49ers for Thursday Evening Football in 7 days 16. Tennessee has missing a few of its last 4 game titles, together with a disappointing 16-13 loss on the street at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers very last week.
In all three of people modern losses, head mentor Mike Vrabel’s squad has scored a mere 13 factors for every activity.
Meanwhile, the Niners enter the contest using substantial soon after winning 5 of their last 6, thrusting them selves towards a Wild Card berth in the NFC playoff picture, while Tennessee has viewed its grasp on the No. 1 seed in the AFC slip absent.
Still, Thursday night time game titles can be unusual, and it is often a problem for the street team, specially for one like San Francisco that has to vacation two time zones east.
That said, whilst some injury features are hunting Ok for Vrabel and Co., other folks are not.
Titans injury report vs. 49ers Week 16
Arguably the very best news for Tennessee this week is the point extensive receiver Julio Jones (hamstring) appears to be a whole-go for Thursday night time, and he’ll seem ahead to using gain of a weak San Francisco secondary.
Also, in accordance to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, fellow wideout A.J. Brown (chest) may well be activated off hurt reserve, far too:
Two starting off linemen becoming out does not bode very well in opposition to 49ers EDGE Nick Bosa, who is tied for 2nd in the NFL with 15 sacks on the year.
Titans vs. 49ers odds, unfold, over/less than & betting select Week 16
The oddsmakers in excess of at WynnBET initially named the Niners as superior as 3.5-stage street favorites, but the line has shut a bit given that then with San Francisco now being at -3. Jones currently being cleared to go possibly has a large amount to do with that.
Tennessee’s moneyline at the moment stands at +145, whereas the 49ers are at -165.
The more than/underneath is 44..
Recent record indicates Tennessee is going to struggle scoring points, although Jones vs . that 49ers secondary is an edge quarterback Ryan Tannehill and Co. will appear to exploit. As extensive as it’s not negated by Bosa and the Niners move rush, of system.
Thinking of the whirlwind of offensive struggles, although, we may possibly have to tweak our prediction in favor of a San Francisco earn, 21-17.
NFL Community will broadcast the nationally televised prime-time Thursday Evening Football bout, which kicks off on Dec. 23 at 8:20 p.m. ET from Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.
Kevin Burkhardt will be calling the game with Greg Olsen executing color commentary, and Pam Oliver will be on the sidelines.
Tennessee has to be having to pay close interest to the scoreboard, and pulling off a get in 7 days 16 would go a lengthy way towards climbing increased in the standings.
Possibly the two games soon after Thursday night, blended with that mini bye 7 days, will assistance issues a good deal as the crew appears to close out its 2021 standard-season campaign:
7 days 17 vs. Miami Dolphins: Sunday, Jan. 2 at 1 p.m. ET
7 days 18 @ Houston Texans: Sunday, Jan. 9 at 1 p.m. ET
The Seattle Seahawks participate in their nemesis, the Los Angeles Rams, in Week 15 of the 2021 time. Listed here is all you need to know about the recreation.
Let’s say initial, although, that there is a ton of unknown about the recreation due to a mixed 27 persons currently being on the teams’ COVID lists. Los Angeles is acquiring a little healthier while Seattle is not.
Seattle requirements a victory to continue to keep its diminishing playoff hopes alive but Seattle looks to generally wrestle from the Rams. In simple fact, Seattle is 2-7 in its very last nine game titles versus Los Angeles. All-time the Seahawks guide the collection 25-21.
The Rams are 20th in details authorized at 22.5 though Seattle is fourth (seriously!) at 20.2. Seattle is 20th in yards-permitted-for every-perform, though, at 5.5 for every though the Rams are fifth at 5.2. Los Angeles is fourth in points-scored-for every-sport with 28.2 even though the Seahawks are 19th at 20.9.
Seattle Seahawks vs. Rams: Odds, preview and how to enjoy 7 days 15
Seahawks Harm Report vs. Rams Week 15
This is the strangest week at any time for players who will miss out on a Seattle recreation. No players on either crew have a designation for remaining hurt. That claimed, heaps of gamers will have to sit out 7 days 15 owing to COVID troubles. The NFL ought to have canceled the activity prior to Sunday but then understood cash outweighs overall health and determined to postpone the sport to Tuesday.
Both equally teams have till 1 pm PT to finalize rosters for the game. The recent players on the COVID-19/reserve list are Tyler Lockett, Alex Collins, Brandon Shell, Travis Homer, D.J. Reed, Kerry Hyder, Jr. and observe squad players Mike Jackson and Pier-Olivier Lestage. Linebacker mentor John Glenn is also on the record. Bryan Mone was extra to the checklist on Monday.
The Rams have 18 players on their list such as numerous starters. We won’t actually know who is taking part in right up until closer to recreation time.
Seahawks vs Rams Odds and Betting Pick for Week 15
WynnBET’s 7 days 15 NFL odds have the Rams favored by 7 points in Los Angeles. The moneyline has Seattle at +250 (if you guess $100 you will gain $250) and LA at -300 (if you guess $300 you will get $100).
What channel is the Seahawks game on, 7 days 15 vs. Rams?
Seattle’s video game these days will be broadcast on FOX (Q13 in Seattle) at 4 p.m. PST/7 p.m. EST. The engage in-by-enjoy will be completed by Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston is the analyst and Jen Hale will be the sidelines reporter.
Seahawks on the radio
The excellent Steve Raible will be joined as always by analyst Dave Wyman and on the sidelines will be Hall of Fame reporter John Clayton and Jen Mueller. Listen dwell in the Seattle area on 710 ESPN Seattle and KIRO 97.3.
Seahawks vs Rams reside stream
Today’s Seahawks game can be streamed dwell on the FOX Athletics app, NFL app, Seahawks mobile app (in the Seattle space) and Fubo Tv set.
Seahawks up coming match and schedule
Seattle’s future sport will be in Week 16 on Sunday, December 26th at Lumen Industry in Seattle in opposition to the Bears at 1:05 pm PT. Here’s a search at their timetable for the last two weeks of the 2021 typical season Week 16:
Week 17: At residence compared to the Detroit Lions at 1:25 pm PT 7 days 18: At the Arizona Cardinals at 1:25 pm PT (finish of the year most possible)
Urban Meyer did it. He’s taken center stage ahead of the Jacksonville Jaguars Week 14 matchup against the Tennesse Titans. Instead of talking about how much Trevor Lawrence has (or hasn’t) improved since the season opener or how the Jags’ defense matches up against the Titans’ offensive line, we spent the days preceding the game talking about the poor job Meyer has done leading the team.
However, a game will take place today and the Jaguars had better show up. They are riding a four-game losing streak while the Titans are coming off their bye, which they used to get a bit healthier. Winning at Nissan Stadium would be big for the Jaguars, as they could then focus on the strides they’ve made this season rather than how things haven’t gone the way they expected when they hired Meyer as their head coach.
Here’s all the info you need to know for the game, including the injury report, odds, the Jaguars’ remaining schedule, and where/how to watch it.
Jaguars Injury Report vs. Titans Week 14.
The Jaguars are relatively healthy ahead of the game. They will get cornerback Shaquill Griffin back after missing the last two weeks with a concussion. Center Brandon Linder has been ruled out for the game but Jacksonville doesn’t have any players listed as questionable.
On the Titans sideline, wide receiver Julio Jones is expected to play after being activated from the Injured Reserve list. The two-time All-Pro nod missed three games with a hamstring injury. Tennesse doesn’t have any players listed as questionable for the game but they’ve ruled out five players, tight end Tommy Hudson (ankle), cornerback Jackrabbit Jenkins (ankle), linebacker David Long (hamstring), defensive lineman Teair Tart (ankle), and the newly acquired linebacker Zach Cunningham.
Jaguars Odds and Betting Pick Week 14.
The Jaguars are a 9-point underdog with a moneyline of +335, according to WynnBET. Bet $100 on them and win $335 for a total payout of $435. The Titans’ moneyline is set at -420. Place a wager of $420 on them to win $100. The over/under for the game is set at 44 points.
CBS will show this one and it will start at 1:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m PT. Frank Frangie, Jeff Lageman, and Jaguars legend Tony Boselli will be calling the game. You can also listen to the live broadcast on 1010XL/92.5 FM.
And just like that, there will only be four games left in the 2021 season after this one. The Jaguars will come back home in Week 15 for the rematch against the Houston Texans. They will then have back-to-back away games. First, the New York Jets in Week 16 and the New England Patriots in Week 17. The Jags’ season finale will be against the Indianapolis Colts at TIAA Bank Field.
The New Orleans Saints are riding a five-game losing streak for the first time in the Sean Payton era. It’s been all downhill since NOLA shocked the NFL world in their upset over the Bucs, but even though the Saints won that game, they lost Jameis Winston and their season’s been spiraling out of control ever since.
This week gives NOLA a nice chance to bounce back, as they’ll face the New York Jets. The game is on the road but at this point, an easier opponent is exactly what the Saints need in order to get back on track. No team is easy but the Jets are certainly one of the weaker teams in the league. Even with that in mind, however, New York has managed to defeat the Titans and Bengals, two very good teams, so they’re not to be underestimated.
New Orleans isn’t just facing a terrible run on injuries but several players have tested positive for COVID-19, putting their Sunday statuses in jeopardy.
Saints Injury Report vs Jets Week 14
The following players are listed as OUT for today’s game:
LB Kaden Elliss
OT Ryan Ramczyk
LB Pete Werner
Marcus Davenport Injury Update
Former first-round pick Marcus Davenport has been injury-prone throughout his NFL career and it’s too bad. This season in particular it’s been rough seeing him get injured because he’s actually been quite impressive in year four after three mediocre seasons and the bust label getting thrown around frequently. Davenport was limited in practice this week.
WynnBET has NOLA as 5.5-point favorites over the Jets with a money line of -240 while New York’s money line sits at +200. The over/under is set at 43.0 points, which indicates that Vegas thinks this will be one of the lower-scoring affairs this weekend.
I’ve been picking against New Orleans in recent weeks because of how badly they’ve struggled on offense but this is one game they should win. If they can’t beat the Jets, NOLA has no business making the playoffs. Give me a 21-10 Saints victory on the road in New Jersey.
This week’s game can be viewed on CBS. Adam Catalon and James Loftin are on the call for this NFC-AFC matchup.
Saints vs Jets Live Stream
Today’s game can be live-streamed on FuboTV. Start your 7-day free trial now!
Saints Next Game and Schedule
This game is sandwiched in between four primetime games and it’s been a particularly bad time for the Saints to be featured in primetime. Here are their final four games.
FRISCO, Texas — To Ezekiel Elliott, the diagnosis is not important.
Yes, the Dallas Cowboys running back injured his knee more than two months ago in an Oct. 3 win over the Carolina Panthers. Yes, he has battled stiffness ever since that limits his effectiveness, including his explosive ability. His recovery is gradual, Elliott said Wednesday after practice, adding that he is “getting some strength back.”
The Cowboys running back has declined, and continues to decline, to reveal the nature of his injury. He says a report that he suffered a bone bruise is not accurate. Regardless of medical nomenclature, Elliott sees one outcome as certain.
“All I can tell you is I’m going to be out there,” Elliott said. “You’re going to have to drag me off the field.”
It’s an atypical injury approach for a 2021 Cowboys team that has otherwise handled injuries cautiously, holding out players including quarterback Dak Prescott (calf) and Randy Gregory (calf) for what some in the building consider extra time in hopes of maximizing team health and availability for what Dallas (8-4) hopes is a deep playoff run.
Elliott, meanwhile, has yet to miss a game this season even as his — and the Cowboys’ run game — productivity has declined sharply since their September and early October success.
How drastically has Elliott’s knee limited him? And what else contributes to the Cowboys’ decreased run efficiency? USA TODAY Sports examined.
During the Cowboys’ first six games this season, Elliott averaged 86.8 rushing yards per game and 5.11 yards per attempt. He scored five rushing touchdowns. In tandem with fellow running back Tony Pollard, the Cowboys carried a punishing ground attack averaging 164.3 rushing yards per game, second best in the league.
The Cowboys mounted leads that further boosted their ability to run, leaning heavily on their run game with the second most attempts in the league. But production didn’t only stem from an investment of snaps: The Cowboys were also efficient, averaging 5.08 yards per carry (fourth best) and scoring 10 rushing touchdowns (sixth).
After their Week 7 bye, that run game plummeted.
Since their Halloween visit to Minnesota, the Cowboys have fell to 4.1 yards per carry (and far fewer if you take out the rare 58- and 33-yard runs featured vs. the Saints), which ranks 22nd during that stretch. Their 93.7 rushing yards ranks 21st and their early down struggles have yielded third-and-longs the Cowboys too often fail to convert. In Thursday night’s win at New Orleans, the Cowboys defense bailed its offense out on a night where they converted just 2-of-13 on third-down attempts.
“We got to do a better job of finding some more consistency,” offensive coordinator Kellen Moore said. “We’re not going to run the triple-option all of a sudden or anything like that, but you find what kind of little tweaks and adjustments we can make. They may be subtle, but I think they can be very effective if we find the right pieces and make our adjustments necessary to progress.”
Elliott has averaged fewer than half as many yards per game as he did during his first six games (down from 86.8 to 40.6) and says coaches are limiting his touches as he manages the knee injury. His pass protection has still been crucial to Prescott’s success, but his rushing efficiency has been cut a third, his average yards per carry now 3.44. Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said Friday that Elliott is “fighting to get back in there every time” but “I am concerned.”
“He’s a warrior,” McCarthy said. “Zeke’s running style is ferocious. He gives a pounding and he takes some hits. We need to evaluate that and this week we’ll see what the preparation looks like for him.”
On Wednesday, preparation for Elliott meant full practice participation, according to the Cowboys’ official pregame injury report. Elliott engaged in an extended “prehab” warmup, as he and fellow sixth-year player Prescott often do, warming up his knee on a stationary bike before joining fundamental drills.
Elliott said the Cowboys’ extended break — with 10 days between their Thursday night game in New Orleans and a Sunday visit to Washington, McCarthy gave the players a full three-day weekend — enabled him to rest and visit physical therapy. Friday MRI results revealing improvement and a prognosis of a more full recovery in three to four weeks, Elliott said.
“Hopefully perfect timing, close to as good as it can be when playoffs are rolling around,” Elliott said. “Just got to do everything we can to make sure we’re continuing to progress that way.
“Playing on it is not making it worse.”
The bigger picture
No doubt, Elliott’s health is a major factor to the Cowboys’ run-games woes. But the lack of offensive rhythm goes beyond him. Time clocks in the passing game, dissonance in offensive line blocking patterns and receiver injuries (for a game and half, the Cowboys were simultaneously down both Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb) also contribute. The Cowboys must rediscover the offense that earlier this fall they described as “pick your poison” and “aggressively take what the defense gives us.”
And to some fans’ dismay, increasing Pollard’s touches further is not a sole answer to restoring run stability. There is the difference in their running styles, the 228-pound Elliott is more primed to wear down the interior of a line grinding for runs while the 209-pound Pollard leverages his cutting ability and balance to elude tacklers as he did on a 58-yard rushing touchdown around the perimeter in the fourth quarter vs. the Saints. There are also health implications leading into a division game at Washington: Elliott fully participated in practice and said his injury has not needed and will not need surgery. Pollard was relegated to rehabilitation Wednesday while battling a foot injury. The Cowboys signed an extra running back to the practice squad in case Pollard’s injury lingers.
Immediate availability doesn’t erase the credit Pollard deserves for his career-best 259 rushing yards and 861 total yards from scrimmage. Dallas’ 2019 fourth-round draft selection’s efficiency is elite: Only two running backs with 50-plus carries have averaged more than his 5.6 rushing yards per attempt. At 5.6, Pollard’s mark ties Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, a legitimate MVP candidate.
“His vertical cut run style has been extremely productive, both on offense and in special teams,” McCarthy said of Pollard, who ripped off a 100-yard kick return touchdown on Thanksgiving. “He’s playing with unbelievable confidence. He’s obviously very comfortable schematically.”
So the Cowboys will continue to play Elliott and Pollard as healthy, optimistic that the return of their receiving trio in Cooper, Lamb and Michael Gallup will open up the run game. The running backs are eager to make their mark as the Cowboys face a key stretch to securing their division title and chasing deep postseason hopes. Teammates are optimistic the run game will right its course.
Elliott is “playing through some problems, but I mean that doesn’t really stop him,” Lamb said. “He’s still out there punishing guys on third down, getting the first and just playing bruiser football.”
That’s Elliott’s goal, beginning this week against Washington’s third-ranked (91.3 yards per game) run defense.
“It’s football, you’re never going to be 100{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809},” he said. “Late in the season, we’re getting a little nicked up but you just got to fight through, push through and figure it out.
“It’s a tough game. I take a lot of pride in being out there.”
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Jori Epstein on Twitter @JoriEpstein.
