Tennessee Titans vs. Denver Broncos: Our scouting report, score prediction
The Tennessee Titans have a chance to get their revenge against the AFC West with a game against the Denver Broncos.
The Titans (5-3) host the Broncos (3-5) at Nissan Stadium on Sunday (noon., CBS). After winning five in a row, the Titans dropped an overtime heartbreaker against the Kansas City Chiefs, putting Tennessee a game behind the Chiefs and Buffalo Bills in the AFC standings with losses to both teams.
In order to keep pace in a competitive, top-heavy AFC, the Titans must return to form against the Broncos. Denver has struggled offensively, scoring just 15.1 points per game while ranking last in the NFL in red zone touchdown percentage and second-to-last in third-down conversion rate.
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The Titans haven't exactly been offensive juggernauts either, ranking last in the league in yards per game and bottom-two in pass yards per game, sacks per pass attempt and first downs per game. In a matchup where neither offense has lit the world ablaze, turnovers and long-gaining plays will likely be an even bigger determining factor than normal.
Here is The Tennessean's scouting report and score prediction for Sunday's game.
Titans offense vs. Broncos defense
The Broncos have the NFL's No. 2 scoring defense, No. 1 passing defense and No. 1 total defense at the season's midpoint. They've only given up more than 20 points once in eight games, holding playoff contenders like the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Chargers to 10 and 19 points, respectively.
The big matchup to watch will be in the red zone. Denver's opponents have only scored touchdowns in 26% of their red zone trips, by far the fewest in the NFL. The Titans score touchdowns in 79% of their red zone trips, the highest rate in the NFL.
Denver hasn't been impervious against the run; the Broncos have allowed two players to run for 140 or more yards this season, which sets up well for Titans star Derrick Henry and his five-game streak with 100 or more yards. And Denver's strength in the secondary might not matter in this one, as the Titans throw the ball more sparsely than any team other than the Chicago Bears.
The Broncos' defense has been too good to say the Titans have an edge here. However, the Titans' strengths do align pretty well with the few areas the Broncos aren't stellar at.
Titans defense vs. Broncos offense
The Broncos' offense has alternated between average and putrid. Big-time quarterback acquisition Russell Wilson is having the worst season of his career by touchdown percentage, quarterback rating, QBR and adjusted net yards per attempt, struggling to make a difference with just six touchdown passes.
A struggling offense is just the reprieve the Titans' defense needs after being on the field for 91 plays plus penalties against the Chiefs. Unlike Denver's top-ranked pass defense, the Titans have the NFL's third-worst passing defense per game, opening the door for the Broncos to have a little success through the air.
Still, the way the Titans slowed down a far superior offense last week, they should have a pretty distinct advantage in this one.
Score prediction
Titans 17, Broncos 10: Don't expect either team to light up the scoreboard. Henry and the offense plays keep-away long enough to shorten the game and the Titans win a low-scoring affair.
Contact Nick Suss at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on Twitter @nicksuss.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Titans vs. Denver Broncos: Scouting report, score prediction
