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Tennessee Titans vs. Washington Commanders: Score prediction, scouting report

mike organ, nashville tennessean
·3 min read
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The Tennessee Titans (2-2) play the Washington Commanders (1-3) at FedEx Field on Sunday (noon, CBS) hoping to win their third straight game.

Tennessean sports writer Mike Organ breaks down the game and offers his score prediction:

Titans’ offense vs. Commanders' defense

Consistency has been the Titans' biggest problem on offense. They look great at times, usually in the first half, and inept at other times, usually in the second half. It's been an issue for the run as well as the pass.

The Titans, who will play without receiver Treylon Burks, moved the ball almost at will last week in the first half against the Indianapolis Colts before going dormant in the second half. They had 215 yards and 24 points in the first half and 28 yards and no points in the second half.

Washington is 16th in the NFL against the rush (112.0 yards), 24th against the pass (259.8) and 29th in scoring defense (26.8 points).

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If starting wide receiver Treylon Burks (toe) is unable to play it could slow the passing game a bit, but the Titans have plenty of other receivers capable of picking up the slack.

This also could be the game when Derrick Henry finally breaks a long run. His longest for the season so far is 24 yards.

Who has the edge? Titans

Titans' defense vs. Commanders' offense

Washington's offensive line is in shambles, but so is the Titans' linebacking corps.

Titans linebackers Bud Dupree, Zach Cunningham, Ola Adeniyi and Joe Jones have been ruled out, perhaps evening the playing field against a hapless Commanders offensive line that has allowed Carson Wentz to be sacked a league-high 17 times.

It didn't start off that way for Wentz. He was second in the league in passing yards (650) and tied for first in touchdowns (7) after the first two weeks.

During the past two weeks, however, in losses to Philadelphia and Dallas, Wentz has thrown for a total of 381 yards with one touchdown, two interceptions and been sacked 11 times.

The Commanders' rushing attack is just as bad. They have consistently used three running backs -- Antonio Gibson (173 yards), J.D. McKissic (65) and Jonathan Williams (54). Gibson was a 1,000-yard rusher in 2021.

Running back Brian Robinson, a rookie third-round draft pick out of Alabama, returned to practice this week after being shot while out for dinner on Aug. 28.

Who has the edge? Titans

Score prediction

Titans 27, Commanders 14: After Washington opened the season with a 28-22 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars the Commanders have not played well in any phase of the game. The Titans have played well in the first half of three of their four games and been just as bad as the Commanders in the second half of every game. This should be the game when Tennessee figures out its second-half woes.

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Titans vs. Washington Commanders: Score prediction, scouting