Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans UPSET ALERT v Houston Texans, Defensive Line Dominance & Creating Explosive Plays

Episode Date: November 21, 2024

The Tennessee Titans head down to Texas to take on their division rivals, the Houston Texans, in Week 12. Houston is certainly a better team than the Titans, but an upset could be possible if the Titans run the football and dominate upfront. Jeffery Simmons will certainly have to be at the center of that potential domination and on the other side of the ball right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere will have to have his best game of the season. The Titans do stand a real chance of getting an upset win in this game and at minimum they should be able to cover the 7.5 point spread.Subscribe to the TicTacTitans Film Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@TicTacTitansTicTacTitans Merchandise: https://dixons-dream.square.site/shop/tictactitans-gear/C3AAPNWXSXA6SBYG3USV2I7R?page=1&limit=30&sort_by=category_order&sort_order=ascFollow Tyler on Twitter @TicTacTitansFollow the show on Facebook @LockedOnTitansPodSubscribe to the Locked On Titans YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/LockedOnTitans/videosSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Pre-Alcohol by ZbioticsGo to zbiotics.com/LOCKEDONNFL to learn more and get 15% off your first order when you use LOCKEDONNFL at checkout.BetterHelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDON today to get 10% off your first month.Bilt RewardsEarn points now by paying rent right now by when you go to joinbilt.com/lockedonnflHillsdale CollegeAll of Hillsdale’s courses are self-paced so that you can start whenever, and tune in wherever. Plus, you can go deeper with readings, quizzes, discussions - or just enjoy the lectures. Go right now to hillsdale.edu/lockedon to enroll. There’s no cost, and it’s easy to get started.PrizePicksDownload the app and use code lockedonnfl to win $50 instantly when you play $5. You don't even need to win to receive your $50 bonus, it's guaranteed! Prizepicks. Run Your Game.Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFLGametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms Apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelYou can start the season with a big return on FanDuel. New customers can place a FIVE DOLLAR bet and you’ll get started with ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS - if you win your first FIVE DOLLAR BET ! Visit FANDUEL.COM to get started.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

The Tennessee Titans will upset the Houston Texans, and I'm going to tell you exactly how they can do it on today's edition of Locked on Titans. You are Locked on Titans, your daily Tennessee Titans podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome to the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome to the Locked On Titans Podcast. I am your host, Tyler Rowland, Titans fans. Today's edition of the Locked On Titans Podcast is brought to you by GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account,

use the code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. And it's time for our game plan episode for week 12 as the Titans travel to Houston to take on the Texans. And I think there is an upset incoming. First, we're going to look at the keys to victory in this game. We'll look at the players to watch. And then I'll give you my predictions for the game, for fantasy, for gambling. All of that on today's show.

Before we dive into it, do want to thank you for making the Locked on Titans podcast your first listen each and every day. Remember, Monday through Friday, Tennessee Titans content all year round, always for free. You're not going to beat that anywhere else. That's why this is the number one Tennessee Titans podcast in the world. Shout out to my everydayers out there. Tune in Monday through Friday. Couldn't do it without you guys.

If you aren't an everydayer, you need to be one. I'm going to be going live immediately after the game ends on Sunday to break down all of the action. Don't miss that. But with that being said, it is time to dive into our game plan for week 12, and we will start with the keys to victory. And for me, the Tennessee Titans have to get back to running the football. Under 40 yards rushing last week against the Minnesota Vikings, the Titans were never able

to get anything going on the ground. And we have seen all year long that the Tennessee Titans are typically at their best when they're able to run the ball. Not only you add in how good the Houston Texans defense has been in third and long situations, third and seven and longer. The Texans are absolutely dominant on defense with the pass rusher, Daniil Hunter. They got guys up front like a Tim Settle Jr. Will Will Anderson be back in this game? My guy, John Hickman from Locked on Texans on yesterday's show said he didn't think that Will Anderson would be back. But if I know anything about being a Tennessee Titans fan, it's that other teams' best players

who are injured always come back against the Titans. And then, of course, we have to mention the former Titan himself, Danico Autry, who can absolutely give you problems inside, outside, doesn't matter. So the Texans have a dominant pass rush. And if you get in third and long situations, they're going to eat you alive. So the Titans have to run the football. The Texans allow 108.8 yards per game on the ground. That's ninth best in the NFL, but they have allowed games of 158 rushing yards, 150 rushing yards, 163 rushing yards. And all three of those games were one score games

decided by four points or less. I believe one was four points, two were three points. So really gives you an opportunity to keep a game close with the Houston Texans if you're able to run the football, and we know that's in the Titans' DNA anyway. So the Titans have to be able to run the football and stay out of third and long situations so that they can limit the Texans' pass rush. Also on offense, I want to keep this going. I got a little out of order here, but I want to keep the flow going

from the offense to the offense. The Titans have to create explosive plays. Heading into week 10, or heading into week 11, the Tennessee Titans were middle of the road in the NFL in explosive plays on offense. They were 16th, I believe, off the top of my head. And then in week 11 against the Vikings, they had eight explosive plays on offense.

Would have been nine with the Calvin Ridley touchdown pass that should have counted. So the Titans offense, while it has had its ups and downs, and mostly downs if we're honest, the Titans offense has still been okay at creating explosive plays. And you look at the Houston Texans defense. This is really where I think the Titans can attack. If they get themselves into second and five, second and six, second and four,

because they're able to run the ball on first down, even on first down, take them some shots down the field. The Houston Texans defense has allowed the sixth most offensive plays, again, heading into week 10. And then week 11, they played the Cowboys, and the Cowboys, terrible team, so it feels like, you know, you could count that into the stats if you wanted. They're going to look better, but the Texans have been a defense that allows explosive plays, is the overall point here. So if the Titans can run the football and stay out of third and long,

it will give them opportunities on first and second down to create those explosive plays. And if the Titans hit explosive plays, that is going to be a great equalizer against a team that is better than the Titans. So the Titans have to be able to kind of cut the corner a little bit with explosive plays. So run the football, create explosive plays, and then finally stop the run. The Titans have to stop the run. They cannot allow Joe Mixon to beat them, and that starts with defensive line dominance. I could say stop the run, win in the pass rush. My third key to victory here is defensive line dominance for

the Titans. So if they run the ball, create explosive plays on offense, and then dominate on the line of scrimmage on defense, the Titans have a great chance to win this game. So for the entire season, for the entire season, the Houston Texans averaged 121 rushing yards per game. That's 13th best in the NFL. But in their losses, in their four losses, they average 105 yards per game, 24th in the NFL if you compared it to the rest of the NFL year long. Also, the Houston Texans, you may not believe this Titans fans, but the Houston Texans have allowed more sacks than the Titans. The Texans have given up the third most sacks in the NFL. 36 sacks allowed.

The Tennessee Titans have the ability to absolutely dominate up front on the defensive side of the football and take advantage of that Houston Texans offensive line. If they can do that, they'll stop Joe Mixon in the run game. They'll create third and long situations and they will sack CJ Stroud and get the ball back to the offense. So three keys to victory for the Tennessee Titans. Run the football, create explosive plays on offense, and absolutely dominate the Texans offensive line with the Titans defensive line. And that is 100% possible. And that leads me into my players to watch in this game.

And we're going to start where we finished the keys to victory on the defensive line. I'm doing my score prediction. Again, I think an upset is coming. At the end of the show, you don't want to miss it. It's Locked on Titans, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Today's episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.

You know what? I just want to take a moment here and say thank you to all of you who allow me to live my dream every single day, couldn't tell you how much I appreciate it. And look, it's November. This month is all about gratitude. And along with you guys who I want to give thanks to, I also have to thank myself.

Look, sometimes it's hard to remind ourselves that we're trying our best to make sense of everything in this crazy world. That isn't easy. So make sure that you send thanks to the people in your life, but also remember to thank yourselves. Look, I've worked with BetterHelp before. It was a great experience, super convenient. So if you're thinking about starting therapy, you have to give BetterHelp a try. Again, it's entirely online. It's designed to be convenient, flexible, and suited to your schedule. You just do a brief questionnaire.

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of the Locked on Titans podcast. We talked about my keys to victory in this game from a macro perspective, a full team perspective. But now I want to zoom in, talk about the players to watch in this game. Remember, at the end of the show, I am going to do my score prediction for this game. Upset alert. I'm going to give some gambling and fantasy advice

as well as I always do on these game plan episodes, but I do want to thank you first for making the Locked on Titans podcast your first listen each and every day, Monday through Friday, Tennessee Titans content all year round, always for free. Make sure that you get subscribed, stay subscribed. It's your team every day.

But we talked about the keys to victory. Run the football, create explosive plays, dominate with the defensive line. But domination with the defensive line starts with one man and one man only. And that is Jeffrey Simmons. Look, Jeffrey Simmons has been on an absolute tear over the last month. Look at some of Jeffrey Simmons' production.

So in the first seven weeks of the season, a little bit of a slow start for Jeffrey Simmons. He had nine pressures and only one sack. Not good enough for Jeffrey Simmons. And I talked about it on this show, that he simply hasn't been good enough. But over the last four weeks, Jeffrey Simmons has 20 pressures and two sacks.

20 pressures and two sacks. And that includes games of eight pressures and last week, seven pressures. Jeffrey Simmons has been on fire over the last four weeks. He has been dominant. And he needs to be even better in this game. I want to see Jeffrey Simmons even better in this game. I want to see Jeffrey Simmons absolutely destroy in this game. We're talking about Cincinnati Bengals playoff game, Los Angeles Rams

2021 regular season game. That's the level of dominance I want to see from Jeffrey Simmons in this game, and it is possible. You want to know why it's possible? We talked about the Houston Texans and how porous their offensive line is allowing the third most sacks in the NFL. But if you zoom in and you look at the interior offensive line of the Houston Texans, 16 sacks allowed, 78 pressures allowed from the interior offensive line. Like that is despicable, quite honestly. So, Jeffrey Simmons should be able to dominate this matchup. And I will add in, I will add in Tavondre Sweat.

Tavondre Sweat got to the quarterback two or three times last week and missed him. Now, if you watched my film stuff from after the draft on the Tic Tac Titans YouTube channel, then you would know that is something that Devondre Sweat struggled with in college. He would get pressure on the quarterback, and then it was like he was too tired to actually get to the quarterback and the quarterback would evade him.

That can't happen in this game. And with Devondre Sweat being from the area, being from Houston, going to the University of Texas, this is a homecoming game for Devondre Sweat. And if area, being from Houston, going to the University of Texas, this is a homecoming game for Tavondre Sweat. And if he were to have his best performance of the year and actually get some of these pressures and convert them into sacks, it would be critical. So Jeffrey Simmons is the player to watch, of course.

$100 million man. The Titans need him to be incredible in this game. If they're going to upset somebody, you need your best players to play well. But I'm going to add in to Andre Sweat there because if Sweat and Simmons can murder this Texans interior offensive line, not only will they be able to get sacks on CJ

Stroud and force punts, but also they'll be able to stop the run and they can completely gum up the Texans offense. That has to happen in this game, that interior defensive line dominance from Jeffrey Simmons and toavondre Sweat. But moving along, we go to the offensive side of the ball. The Houston Texans secondary, I think, is a weakness. Now, Houston is a very good team, so let's not act like, you know, this secondary is Jacksonville's or Indianapolis' secondary or anything.

It's better than that. But at the same time, outside of Derrick Stingley Jr., the Texans are vulnerable in the secondary. And now Kamari Lassiter, the solid rookie, probably going to be out in this game. And that means you're going to get Jeff Okuda. You're going to get Cater Holman at cornerback opposite of Derek Stingley Jr. So that is why my next player to watch in this game is Nick Westbrook-Akene.

Nick Westbrook-Akene has as many touchdown catches this year as Justin Jefferson, despite only having like five catches coming, or 15 catches coming into the week. Derek Stingley Jr. is going to be on Calvin Ridley. Now, John Hickman from Locked On Texans talked yesterday about how the Texans typically don't shadow Derek Stingley against the number one receiver. I don't know if they'll continue to do that in this game.

Excuse me. I think that they will shadow Derek Stingley Jr. on Calvin Ridley. Now, if they don't, well, I think that's real dumb, and that's where the explosive plays come in. But if they do, NWI has to step up. He has to be Mr. Reliable. He has to have a bigger performance than he typically has with one or two catches and the touchdown.

Like, he needs to have five catches, 70, 80 yards and a touchdown in this game. Nick Westbrook-Akene has to step up and make big plays for the Titans in this matchup with cornerback matchups in Holman and Okuda that are exploitable. Has to happen. Look, Derek Stingley Jr. is nasty. Okay? He might be the best cornerback in the NFL this year. Over the last four

games, Derek Stingley Jr. has been targeted 19 times. He's given up four catches for 30 yards in four games. Like, he is awesome. Okay? Make no mistake. Derek Stingley Jr. is nasty. So, you don't want to go at Stingley.

You want to go at those cornerbacks that I mentioned. And I really like Jalen Petrie. I do. But the Texans are susceptible with their safeties to get beat deep. It's just a reality of their defense. Again, the sixth most explosive plays allowed heading into that game against the Cowboys. So, the Titans have to find a way to take advantage of that secondary.

And the only way that they can do that is to give Will Levis time. And that is why my third player to watch is Nicholas Petit-Ferrer. Leroy Watson will not be back in this game. Isaiah Prince is worse than Nicholas Petit-Ferrer. NPF has to find a way to have his best game of the season. Daniil Hunter, seven and a half sacks on the year. He's been one of the best edge rushers in the NFL

for a long time. All right. The Titans have to help NPF. They have to give him tight end help. They have to slide and let Radins and NPF take on Daniil Hunter at the same time. They have to help NPF. But at some point in time, NPF just has to play his best game of the season.

He just has to man up and get the job done. They got to help him. I don't expect him to win one-on-one against Daniil Hunter at all, really. Not even one time would I expect that. But at some point in time, he's just going to have to play a little bit better for the Titans to pull this off. That's the reality.

So, Nicholas Petit Ferrer, if he's an outright disaster, the Titans won't be able to do this. But if he can just play a B-level game for himself, the Titans are going to have a chance to hit those explosive plays down the field. So, Jeffrey Simmons and Tavondre Sweat is a little side dish for that. NWI, because I think Derek Stingley Jr. will shadow Calvin Ridley. And then Nicholas Petit Ferrer.

Those are the players to watch for me. Let me know your keys to victory. Let me know your players to watch. It is time to give you my score prediction and once again I'm picking an upset for the Titans in this game. Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.

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That's FanDuel.com. Never waste a hunch. Make every moment more with Fanandle, an official sportsbook partner of the NFL. Titans fans, let's cap off today's game plan edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. Talked about my keys to victory for the team as a whole. Talked about my players to watch in this game.

Now I want to get into some of my predictions for this game, my score prediction, my fantasy player of the week, what I would do gambling-wise. Before I get into it, thanks again for making Locked on Titans your first listen each and every day. For your second listen, check out Locked on NFL. I'm the lead host of Locked on NFL for the Locked on Podcast Network. Very thankful for that.

But you get all your Titans news here with me in under 30 minutes every day. Get your NFL news with me in under 30 minutes every day with the Locked on NFL podcast. It's free. Get subscribed on whatever platform you check out Locked on Titans. But I said it at the beginning of the show. I reiterated it throughout. I'm going with an upset. The Houston

Texans have been playing with fire. They have not been playing their best football. I think the Houston Texans are primed for an upset here. I talked about it yesterday. My guy John Hickman from Locked on Texans, he pushed back. He said, oh, that was the Jets game. No, no, no.

They were on the road. They were without Nico Collins, without Stephon Diggs. A lot of things going against them in that game. It wasn't a trap game if they're on the road. But this, this is. The Texans, again, have not been playing their best football. Their offensive line is porous. They give up explosive plays on defense.

They are a good football team. They're going to win this division. They're going to make the playoffs. No doubt about that. But I think the Titans have been playing a lot better football lately than the scores would indicate. They went up against two of the best defenses in the NFL and the Chargers and the Vikings, and I thought they had good moments. They really did. I think the Titans put it all together in

this game. I think they create explosive plays on offense. I think they get turnovers on the Houston Texans with the pressure they're going to create on that offensive line. I think the Tennessee Titans win this game 23-20. Upset alert. That is my prediction. Let me know your guys' score predictions down below. But what we will do is we will transition to the gambling aspect of this game in a little segment I like to call Keeping It Plus 100. The Titans are 7.5-point underdogs on the road in this.

That seems fair to me. Now, you want to take the Tennessee Titans money line, go ahead. While I think the Tennessee Titans will get the upset in this one, it's like, have you ever done a confidence poll where you pick all the football games and you assign a confidence level? I think the Titans could get an upset here, but I wouldn't say that I'm like overly confident. So the way I'm playing this game, Titans plus seven and a half. I love it. I love it. Titans plus seven and a half. Even if some random wild nonsense happens to the Titans, I think they

keep this thing within seven and a half points. So if you wanted to make some money, I'm going to be a little more conservative with my money than I am just my predictions and my pick-em games. Titans plus seven and a half is a hammer for me this week. I love that for the Titans. Moving into some fantasy. My beautiful, dark, twisted fantasy player of the week.

In this one, I'm going with Nick Westbrook-Akene. Again, I explained it earlier. I think that Derek Stingley Jr. will see a ton of Calvin Ridley. I think that'll give NWI opportunities against lesser cornerbacks for the Texans because Kamari Lassiter is banged up. I think NWI finds a way again, four or five catches, 70, 80 yards and a touchdown. I think if you're playing daily fantasy football, if you're in a bad spot, there are six teams on by

this week in the NFL. It's a light week. If you're somebody who's in a deep, deep season long league, both my leagues are 14 teams. It is hard to find players on the waiver wire if you are in a deep, deep season long league, like both my leagues are 14 teams. It is hard to find players on the waiver wire if you are in a spot. And I only have five bench spots in both my leagues which makes it hard to have enough players. So if you're somebody who's been hit hard by a

bye, NWI, Mr. Inevitable, Mr. Reliable, the Honda Accord. Like, that is a good option for me in this game. And if you're playing daily fantasy on FanDuel, well, NWI is going to be very, very cheap, and then you can stack the rest of your lineup with good options. So that's my fantasy player to watch in this game is NWI.

Again, Titans plus 7.5 I think is a fantastic bet. I think the Titans have a great chance to get an upset in this game. So let me know your thoughts on these predictions down below. That's going to do it for me today. Again, I'll be back with you guys on Sunday, going live here on the Locked on Titans podcast to break down all the action. Thumbs up on the video, Tighten up down in the chat. Get subscribed.

Stay subscribed. I am your host, Tyler Rowland, and this was Locked on Titans.