Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Titans 17th Opponent?? 2021 Games Ranked Most Worrisome to Least!

Episode Date: March 3, 2021

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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 Titans podcast. I am your host, Tyler Rowland. Titans fans, it is a Wednesday edition of the Locked On Titans podcast. And as promised in yesterday's show, today we are going to talk about the Titans 2021 opponents. Now, we've gone over the opponents prior in the offseason, but we got a nice new wrinkle added in this week. And it is a 17th opponent. That's right. We got a report from, I believe it is NBC now.

NBC's Peter King, a veteran in the NFL journalism game. And he basically reported that 17th game is right around the corner. So we're going to go over his report. We're going to talk about what that means for the Titans, who their 17th opponent might be, how it affects the schedule, and also why we're at it. Might as well go over those Tennessee Titans opponents again, but rather than just naming them off,

what I want to do is a little exercise of where as we sit right now, who I am least worried about facing in 2021, and who I'm most worried about facing in 2021. So excited to dive into everything with you guys today. Remember, I will be putting out Monday through Friday Tennessee Titans content, not only during the season, but all off season long as well. And you won't find another Tennessee Titans content creator doing that. So subscribe to the Locked on Titans podcast on Apple podcast, follow on Spotify or whatever

platform you do stream. But as for today, we are diving into the 17th game and the Titans 2021 opponents from least scary to most scary. Let's get it. Ladies and gentlemen, one thing that we do know is that life is always a changing. And the NFL is no different. And we got a report on a big change that honestly has been expected for quite some time now. And that is the NFL adding a 17th game to the schedule expanding one more game on top of the 16 that they already play now just quickly I'll say this I like more football I want more football but man doesn't 16 games just feel right I mean it's an even number it just feels right so this makes me a little sad that things are changing just because

I like the way that the 16 game records look. 8-8, it just totally changes the calculus, especially for betting, like season over-unders. I almost bet one of my friends earlier today that the Arizona Cardinals would go under 8 or 9 wins, so they'd be 8-8 at best. But then my other buddy reminded me we're probably going to get a 17th game. And I'm like, you know what? I take that back. It makes it way too easy. Changes the calculus a little bit.

So that's something that we have to think about. But the reason that we're talking about this is a report coming from Peter King. And this is what he had to say in a recent article. A note about how the league configured the extra game. When the NFL was choosing options, the formula that prevailed, follow me now, was AFC vs. NFC cross-conference matchups from two years ago. So the 2021 matchup is based on 2020 standings. Now that you're totally confused, here's an example. The four AFC West teams

played the four NFC North teams in 2019. In 2020, Kansas City finished first place in the AFC West. Green Bay finished first in the NFC North. So in 2021, it's AFC West against NFC North. One versus one from 2020 becomes Green Bay versus Kansas City. I will bet you a Kroll's West cheeseburger with an ice-cold spotted cow that the networks will brawl over this ratings gold game. This game alone is the reason enough for the league to rush the 17th game out onto the 2021 schedule. So, let me put this into perspective for the Titans.

This will answer a lot of questions. The Titans will be playing the New Orleans Saints. Now think, in 2019, well, let me go back here. Every year, the Titans played two divisions in totality. Last year, remember, the Titans played the entire AFC North and the entire NFC North. Well, the year before that, one of the divisions that the Titans played in totality was the NFC South. Remember, we played the Panthers.

We played the Falcons. We played the Saints. Remember, Adam Humphreys got lit up or Kalief Raymond got lit up and they didn't call it. We played the Saints and we also played the Buccaneers. So the way that this would work is in 2019, we had our cross-conference matchup against the NFC South in 2020 the Titans finished number one in the AFC South and the Saints finished number one in the NFC South so in 2021 the added game for the Tennessee Titans will be the New Orleans Saints. So 2019, it was our cross division matchup. And then in 2020, the two teams that finished in number one

play each other in 2021. So I hope all of that makes sense to you guys. The Titans will be playing the Saints. Now there's no real way to divvy up home in a way because again, we don't have even games now. So you don't get to divvy up home in a way because, again, we don't have even games now. So, you don't get an even amount of home in a way. But what they're doing is the AFC is going to be at home first. And then the year after that, the Titans will play that 17th game on the road against an NFC division opponent. Again, think about it. It's going to be somebody from the NFC

North. That was the NFC division that the Titans played in totality in 2020. So that means wherever the Titans finish, let's say the Titans finish first this year in the AFC South, the Packers finish first in the NFC North. That means in 2022, the Titans will play at Green Bay again. So I hope all of those examples I'm giving you do help clear this up. Now, it's not just the 17th game. Some other changes that we're hearing, there will be no extra bye week, which I think is

crazy. There's going to be 17 games and 18 weekends. Also, Sunday week one will be on September 20th. The final Sunday of the season is going to be January 9th now. Super Bowl Sunday will be pushed back a little bit to February 13th and the wild card schedule will change. There will be two games on Saturday, three games on Sunday, and then a Monday night wild card game. That is going to be some big ticket money for the NFL as teams battle for that. But my question is the reason that the

NFL had games on Saturday and Sunday is because every team got an equal amount of rest well if you have a team playing on Monday night and then they have to turn around and play on Sunday against a team that played on Sunday or Saturday well that's a completely unfair schedule advantage to the team that had a game further away so that's a little confusing to me a little curious to me but we will see how they iron everything out. All that we really know is the Titans probably will be playing a 17th game this year, and it's going to be at home against the New Orleans Saints looking for some revenge from 2019.

But we are going to move into ranking from least scary to most scary the Tennessee Titans opponents in 2021. Before we do, I'm going to tell you about how you can bet those Tennessee Titans games when the time comes, and that is on betonline.ag. Yes, football is over right now, but the NBA, college basketball, and NHL can keep your plate full until the NFL returns. BetOnline also has award shows, TV shows, reality TV, real-time updated odds and props on pretty much anything that you could possibly imagine. So head to their website or use your mobile device and sign up for free today. Use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get a 50% welcome bonus on your first deposit. They will literally give you free money when you sign up using promo code LOCKEDON.

So head to BetOnline.ag today. BetOnline, your online sportsbook experts. Okay, folks, let's dive into the Titans 2021 opponent list. And obviously there's free agency. There's the draft. There's trades. There's injuries during the all season injuries in training camp. Different things can take place, not only to the Titans, but to their opponents that

could change the way I feel about some of this. But as things sit right now, as they stand right now, let's take a look at which Tennessee Titans opponents in 2021 scare me the least about playing and which ones frighten me the most. We are going to start with the back end, the teams that I am least afraid to take on. And I'm going to give you my explanation as to why. Number one on that list is the New York Jets. So the Titans will be playing the entire NFC West and the entire AFC East this upcoming season. That's what we do know. And just quickly, if you guys don't know

how the NFL schedule formula works, I'll fill in the gaps. Now, I already talked about how that 17th game will work, but as for the other 16, you play six games every year against your division opponents, two, two, and two, Colts, Jags, Texans. And then you play two full divisions, one from the AFC, one from the NFC. So that's four teams there, four teams there. That's eight, six times eight or six plus eight is 14. That's 14 games. And then the other two games, you play the other division alignment in your conference. So for the Titans, they would basically, if you finish in first place, let me give you this example.

Last year, the Titans played everyone in the AFC North. So that means that they played the team that finished in their spot the year before in the AFC West and in the AFC East. So the Titans played the Bills last year, if you do recall, and the Titans played the Bills last year, if you do recall. And the Titans played the Broncos last year. So the Broncos

and the Bills finished in the same spot in the division as the Titans in 2019. So that's their two extra games. So six division, eight full division games for other divisions, one NFC, one AFC, and then the people who finished in your spot in the AFC in the other two divisions that you

didn't play. So that's how that works. And then we went over the 17th game and how that formula works. So basically every single year, you know who the Titans are going to be playing. You just don't know when, you don't know what week it's going to be. But we do know the teams, and we do know home and away as well. That's something that they have shown us. So the home games for the Titans, Bills, Dolphins, Cardinals, 49ers, Chiefs, and Saints. And then, of course, you have the three division games that are going to be at home. and Saints. And then of course you have the three division games that are going to be at home.

Away you have Pats, Jets, Rams, Seahawks, Steelers. So for me, let's dive into the least scary teams. Number one is the New York Jets. They have the number two pick in the draft. They're kind of a tire fire. I don't think that Robert Sala is going to be a bad coach, but just so much bad juju there, it would be surprising for the Jets to turn things around and be a super competitive team. If the Titans lost to the Jets next season, we would all be upset. So to me, there's no way that I'm going to be fearful of the New York Jets. Number two, this may be a little bit of an upset, but I'm going with the Houston Texans. So one of two things either either Deshaun Watson gets traded or Deshaun Watson sits out and doesn't play for the Texans either way either way I'm more worried about the Jags than I am the Texans

the Texans like the Jets are a dumpster fire of an organization right now and I'm just not worried about playing them next year with everything so in flux right underneath that though is the Jacksonville Jaguars and the reason that I have the Jags behind the Texans is because the Texans quarterback position is is uncertain and the roster is terrible I think the Jags actually have some decent parts of their roster and I know that their quarterback is going to be Trevor Lawrence. So with the certainty of that, I'm going to go with the Texans as less scary than the Jags. After that, though,

I have the New England Patriots. I know. I know. It sounds crazy, but who's going to play quarterback for them? Jared Stidham? Are they going to bring Cam Newton back? Are they going to trade up for Mac Jones or Trey Lance? Either way, I'm just not buying it.

I think the Patriots, they had 20 years of dominance. They're due for a downturn. And Mike Vrabel, he's going to give it his all to beat Bill Belichick. And if Mike Vrabel was able to beat Bill Belichick with Tom Brady, then I think Mike Vrabel can beat Bill Belichick without Tom Brady. So I have faith in the Titans. They are the Pats I'm not too concerned about. Next, the Colts.

I know it's the Colts, man. I know. I get that. But Carson Wentz, I know that I was trying to preach to you guys to not be too happy about this and to be very, very cautious about this Carson Wentz thing because it could go really well and it would be terrible for the Titans. But outside of that, the Colts lost their left tackle. They're probably going to lose T.Y. Hilton in free agency.

I mean, I don't see they lost Phillip Rivers, of course. I don't really see the Colts as a team to be incredibly afraid of outside of just the superstition of it's the Colts. And I refuse to do that for this exercise. I'm not worried about, I'm not entirely not worried. Remember, I'm not saying I'm not worried about these teams. I'm just ranking them in order of how worried I really am. And the Colts are on the lower end.

Right after that, I have the Arizona Cardinals. We're getting into teams that it's not fair to say I'm not worried about them. The Cardinals are a solid team. They went 8-8 last year, and with Kyler Murray running around like a crazy man, you never know what could happen. I think the Titans should be favored in that game, especially when you consider the fact the Titans will be playing the Cardinals at home. That's part of the reason they're at this point in the list.

Is it's a home game for the Titans. But from my perspective, out of the teams that are left. I'm less worried about the Cards than I am some of these others. And the last team that we're going to talk about in this section. Is the Dolphins. Now I know the Dolphins were a really good team last year. They almost made the playoffs. They were right outside of the playoff picture.

But I have expressed this. I'm not very sold on Tua, and the Dolphins' defense last year was nuts. They had a bunch of turnovers. They had a bunch of touchdowns on defense, and the reality is, that's not something that typically translates year to year. Turnovers

and touchdowns on defense are mostly just luck, guys. It's just the bounce of the ball, the way things work. Good defenses are good defenses, but turnovers and especially touchdowns on defense, that's fluky. You can't count on that year to year, and the Titans will be getting the Dolphins at home in Tennessee.

So to me, my skepticism of Tua, the natural regression of their defense, and it being a home game, has the Dolphins the last on my list of lesser concerning teams compared to the teams that we are going to get into next. But before we get into the list of the most concerning teams for the Tennessee Titans, I have to tell you guys about the best tasting protein bar on earth, and that is Bilt Bar.

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I went from least scary to more scary on the last one. But on this one, I'm going to start with the most scary and then go down to the middle section. So remember, we had Jets, Texans, Jags, Pats, Colts, Cardinals, Dolphins. With the Dolphins being the most scary and the Jets being the least scary out of that group. being the most scary and the Jets being the least scary out of that group. Let's start on the flip side here. The most scary team that the Titans have to face next year is the Kansas City Chiefs. So this is one of those secondary games. The Titans aren't playing the entire AFC West next year.

But in 2020, the Titans and the Chiefs finished in first place. So that makes them one of their two extra AFC games. See how that works? It's all coming together now. It's all coming full circle. So anyway, the Titans will play the Chiefs next year, but it will be at home. I don't care if it's at home. I'm scared of the Chiefs. That's the number one. I mean, they may have lost the Super Bowl, but let's be real here. Like I said, defenses, it's hard to maintain great defensive play from year to year. A lot of it is circumstantial is what I mean to say. So to me, let's not pretend like the Chiefs, because they lost the Super Bowl, aren't still the most feared team in the NFL with

their weapons and Pat Mahomes at quarterback. So that's the reality. And who knows how they retool, how much they get better. The Chiefs are the number one most terrifying team on the Titans schedule to me, hands down, really easy to come to that conclusion. Number two is the Buffalo Bills. Now the Titans will get the opportunity again to play Buffalo at home. So the Titans have that comfort playing the two best teams and the two most scary teams on their schedule in Nashville.

But still, even though the Titans blew the doors off the Bills last year, that was a flute game for the Bills. Now it was fun for the Titans, but we know that's not who the Bills team really was last year. So I would expect with that in the back of their head, the Bills to really come to Nashville ready to play. And Josh Allen will be another year advanced. We'll have the defense working again.

I think the Bills are a really good team. That's going to be an incredibly tough game for the Titans. They do get the benefit of being at home, of course, as I mentioned. But still the second most difficult and most scary team that the Titans will have to face in 2021. Number three, things got a little hard right here. But for me, number three is the Los Angeles Rams. And a big part of this is the Titans are going to have to go on the road all the way to Los Angeles to play this game. And outside of a trip to Seattle that we're going to talk about,

that's their longest trip of the year. So going all the way across the country to Los Angeles, playing that defense, that front seven with Aaron Donald, and now the Rams have Matthew Stafford who gave the Titans hell when he played for the Lions just this season. Matt Stafford's best throw of the year was against the Titans. That no-look touchdown pass's best throw of the year was against the Titans.

That no-look touchdown pass to Marvin Jones in the back of the end zone. Bad zone coverage from the Titans there. But, either way, that's a tough game to win. To go across the country, play in Pacific time against Matthew Stafford and Aaron Donald. That's going to be a really tough matchup for the Titans. And one of those that I probably won't expect them to win coming into the season when I get into my predictions and things. By the way, I predicted 11-5 last year.

Just saying. Just saying. You know, hey, people thought I was crazy, but I was right on it. Next, number four, we're staying in the same division, and it's the Seattle Seahawks. And really what it comes down to is this is another similar exact situation. The Titans, it'll be their longest road trip of the year. They'll have to go out to Seattle. That's very far, not only across the country, but also up going north too. You got to go west and north. It's going to be very difficult playing in Pacific time zone. Again, that matters. Your body clock,

that matters. Russell Wilson, second reaction quarterbacks terrify me, guys. Anybody who can get out of the pocket, run around, scramble, and make plays downfield, put extra pressure on your defensive backs, and Russell Wilson's just one of the best quarterbacks I've ever seen, and despite the fact that, you know, the Seahawks struggle protecting Russell Wilson, well, why would I assume that the Titans would be able to take advantage of that flaw in their system anyway? So, Russell Wilson's going to have time to throw. He's going to have time to scramble. They're going to score points. We're going to be up in Seattle. That's going to be a very difficult game for the Titans and one that I am pretty worried about.

Next, this one had me a little thrown, but I have the New Orleans Saints here, that 17th game that we've discussed, and while right now Drew Brees' future is up in the air, I just like the Saints roster, and they're a well-coached team. It's never going to be easy to beat them. Even though the Titans are at home, they lost to the Saints when they were at home last time. So to me, even if Drew Brees doesn't come back, even if he retires, whoever they get at quarterback and then the roster that's around them with Mike Thomas and Alvin Kamara and a great offensive line, a pretty solid defense as well, that team is a good team. So no matter who ends up at quarterback, whether Brees comes back or it's Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill or they trade for somebody else or whatever they want to do, either way, that's

a game that has me a little bit worried just because the Saints are so well coached and so consistently good. Next, you have the Pittsburgh Steelers. And this is a similar situation. The Titans are going to play on the road in Pittsburgh, so that makes it a little bit different. Right now, we don't know Ben's future. He's saying he wants to come back.

But either way, the Steelers still have a pretty solid team. They have a good group of wide receivers. They have an okay offensive line. They have good personnel on defense. Mike Tomlin is a pretty good coach. And the Steelers just seem to have the Titans number. I can't tell you off the top of my head the last time the Titans beat the Steelers, but I know it's been some time, especially in Pittsburgh.

That's rough. That's going to be rough for the Titans. So even though there's a lot of things up in the air for the Steelers, still a game I'm worried about. And then the last team that I want to talk about being worried about is the San Francisco 49ers. And I know that they struggled last year. They had a ton of injuries, but as I talked about when I talked about Arizona when J.J. Watt went yesterday and how I think Arizona is the worst team in that division, the reason I think that is is because Kyle Shanahan's a fantastic coach, and I just really like the roster that they are putting together in San Francisco. So to me, it's clear-cut that I would put San Francisco

as more scary ahead of the Cardinals or the Dolphins. So one more time, let's go through this. The most scary teams on the Titans schedule, Chiefs, then Bills, then Rams, then Hawks, then Saints, then Steelers, then 49ers, then the Dolphins, then the Cardinals, then the Colts, then the Pats, then the Jags, the Texans, and the Jets at the end of the list. So essentially that is going to do it for my ranking of the scariest opponents and least scariest opponents on the Tennessee Titans 2021 schedule without knowing exactly what week it is that we are going to be facing off against those teams.

Before I let you go though, I want to tell you about a couple podcasts you guys have to check out. They're covering everything you need. I am covering everything you need to know about the Titans, but what about the rest of the sports world? Make sure that you check out a new podcast from the Locked On Podcast Network and it is Locked On Today, hosted

by the great Peter Bukowski. He has all of the sports news you need every single morning in under 20 minutes. So subscribe to the Locked On Today podcast wherever you get podcasts. Also, now that you're done with this Wednesday edition of the Locked On Titans podcast, check out the national show, the Locked On NFL show. Get all of your national NFL news after you check out all of your Titans news. But that is it for me today, folks.

I will be back with you guys tomorrow for another edition. As always, I am your host, Tyler Rowland, and this was Locked on Titans.