Titans and Jags not much to look at
Jacksonville won the AFC South and Tennessee earned a wild-card playoff berth out of the division last season.
Now, they get the prime-time spotlight on Thursday even though both are also-rans.
Oh, the Titans (6-6) still are in the playoff chase.
But it’s difficult to take serious a team that needs a late rally to beat the Jets.
What’s happened to the Jaguars (4-8) is stunning. One quarter away from winning the AFC title in January, they snapped a seven-game slide last Sunday, blanking the Colts 6-0.
The Jags will have running back Leonard Fournette, who was suspended for the Indy game.
“Getting him back is going to be a huge boost, especially for our team,” safety Tashaun Gipson says.
“He’s the best player we have on the offensive side of the ball.”
The Titans’ best offensive player is, well, that’s a tough one.
They rank 28th overall in yardage and only four teams have scored fewer than Tennessee’s 221 points.
Tennessee is a 41/2-point favourite over Jacksonville.
This should be a defensive standoff but, no, we certainly can’t go with 6-0.
Titans, 16-9
Denver (-51/2) at San Francisco
Broncos believing they have playoff shot. Can’t stumble here.
Best bet: Broncos, 27-17
Detroit (-2) at Arizona
Not feeling any good vibes for Lions, especially when favoured on road.
Upset special: Cardinals, 19-16
Indianapolis (+41/2) at Houston
Texans can clinch the AFC South if Titans lose and they win.
Texans, 27-24
Minnesota (plus 21/2) at Seattle, Monday night
Winner here has straight road to NFC wild-card spot.
Seahawks, 26-21
Cincinnati (+14) at Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers figure they can win AFC West. Guess what: they still might.
Chargers, 33-13
Baltimore (plus 61/2) at Kansas City
Ravens could give Chargers’ hopes a boost. But ...
Chiefs, 31-27
New Orleans (-8) at Tampa Bay
Time to secure NFC South for Saints, and avenge opening defeat.
Saints, 41-23
Los Angeles Rams (-3) at Chicago
Toughest remaining test for Rams, who should be able to handle it.
Rams, 27-20
New England (-8) at Miami
Patriots still eyeing top seed in AFC.
Patriots, 34-24
Philadelphia (+4) at Dallas
Cowboys can pretty much waltz away with NFC East with win. Start the music.
Cowboys, 23-20
Pittsburgh (-11) at Oakland
Oh, for the days of John Madden versus Chuck Noll.
Steelers, 36-30
New York Giants (-4) at Washington
Oh, for the days of Bill Parcells versus Joe Gibbs.
Giants, 16-13
Carolina (-11/2) at Cleveland
Panthers have lost their mojo. This loss will shatter playoff chances.
Browns, 22-20
Atlanta (+51/2) at Green Bay
This will be Aaron Rodgers’ first start without Mike McCarthy as head coach.
Packers, 33-31
New York Jets (plus 31/2) at Buffalo
Countdown is on for Todd Bowles as next coach fired.
Bills, 20-9
2018 record:
Last week: Against spread, 8-8; straight up, 9-7
Season totals: Against spread, 9585-7; straight up, 127-63-2
Best bet: 4-9 against spread, 9-4 straight up
Upset special: 8-5 against spread, 7-5-1 straight up