Saints (11-3) at Titans (8-6)
Titans schedule
W .... at Cleveland .... 43-13 L ..... Indianapolis ..... 19-17 L ............ at Jax ............ 20-7 W ...... at Atlanta ...... 24-10 L ........... Buffalo ........... 14-7 L ......... at Denver ......... 16-0 W ... L.A. Chargers ... 23-20 W ..... Tampa Bay ..... 27-23 L ...... at Carolina ...... 30-20 W ..... Kansas City ..... 35-32
BYE
W .... Jacksonville .... 42-20 W .. at Indianapolis .. 31-17 W ...... at Oakland ...... 42-21 L ........ Houston ........ 24-21 Dec. 22 ... New Orleans ... 1 Dec. 29 .... at Houston .... 1
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee TV: Fox
Danny Sheridan’s line: by 2
Saints’ keys to victory: The Saints haven’t allowed a 100-yard rusher in 38 games, but Titans RB Derrick Henry could be a real threat to that. The Saints will need to limit a potentially lethal Tennessee ground game to keep the Titans’ offense from taking over the game. The Saints will need to force turnovers from Titans QB Ryan Tannehill (114.6 rating), who has lost one game as a starter.
Titans’ keys to victory: The Titans’ defense and special teams have come up with some gamechanging plays of late. They have experienced good quarterback play from Tannehill but will be up against QB Drew Brees, the NFL career leader in touchdown passes. Saints WR Michael Thomas has 89 or more receiving yards in 10 of 11 games, including 130 or more three times. Yet limiting big plays from him could help bring the Saints’ passing attack to a halt. The Titans have proved to be a team that can compete in a shootout lately, but getting the momentum early and keeping it will be vital against a team that’s been as dominant as the Saints in 2019.
Matchup to watch: Titans LB Harold Landry vs. Saints RT Ryan Ramczyk. Draft analysts have said the Saints should have drafted Landry instead of Marcus Davenport in 2018. Landry has done a good job coming into his own and has given offensive lines issues all year. He’ll be one Ramczyk will have to constantly fight.
Who wins? The Titans have gotten hot and taken over several games this year. But the Saints have proved a better team on the road (5-1) than at home.
Saints, 24-20
Saints