It’s been an up-and-down first year for Tennessee rookie Marcus Mariota. However, the No. 2 pick in last summer’s draft flashed the potential that made him such a promising pro prospect as he led the Titans to a rare home win over the Jaguars.
The Flyin’ Hawaiian will be hard-pressed to recreate that excellent performance next Sunday, though, as his Titans visit the New York Jets, who are right in the thick of the AFC wild card race after another big win.
Get a full breakdown of this Sunday’s Titans-Jets matchup below. Also, don’t forget to check out our previews of the Seahawks vs. Ravens and Giants vs. Dolphins.
[sc:Football ]Tennessee Titans vs. New York Jets Preview
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
When: Sunday, December 13, 1:00 PM ET
Line: Tennessee Titans (+7.5) at New York Jets (-7.5); total 43.5 – view all NFL lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the Tennessee Titans (3-9)
After scoring just 44 points over the previous three weeks, the Titans offense exploded for 42 points in a shootout win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota accounted for four of the team’s five offensive touchdowns, including an 87-yard touchdown run, the longest run by a quarterback this year.
[sc:NFL240banner ]Mariota ended up with 112 of the team’s season-high 210 rushing yards. He was a pretty effective passer too, as he went 20-of-29 for 268 yards and connected with fellow rookie Dorial Green-Beckham for 119 yards and a touchdown. Mariota has now thrown three touchdown passes in back-to-back games.
Mariota’s running ability set him apart in college, and it’s that threat as a runner which could hold the key against a very solid Jets defense. However, it’s still very difficult to trust a Titans offense that is averaging just 20 points on the season even after its 42-point explosion.
It’s also tough to trust Mariota to take care of the ball, as he had another interception and fumble lost against the Jags. He has now turned the ball over 14 times in his rookie year.
Since last season, the Titans are just 4-9 ATS on the road.
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Betting on the New York Jets (7-5)
The New York Jets pulled off one of their biggest wins of the season “on the road” against the Giants. They scored the last 13 points of the game – including the game-winning field goal in overtime – while the defense shut out the G-men after halftime to claim a huge 23-20 win. The Jets have now won two-straight games after losing four of their previous five.
Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick came up big with a season-high 390 passing yards and two touchdowns against the Giants. He has now thrown six TDs in his last two games, with five going to the dynamic receiving duo of Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. Marshall in particular has been unstoppable over the last two games, with 21 catches for 262 yards and three touchdowns during that stretch.
Look for Marshall and Decker to continue doing damage against a Titans secondary that has given up 652 yards and eight touchdowns against the pass-heavy attacks of the Raiders and Jaguars over the past two weeks. The Jets are No. 6 this season in terms of scoring at home (27.5 points per game).
Meanwhile, the Jets D has the talent to bring the Titans back to the norm after their offensive explosion on Sunday. The Jets are tied for No. 2 in the league in takeaways this season with 23, and should force the turnover-prone Mariota into a few more. Star cornerback Darrelle Revis could also make his return after missing the last two games due to a concussion.
Writer’s Prediction
The Jets (-7.5) have too much for Tennessee on both sides of the ball as they emerge with a 24-14 home win.
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