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Titans Host NFC West-leading Rams on Christmas Eve
Jim Wyatt
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — With two games remaining in the regular season, the Tennessee Titans (8-6) host a Christmas Eve showdown this week with the NFC West-leading Los Angeles Rams (10-4). Kickoff at Nissan Stadium (capacity 69,143) is scheduled for noon CST on Sunday, Dec. 24.
Sunday's game marks the Rams' third trip to Tennessee in the regular season. Their last visit was on Dec. 13, 2009, a game the Titans won 47-7. However, the Rams lead the all-time series 6-5.
THE BROADCAST
The game will be televised regionally on FOX, including Nashville affiliate WZTV FOX 17. Play-by-play announcer Chris Myers and analyst Daryl Johnston will call the action, and Laura Okmin will report from the sidelines.
The Titans Radio Network, including Nashville flagship 104.5 The Zone, will carry the game across the Mid-South with the “Voice of the Titans” Mike Keith, analyst Dave McGinnis, gameday host Rhett Bryan and sideline reporter Jonathan Hutton.
Additionally, Sports USA will broadcast the game to a national radio audience. Play-by-play announcer Larry Kahn and analyst Hank Bauer will have the call.
TITANS HOST BACK-TO-BACK GAMES FOR PLAYOFF PUSH
The Titans are coming off two consecutive road contests. After falling in Arizona in Week 14, they traveled to San Francisco last week to face the 49ers.
Ryan Succop made a 50-yard field goal to provide the Titans a one-point lead with 1:07 remaining in the fourth quarter, but the 49ers responded with a 45-yard field goal by Robbie Gould as time expired to give them a 25-23 victory.
In the loss, Titans quarterback
Marcus Mariota completed 23 of 33 passes for 241 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. His passer rating of 110.8 established a season high and was his best since a 126.4 passer rating at Chicago on Nov. 27, 2016. He tossed touchdown passes of four yards to tight end
Delanie Walker and eight yards to wide receiver
Rishard Matthews.
The Titans defense got sacks from linebackers
Avery Williamson,
Wesley Woodyardand
Jayon Brown, recording the unit's fifth consecutive game with at least three sacks. Over those five weeks, the Titans totaled a league-high 26 sacks.
The defense also allowed the 49ers to rush for only 51 yards on 22 attempts (2.3 avg.). Tennessee currently ranks third in the NFL and first in the AFC in rushing defense, allowing only 87.2 ground yards per game in 2017.
The loss put the Titans two games behind the Jaguars (10-4) in the AFC South race. The Jaguars, who take their turn this week traveling to face the 49ers, need a win or a Titans loss to clinch the division title. A Jaguars loss this week coupled with a Titans win would set up a Week 17 showdown at Nissan Stadium between the clubs to decide the division champion. The Titans won the first of two annual meetings with the Jaguars on Sept. 17 in Jacksonville.
THE RAMS
The Rams have found early success in their first season under head coach Sean McVay, who became the youngest head coach in modern NFL history when he was hired in January. McVay spent the previous seven seasons with the Washington Redskins, including 2014 to 2016 as offensive coordinator.
Last week the Rams traveled to Seattle, where they took a commanding lead in the NFC West with a 42-7 win over the second-place Seahawks. They can clinch the division with a win or a Seahawks loss in either of the last two weeks of the regular season.
Second-year quarterback Jared Goff has started every game at quarterback for the Rams this season, completing 274 of 439 passes for 3,503 yards with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The former California Golden Bear was selected with the first-overall selection in the 2016 NFL Draft.
The pick the Rams used on Goff was the original property of the Titans. However, two weeks prior to the draft, the clubs completed one of the biggest trades in recent NFL history. The Titans gave up the No. 1 pick and a fourth-rounder in order to receive the 15th overall pick, two second-rounders and a third-rounder in 2016, plus the Rams’ first- and third-round picks in 2017.
The players acquired by the Titans with those picks, or as a result of further trades involving those picks, include tackle
Jack Conklin, defensive lineman
Austin Johnson, running back
Derrick Henry, wide receiver
Corey Davis and tight end
Jonnu Smith.
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Six Things to Watch in Titans-Rams Game on Sunday
Jim Wyatt
Marcus Mariota
After struggling against the Cardinals, Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota bounced back against the 49ers, posting his highest passer rating (110.8) of the season. The Titans need him to stay sharp. A reason to be optimistic: In the past three games at home against NFC opponents, Mariota has 791 pass yards (263.7 per game) with eight touchdowns and an interception, and a 112.0 rating.
No huddle?
The Titans worked out of the no-huddle roughly 75 percent of the time against the 49ers, and it worked. One of the most popular questions for coach Mike Mularkey this week has been: Will the Titans use it again this week against the Rams? Mularkey said the Titans have worked on it this week, just like every week, but he gave no hints on whether it will be used. Stay tuned.
Secondary
Cornerback
Logan Ryan didn’t practice all week, and
LeShaun Sims was placed on Injured Reserve after suffering a hamstring injury in practice. The team signed cornerback
Demontre Hurst to take his place on the 53-man roster. This week, Mularkey talked about the prospects of young cornerbacks
Tye Smith and
Kalan Reed playing on Sunday. Needless to say, some guys are going to have to step up against quarterback Jared Goff and the Rams. Mularkey indicated Ryan would be a game-day decision.
Todd Gurley vs Titans run D
Gurley has been a force out of the backfield for the Rams, with 1,187 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. He had 180 scrimmage yards (152 rush, 28 rec.) last week against the Seahawks. The Titans run defense is ranked third overall, allowing just 87.2 yards per game on the ground. One of the big keys on Sunday will center on the team’s success vs. the run.
Titans run game vs. Rams D
OK, I’m flipping it here. As fun as the no-huddle was against the 49ers, the Titans would probably love nothing more than to run the football, and play keep-away from a high-powered Rams offense. Enter
DeMarco Murray and
Derrick Henry. Tennessee’s run game has been inconsistent this season. The Rams are ranked 24th in the NFL vs. the run (allowing 120.8 ypg), and 30th in average per carry (4.7). The Titans need to be able to run it.
Home field
The Titans didn’t get it done out West. Losses to the Cardinals and 49ers have turned Sunday’s game against the Rams into a big one. The Titans have been a different team at home of late, with a 5-1 record this season and wins in nine of their last 10 games at Nissan Stadium. On Christmas Eve, the Titans are going to need to play well to win. The team could also use a boost from the home crowd, which has impacted recent wins with noise.