The Week Two matchup between the Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks is not just another game. A win will mean the Seahawks will start the season 2-0 for the third year in a row—and gives them a good start towards making the playoffs.
For the Titans, a win means avoiding an 0-2 start for the first time since the 2012 season– when Mike Munchak was still the head coach. Since 2007, close to 90 percent of teams that start the season 0-2 make the postseason. The chances of making the playoffs this year should be better since there are three wildcard teams.
Tennessee Titans vs. Seattle Seahawks, Sunday 9/19 @ 4:25 PM ET
| Best Titans Odds | Best Seahawks Odds | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spread | +5.5 (-110) | BetMGM | -5.0 (-114) | DraftKings |
| Moneyline | +210 | BetMGM | -238 | FanDuel |
| Total | Under 54.5 (-110) | BetMGM | Over 54.0 (-110) | BetMGM |
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Tennessee TitansBut no one wants to start the year in an 0-2 hole.
The Titans entered the season with high expectations. Most sportsbooks had them favored to win the AFC South. Their odds of winning the AFC and Super Bowl were not great, they were not bad either. However, they may struggle to make the playoffs with how they played in Week One against the Cardinals.
Their offensive line struggled to protect Ryan Tannehill, who got sacked six times on the day, five of them by Chandler Jones. They struggled to open running lanes for Derek Henry, too (17 carries for 58 yards).
But the issues were not solely with the offense. Kyler Murray had his way with the Titans defense en route to throwing for 289 yards and four touchdowns; he added another 20 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Titans head coach Mike Vrabel credited the Cardinals after the game with outplaying and outcoaching Tennessee. He had this to say after Sunday’s game:
“It is disappointing. There was no other way to put it. It sucks when you lose, sucks when you get your ass kicked.”
Neither side of the ball was supposed to look as bad as they did in Week One. It is fair to assume that Mike Vrabel will light a fire under his team this week and have them better prepared to face a tough Seattle team on the Seahawks’ home turf.
They will have to be much better if they are going to have a chance.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks offense has been the picture of efficiency for as long as Russell Wilson has been its quarterback. Sunday’s season opener against the Colts was evidence of that. He only threw the ball 23 times and completed 18 passes for 254 yards—and four touchdowns.
Tack on a run game that averaged 5.2 yards a carry (27 total carries for 140 yards), and you could not ask for a better offensive day.
Defensively, it was not clear what the Seahawks were going to bring to the table. Last year’s unit was not a great one, and it lost many of the better players via free agency. However, against one of the best offensive lines in the league, they recorded three sacks and held the Colts to 3.8 yards/carry.
In the second half, the defense especially clamped down on the Colts, holding them to just 82 yards until giving up a touchdown on a 75-yard drive late in the fourth quarter.
If the defense can continue to play as well as it did against the Colts, the Seahawks will be a force to contend with this season. However, are they as good as they looked, or did they take advantage of a still struggling Carson Wentz?
That question cannot be answered right now. Fans will have to wait and see how the season plays out. But for now, it is fair to give credit where it is due—to the Seattle defense.
Betting Recommendation: Titans Odds For NFL Week 2
If you want to base a decision on this game off what both teams showed in Week One, the Seahawks will run away with this one. But the Titans are not as bad as they played against the Arizona Cardinals. While Seattle is a better team than the Cardinals, they will not have it nearly as easy.
Does that mean you should bet on the Titans? Not necessarily. It all depends on whether the Titans can get Derek Henry going. Based on Week One, that is going to be easier said than done. However, it will help if Ryan Tannehill can get the passing game going.
While the Seattle secondary looked good against the Colts, the Titans have better receivers. However, Carson Wentz could have been checking down as much as he did because the secondary did such a great job against the Colts receivers (who are unimpressive).
Tennessee will put up a better fight, and while they may not win outright, they could win against the spread. However, if you want to bet the moneyline, the Seahawks are the better bet. As for the over/under, do not count on either offense being quiet in this one. Take the over.
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