The New York Giants and Tennessee Titans meet by the East Bank of the Cumberland River, just a stone’s throw away from hundreds of hungry country artists trying to jumpstart their careers on Music Row. There is no shortage of storylines in this one. Read on for a breakdown of the game, where to watch, injuries, and the game prediction from our NFL staff.
New York Giants vs. Tennessee Titans preview
The Giants lived in a state of organizational disarray during the Dave Gettleman era. However, the bad man is gone, and Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll are already creating positive outcomes for the team.
The biggest question remaining surrounds their quarterback, Daniel Jones. The team intelligently declined to pick up the QB’s fifth-year option for next season, but he’s not yet a lost cause. However, New York’s in a sticky situation if he plays well this season because that would be the first in his four-year career. And contrary to popular belief, progression as a player is not linear.
[bet-bonus id=”164810″ ]Additionally, can their secondary mesh with the man-heavy defense of Wink Martindale?
Tennessee is an enigma. They paid their running back, traded their star receiver, and don’t have any depth on the edge whatsoever. The Titans shouldn’t be a successful team. Yet, without that running back a season ago and with just the 15th-best offensive EPA and 10th-best defensive EPA rankings, they secured the top seed in the AFC.
But can they continue to see success without Harold Landry III? Can this very talented secondary carry a defensive front that will lean heavily on Denico Autry and Jeffery Simmons? It’s always fascinating to see teams go against the grain, and the Titans are one of those teams.
How to watch
- Date/Time
Sunday, Sept. 11, 4:25 p.m. ET - Channel
FOX - Live Stream
Vidgo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV (some markets), fuboTV, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream, FOX Now
Matchups
As with most interconference matchups, the history between these two teams is sparse. Since 1973, they’ve played one another just 12 times. The Giants dominated the series early on, going 5-1 against the then Houston/Tennessee Oilers. But since the Oilers became the Titans, the script has flipped, with Tennessee taking five of six games.
That’s right, the series is even. This one is to tip the scales!
The last time we saw the Giants was in Week 18, where they lost their sixth straight game to end the regular season. They lost to Washington 22-7. Meanwhile, Tennessee played a slugfest against the Cincinnati Bengals in the Divisional Round of the AFC playoffs, losing 19-16 after Ryan Tannehill’s interception to Logan Wilson set up Evan McPherson’s 52-yard game-winner.
New York Giants 2021 stats/rankings
- Scoring: 15.2 (31st)
- Yards: 287.3 (31st)
- Yards per play: 4.65 (31st)
- Passing: 188 (31st)
- Rushing: 99.3 (24th)
- Defensive scoring: 24.5 (23rd)
- Yards allowed: 354.8 (21st)
- Yards per play allowed: 5.31 (11th)
- Pass defense: 225.8 (15th)
- Rush defense: 129 (25th)
Tennessee Titans 2021 stats/rankings
- Scoring: 24.6 (15th)
- Yards: 342.5 (17th)
- Yards per play: 5.14 (22nd)
- Passing: 201.1 (24th)
- Rushing: 141.4 (fifth)
- Defensive scoring: 20.8 (t-fifth)
- Yards allowed: 329.8 (12th)
- Yards per play allowed: 5.4 (17th)
- Pass defense: 245.2 (25th)
- Rush defense: 84.6 (second)
Injuries to know
New York Giants:
S Dane Belton (clavicle, questionable)
OLB Azeez Ojulari (calf, doubtful)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (knee, doubtful)
ILB Darrian Beavers (injured reserve)
WR Collin Johnson (injured reserve)
OG Shane Lemieux (injured reserve)
OL Marcus McKethan (injured reserve)
OLB Elerson Smith (injured reserve)
CB Rodarius Williams (injured reserve)
OC Nick Gates (physically unable to perform)
OT Matt Peart (physically unable to perform)
Tennessee Titans:
CB Lonnie Johnson (groin, out)
CB Elijah Molden (groin, out)
LB Chance Campbell (knee, out)
OT Jamarco Jones (tricep, out)
OLB Ola Adeniyl (neck, questionable)
TE Tommy Hudson (injured reserve)
OLB Harold Landry III (injured reserve)
WR Racey McMath (injured reserve)
ILB Monty Rice (physically unable to perform)
K Caleb Shudak (physically unable to perform)
Prediction
Betting line (courtesy of Caesars)
Titans -5.5; Titans -250, Giants +205; O/U 44
Dalton Miller’s Prediction
1-0 straight-up, 1-0 against the spread in 2022
Titans 20, Giants 17
Adam Beasley’s Prediction
1-0 straight-up, 1-0 against the spread in 2022
Titans 21, Giants 7
Dallas Robinson’s Prediction
1-0 straight-up, 0-1 against the spread in 2022
Titans 24, Giants 21