Washington Commanders vs Tennessee Titans Week 5 Preview
The Commanders will try to end the 3 game losing streak Sunday when they take on the Titans. The key for the Commanders defense will be stopping Derrick Henry and limiting the big plays. Last week Henry rushed for 114 yards and carried the Titans to a win over the Colts 24-17. If the Commanders stop henry and make Tannehill try to beat they have a good chance of winning Sunday. The key for the offense is staying ahead of the chains and not turning the ball over. The Commanders still haven’t had a turnover free game all season and are -6 in the turnover ratio. If they win the turnover battle and don’t make any mistakes the team will be better this week.
Offense
The offense needs to come out strong on Sunday. In the first quarter during the losing streak the Commanders haven’t had more than 30 yards in the first quarter. They need a long touchdown drive to start the game on Sunday and get this offense moving in the right direction. They will need to stay on schedule and not have any blocking errors to do this. Which has been a problem in the recent weeks with either penalties or taking a sacks. If the O-line can give Wentz time to thrown he should be able to move the ball on the Titans defense.
I expect to see Terry McLaurin to be the featured wide out this week. This is because rookie wide out Jahan Dotson is going to be out for the game. Also the Titans don’t have a top corner like the Eagles and Cowboys do, which will allow McLaurin to get open. I expect the offense to look better this week, but I don’t think they will be perfect. I still expect Wentz to take sacks and throw a pick, but they should put some points up still.
Brian Robinson will play in his first NFL game on Sunday. It will be exactly 6 weeks Sunday since he got shot in his knee and glute in DC. I don’t expect him to get a lot of reps on Sunday, but I do expect to see him in short yardage situations and near the goal line. I expect him to take the full time reps starting in a week or two. This also means that Antonio Gibson will be returning kickoffs, which the Commanders need someone other than Dax Milne to return kicks.
Defense
The defense needs to stop Henry this week. If they don’t the titans will control the ball and tire out the defense. Also if they stop Henry that means Tannehill will have to beat you. He has been playing average to bad so far this season. Last week he only threw for 137 yards, but did throw two touchdowns. So make him try to beat you and play tight coverage on the titans wide outs.
Now how do you stop Henry? The commanders will need to stack the box against the Titans and on the outside play press coverage. Now will Jack Del Rio do that probably not because he didn’t do last week in Dallas. Hopefully the D-line plays as well as it did last week, so they don’t have to rely on the linebackers to make tackles and fill in the right run gaps. If the D-line does have a bad game Henry will run up and down FedexField.
Injuries
Commanders
Percy Butler is out with a Quad
Sam Cosmi is out with a Finger
Jahan Dotson is out with a Hamstring
Milo Eifler is out with a Hamstring
David Mayo is questionable with a Hamstring
Logan Thomas is questionable with a Calf injury
Brian Robinson has been activated from IR and will play Sunday
Tyler Larsen has been activated from IR and will play Sunday
Titans
Ola Adeniyi is out with a Neck
Treylon Burks is out with a Toe
Zach Cunningham is out with a Elbow
Bud Dupree is out with a Hip
Joe Jones is out with a Knee
Amani Hooker is out with a Concussion
Nate Davis is questionable with a Knee
Caleb Farley is questionable with a Knee
Predictions
I think this will be a close game that the Commanders could win if a few things go the right way. Unfortunately thats not the way the season has gone so far. I think they will play good on defense for the most part. They will still give up some big play, but hold the Titans to mostly field goals. The offense will look better this week, but I believe wentz will have a costly turnover that allows the Titans to win. Titans win 24-21 over the Commanders on Sunday. The game is at 1 PM Sunday on CBS this week.
Lines from BetUS
Commanders +2
Over/Under 43
