NFL power rankings: Patriots, Packers among Super Bowl favorites
Tennessee Titans 0-0
Last week: L, 30-6 at KC
Last rank: 9th
The Tennessee Titans have gone from hot mess to hot pick over the last two seasons, led by quarterback Marcus Mariota and a suddenly-improved offense. Mariota looks fully recovered from a broken leg suffered in Week 16, and he has some real weapons to help him take the leap from good to great.
In the offseason, general manager Jon Robinson continued to build his contender with the signing of receiver Eric Decker and the first-round selection of Corey Davis to go with Rishard Matthews. The trio will give Mariota the best talent he’s ever enjoyed on the perimeter, along with a two-headed monster in the backfield of DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry. Factor in tight end Delanie Walker and a top-notch pair of bookend tackles in Taylor Lewan and Jack Conklin, and Tennessee should roll up points.
If there is any concern, it’s on the defensive side. Robinson acquired Logan Ryan and drafted Adoree’ Jackson to bolster the secondary, but the front seven has question marks. Jurrell Casey is perhaps the league’s most underrated player on the line, but he’s surrounded by little else. Brian Orakpo can create havoc off the edge in Dick LeBeau’s attacking scheme, but he struggled down the stretch in 2016. After posting seven sacks in the first six games, he notched just 3.5 over the final 10.
Still, the Titans are deserved favorites in the AFC South, and could host their first playoff game since 2008.