The Tennessee Titans are favored over the New York Giants ahead of their Week 1 matchup at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Sept. 11.
According to Tipico Sportsbook, the Titans are 5.5-point favorites over the Giants for the season-opener. The over/under is set at 43.5.
This spread has actually tightened since the last time we checked in May, when it was 6.5. The over/under has gone down, also, from 44.5.
One reason for the tightening spread might have to do with the absence of Titans outside linebacker Harold Landry, the team’s 2021 sack leader who suffered a torn ACL last week, ending his season.
It’s a big blow to a Titans defense and pass-rush that is expected to be among the league’s best and a stabilizing force for a Tennessee team that has a slew of new faces and question marks on the offensive side of the ball.
But being able to thrive without their best players was a staple of the Titans in 2021. The team fielded an NFL record 91 players last season because of injuries but still managed to pull off a 12-win season, division title, and the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
After trading A.J. Brown, the Titans drafted Treylon Burks and Kyle Philips, joining a receivers room that also included veteran Robert Woods and the only returning wideout from 2021, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
Also of note for Tennessee is the two new starters they have on the offensive line in left guard Aaron Brewer and rookie right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere, both of whom have to prove they are capable starters in the NFL.
The entire starting unit didn’t get any run together in the preseason, so a slow start is very possible for Tennessee’s new-look offense, which is once again led by quarterback Ryan Tannehill and running back Derrick Henry.
The Giants are coming off yet another losing season — their fifth straight — but there is hope yet with a new head coach at the helm in Brian Daboll. The Giants are hoping he can bring some of the magic that helped turn the Buffalo Bills into an offensive juggernaut in recent years.
However, New York is still climbing out of the hole that former general manager Dave Gettleman dug for the franchise during his time there, particularly when it comes to their salary cap situation.
The Giants had to let some pieces go during the offseason to make things work, the biggest of which might have been cornerback James Bradberry, who joins the aforementioned Brown in Philly.
Losing Bradberry leaves quite a bit of uncertainty in the Giants’ cornerbacks room, which is now led by former Titans corner Adoree’ Jackson and 2021 third-round pick, Aaron Robinson.
Adding to Big Blue’s woes on defense, the Giants may be without two of their top pass-rushers in Azeez Ojulari and 2022 first-round pick Kayvon Thibodeaux, two of many of New York’s walking wounded from the preseason.
On offense, the Giants figure to have an improved offensive line with a few new additions, but their biggest names on offense all carry major question marks.
Quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley have both dealt with injury and consistency issues during their careers. Wide receiver Kenny Golladay has been terrible since signing in New York, and fellow wideout Kadarius Toney has flashed promise but has also struggled with injuries.
With all the question marks and overall issues both teams have on offense, a slow start is even more likely than it usually is in season-openers. As a result, we have Tennessee squeaking out a win over New York in a somewhat low-scoring affair, 23-20.
