The Tennessee Titans secondary has its work cut out this week, especially without cornerback Adoree Jackson.
The team faces the visiting New Orleans Saints on Sunday, with an offense led by quarterback Drew Brees and also with Michael Thomas in its receiving corps.
Thomas, arguably the league’s top wideout, has the chance to make history against the Titans.
He’s reeled in 133 receptions this season, just 11 catches away from breaking former Indianapolis Colts receiver Marvin Harrison’s single-season record.
[lawrence-related id=23567]
He totals 1,552 receiving yards and eight touchdowns as a leader on the New Orleans offense.
Tennessee’s pass defense ranks 25th overall in the league, and if Brees and Thomas get some chemistry going early on, things could quickly get ugly for the Titans.
Defensive coordinator Dean Pees knows the defense can’t lose him the way they did with DeAndre Hopkins on multiple occasions in last week’s 24-21 loss to the Houston Texans.
“Last week it was (Hopkins),” Pees told reporters. “We did a great job through three quarters – I think he had two catches for 15 yards – and then we just, for whatever reason, in the fourth quarter we lost him twice. … We just can’t allow that with (Thomas).”
[lawrence-related id=23555]
The Titans and Saints are set to kick off at 12 p.m. CST on Sunday in Nissan Stadium.