Titans Wire Features – Page 9 – Syndication Server

Titans vs. Bears: 3 best player prop bets for Week 1

The Bears host the Titans in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season and there are three player prop bets everyone should consider.

The Tennessee Titans face the Chicago Bears on the road at Soldier Field on Sunday.

It’s the first game of the season and it’s on the road, so it’s no surprise that the Titans are 3.5-point underdogs with an over/under of 45, per BetMGM.

There are three player prop bets that those of you with disposable income should consider on Sunday.

Aug 25, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Jack Heflin (95) attempts to shed his blocker to tackle Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard (20) during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Tony Pollard OVER 42.5 rushing yards

Tony Pollard averaged just under 60 rush yards per game for Dallas in 2023 and ended the season with 1,005 yards on the ground. Even sharing time with Tyjae Spears, Pollard is the number one guy and will get the most touches. The Bears have a veteran defense that will pressure Will Levis, forcing him to use his running backs as much as his receivers.

D.J. Moore OVER 62.5 receiving yards

D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen and Cole Kmet will all be solid veteran targets for Caleb Williams on Sunday, but Moore is WR1. Last season for the Bears he averaged over 80 receiving yards per game. It’s not 100 yards per game, but considering only 56.3% of Chicago’s yardage was gained on pass plays, the lowest in the league per Sharp Football. That will change with Caleb Williams at the helm. Allen and Kmet will catch some passes and so will rookie Rome Odunze, but Moore is likely to receive most of the targets and tack on yards after the catch.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) throws to Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard (20) during their first preseason game of the 2024-25 season at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024.

Will Levis UNDER 231.5 passing yards

Don’t shoot the messenger. Levis played well during the preseason and played better than he should have last year. But he still only averaged 200 passing yards per game in 2023, and the Bears have a veteran defense that will pressure Levis and force him into fast decisions. That means more hand-offs, more short passes, more laterals, more short-yardage plays. And while those plays do add up, it likely won’t be enough for Levis to hit 231.5 yards through the air.

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Titans vs. Bears: NFL experts make Week 1 picks

See who experts around the league are taking in a Week 1 matchup between the Tennessee Titans and Chicago Bears.

The Tennessee Titans (0-0) will visit the Chicago Bears (0-0) at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois on Sunday afternoon.

Opening the week, the Titans were listed as 4.5-point road underdogs but that line has improved slightly with Chicago now at -3.5.

Let’s take a look at who some of the experts and insiders around the league are taking in the Week 1 matchup:

Expert	Pick	Score (if applicable)
Dan Graziano (ESPN)	Bears	N/A
Matt Bowen (ESPN)	Bears	N/A
Seth Wickersham (ESPN)	Titans	N/A
Pete Prisco (CBS)	Bears	23-21
John Breech (CBS)	Bears	19-16
Jordan Dajani (CBS)	Bears	23-20
Nate Davis (USA TODAY)	Bears	23-20
Lorenzo Reyes (USA TODAY)	Bears	27-18
Bill Bender (Sporting News)	Bears	24-21
Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News)	Bears	27-24

The Titans are not getting a lot of love here in Week 1 with just one member of the above 10-person panel picking a Tennessee victory. Nine others have the Bears walking away victorious, albeit in a close game. Only Lorenzo Reyes of USA TODAY sees this as a two-score game.

Other experts from around the league are similarly pessimistic about Tennessee’s chances with 80 percent predicting a Bears victory, per NFL Pickwatch.

Fans are even more harsh with 88 percent placing their money on Chicago and just 12 percent predicting a Titans upset win.

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Titans vs. Bears: 3 reasons for optimism in Week 1

The Tennessee Titans will have their hands full against the Chicago Bears in Week 1, but there are reasons for optimism in this match-up.

The Tennessee Titans open their 2024 NFL season on Sunday when they travel to Soldier Field to take on the Chicago Bears. The Titans look to start the Brian Callahan era off with a bang and have a retooled roster that can get it done.

In many ways, both teams are starting at square one: the Titans with a rookie head coach and the Bears with their prized rookie quarterback.

With so many changes made by both teams, it should be an interesting game, and the Titans have three reasons to be optimistic that they can bring this one home.

: Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

The return of wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins

Though it’s not a given that he will play on Sunday, it is trending that way. Hopkins has been a limited participant in practice this week after sitting out most of the preseason with a knee injury. If he is able to go, his presence will be a huge boost for the offense, which really hasn’t had a chance to be at full capacity.

Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

The new cornerback tandem

The wide receiving corps and the secondary really haven’t had a chance to work together and gel, but the additions of free agent cornerback Chidobe Awuzie and the trade for L’Jarius Sneed give the Titans one of the best tandems in the league when healthy. Heading into Week 1, both are on track to start, and it should be a tough matchup for a rookie quarterback.

Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams

Caleb Williams will make his first NFL start on Sunday after being taken number one overall in the 2024 NFL draft. While he did show flashes during the preseason, that does not compare to the defensive game plans he will experience in the regular season. With defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson’s attacking style, Williams should be prime for a welcome-to-the-NFL moment.

The Titans have plenty of reasons to be optimistic about their chances in Sunday’s game. A new coach, a new roster, and a new outlook are a few, but we won’t know for sure until they take the field.

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Titans vs. Bears: 3 causes for concern in Week 1

The Tennessee Titans square off in a Sunday afternoon battle against the Chicago Bears in Week 1. Here are three reasons for concern.

The Tennessee Titans open their 2024 NFL season on the road at Soldier Field, where they will face the Chicago Bears. Head coach Brian Callahan grew up in Champaign, Illinois, and was an avid Bears fan. This game brings him home and starts off his head coaching career in familiar territory.

The Bears and Titans both had their own sets of struggles in 2023, each team making different adjustments to get where they are today. The Titans fired their head coach and brought in a new one, while the Bears traded their quarterback in favor of an untested rookie.

Considering all of the adjustments made by both teams, the Titans have three reasons for concern when facing the Bears this weekend.

The offense has only played three series together

The Titans’ starters played a whopping three series together against the New Orleans Saints in the final preseason game. They looked good, put points on the board, and moved the ball, but the group as a whole is largely untested. There are new faces along the line, new skill position players, and a new head coach, which means a whole new scheme. We’ll see just how much improvement there is on Sunday when the game actually means something.

Defensive depth is lacking

Six of the seven players on the Titans’ injured reserve list live on the defensive side of the ball. They are especially thin on the edge and in the secondary. Facing a rookie quarterback we’ve only seen in bits during the preseason, the defense could be a problem on Sunday if they tire out early or anyone gets injured.

Week 1 nerves

Everyone gets nervous, even professional athletes and coaches. Callahan has already said the butterflies are worse than he thought. This is his first ever head coaching position, so even though he’s been around the game and the league for many years, he now knows the outcome of the game falls directly on his shoulders. On top of that, the players are in a whole new scheme and have a ton of new faces around them. They are all nervous, and nerves can cause mistakes.

The Titans have reason to be concerned about Sunday’s game in Chicago. Still, part of being a professional athlete is showing the world that you can overcome and perform as expected. The Titans will aim to do just that.

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Gimme Him: One player Titans would steal from Bears

If the Tennessee Titans could take one player from the Chicago Bears, who would it be?

The Tennessee Titans will kick off the 2024 season by traveling to the Windy City to take on the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field this Sunday afternoon.

That, of course, provides those of us here at Titans Wire the opportunity to hypothetically steal from the Bears’ roster in search of depth and/or talent upgrades.

In looking over the Bears’ roster, there are plenty of options available. In many ways, they, like the Titans, are looking to surprise this season with a combination of youth and seasoned veterans. Between skilled playmakers and some solid defensive options, a player can be had from any position.

Many would think quarterback Caleb Williams would be a tempting option. But with a young quarterback already in the fold, staying with someone with experience in the system makes more sense. There are also wide receivers DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, running back D’Andre Swift, offensive tackle Darnell Wright, defensive end Montez Sweat, and cornerback Jaylon Johnson; the Bears are talented across the board.

Although Wright was a close second, ultimately, we’re going with tight end Cole Kmet.

Why Kmet? The tight end is a young quarterback’s best friend. Coming off a 2023 season where he pulled in 73 balls for 719 yards and six touchdowns, Kmet would give quarterback Will Levis a dynamic safety blanket.

The Titans kept five tight ends on the initial 53-man roster, but the team wouldn’t need that many with Kmet in the fold. He is a true tight end that would easily be TE1 on the depth chart.

What are your thoughts, Titans fans? Would you pick Cole Kmet or steal an entirely different player from the Chicago Bears?

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Titans vs. Saints Player of the Game: Bryce Oliver

The Tennessee Titans defeated the New Orleans Saints, 30-27, on Sunday and WR Bryce Oliver is our Player of the Game.

The Tennessee Titans finished off a perfect preseason with a 30-27 victory over the New Orleans Saints in the last preseason game of 2024. This final tune-up saw the starters take the field after sitting out the Week 2 contest, and they appear ready for the regular season. But it was the reserves that propelled the Titans to victory.

One of the young players who made a huge impact was this week’s player of the game, Bryce Oliver.

While some may see Titans quarterback Malik Willis as the catalyst, it was the rookie receiver who hauled in two fourth-quarter touchdowns to help secure the victory. The 6-1, 214-pound undrafted rookie free agent has been a consistent threat during training camp and ended the preseason with a bang, hauling in three passes for 52 yards and two crucial touchdown grabs.

The Titans signed Oliver out of Youngstown State in May, where he tallied 147 receptions for 2,065 yards and 26 touchdowns in his career. In joining the Titans, he faces an uphill battle for a roster spot in a deep receiving corps. However, his ability to play both outside and in the slot adds to his overall value.

Oliver has been building momentum in recent days. He also appeared to steal the show at the final opening practice. That day, he led all receivers with five catches and made plays. Still, this may not be enough for him to grab a roster spot.

With DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, and Tyler Boyd entrenched at the top of the depth chart and higher-pedigree players such as Treylon Burks ahead of him, it is an uphill climb to make the final 53. But his versatility and momentum may open some eyes within the staff or across the league.

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Titans vs. Saints: Best photos from preseason Week 3

The best photos from a Week 3 preseason game between the Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints — a game Tennessee won, 30-27.

Here’s a look at some of the best photos from a Week 3 preseason game between the Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints — a game the Titans won, 30-27.

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Titans vs. Seahawks: Best photos from preseason Week 2

The best photos from a Week 2 preseason game between the Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks — a game Tennessee won, 16-15.

Here’s a look at some of the best photos from a Week 2 preseason game between the Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks — a game the Titans won, 16-15.

Titans vs. Seahawks Player of the Game: Jaylen Harrell

The Tennessee Titans fell defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 16-15, on Saturday and Jaylen Harrell is the Titans Wire Player of the Game.

The Tennessee Titans defeated the Seattle Seahawks 16-15 in the second preseason game of 2024. None of the starters played on Saturday as the Titans coaching staff used the game to further scrutinize its bubble players. This game will help them decide who stays and who goes.

One of the players who is definitely staying is this week’s player of the game: Jaylen Harrell.

Harrell was drafted by the Titans in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL draft. A 6-foot-4, 247-pound linebacker out of Michigan, Harrell has no other desire than to be on the football field. In an effort to show his coaches and teammates the truth of that, he had a standout game against the Seahawks.

During the game, Harrell recorded three tackles (two solo), two sacks, two quarterback hits and two tackles for a loss. He made his presence known and felt on the field and played a part in the success of the entire defense on various plays.

Earning playing time isn’t something new to Harrell, he appeared in just four games as a freshman at Michigan. As a sophomore he started three of the 14 games he appeared in. His junior year, he started 12 of 13 games. As a senior, he started all 15 games and helped lead his team to its first National Championship in the playoff era.

If Harrell continues to work hard and perform well, he will have a solid NFL career.

Author’s note: Brayden Narveson, rookie kicker out of NC State gets a nod as well. Not only did he sink a 59-yard field goal to keep the Titans in the game, but he kicked the 46-yard game-winning field goal with seconds on the clock.

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Titans vs. 49ers Player of the Game: Chance Campbell

The Titans hosted the 49ers in the first preseason game of 2024, and Chance Campbell showed how hard he’s worked this offseason.

The Tennessee Titans hosted the San Francisco 49ers in their first preseason game of 2024. In a 17-13 victory over the Niners, the Titans had one standout player who made the biggest impact in their first game. Chance Campbell is the first Player of the Game for 2024.

The Titans linebacker made his presence known all over the field tonight. He recorded nine tackles (five solo), one sack, one tackle for a loss, a quarterback hit, and one pass defensed, and he ended the game by intercepting the ball with one second left on the clock.

Campbell was drafted by the Titans in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft. He appeared in four games in 2023 and recorded only three tackles, one of which was solo.

Campbell’s year of experience and ability to focus during the offseason have certainly helped his game. His performance tonight bodes well for the Titans’ defense. If he continues to do so, the defense will have added depth and be that much more formidable.