The Tennessee Titans will open up their 2021 campaign at home against the Arizona Cardinals at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 12, a game in which they are favored to win.
According to Tipico, the Titans are 2.5-point favorites over the Cardinals at home. The over/under of 52.5 is tied for the highest of any Week 1 game. Tennessee’s money line number sits at -155, while Arizona’s is at +125.
The Titans are coming off an 11-5 season that saw them win their first AFC South title since 2008. Unfortunately, Tennessee didn’t have the success in the playoffs it did the year before, as the team was bounced in the first round.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals are looking to improve upon an 8-8 campaign that led to a third-place finish in the NFC West. Despite seeing a better record from the year before, the result was disappointing, as Arizona started the season 5-2.
Both teams are expected to sport among the best offenses in the NFL going into 2021, so we’re expecting a high-scoring affair until the defenses prove otherwise.
In 2020, Tennessee averaged 30.7 points per contest and have now added wide receiver Julio Jones to an offense that already included running back Derrick Henry, wide receiver A.J. Brown and quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
Arizona averaged 25.6 per game last season and are also returning most of their starters on offense, with the additions of center Rodney Hudson and wide receiver A.J. Green being the most notable. They join budding star quarterback Kyler Murray and star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
The Cardinals suffered a tough loss to their already questionable cornerbacks group after the unexpected retirement of free-agent signing, Malcolm Butler.
Still, a front seven that includes edge rushers J.J. Watt and Chandler Jones, and linebackers Zaven Collins and Isaiah Simmons should prove formidable, especially when backed up by star safety Budda Baker.
Tennessee’s defense has been overhauled this offseason, as only one member of the 2020 starting secondary is back, and outside linebacker Bud Dupree, defensive lineman Denico Autry and cornerback Janoris Jenkins have been added. The team also drafted cornerbacks Elijah Molden and Caleb Farley.
Despite all of that talent on paper, the jury is still out on just how good these units will be, especially after adding some new parts.
Until we know, we see both teams flirting with 30 points in this one, with Tennessee ultimately coming out on top.
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