Titans Must Prove Point Against Seahawks

The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks both registered their first wins of the campaign in week two.

The two sides now collide at Nissan Stadium in a bid to get above the .500 mark and kick their seasons into gear.

The Titans narrowly missed out on the playoffs last season with a 9-7 record. Marcus Marcus Mariota suffered a broken leg towards the end of the campaign, but has bounced to fitness.

Mariota and Tennessee struggled for rhythm in their opener against the Oakland Raiders. Life did not get easier against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but they leaned on the run game to drive them to their opening win.

Seattle endured a similar story in their opener against the Green Bay Packers. Russell Wilson and company could only put six points on the board as Aaron Rodgers capitalised to deliver a comeback win for Mike McCarthy’s men.

The offense struggled again in their NFC West clash against the San Francisco 49ers. However, Wilson conjured magic late in the game to find Paul Richardson in the endzone, which proved to be the decisive score.

Tennessee have ambitions of competing deep into the post-season. To do that Mike Mularkey’s men need to beat teams of the Seahawks’ calibre. Therefore it’s a crucial game for the Titans to prove a point.

We’ll now break down the contest looking at both teams and the latest betting odds.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans had the opportunity to make a statement in the opening game of the season.

They faced off against the Raiders on home soil, but produced a flat performance as the visitors were able to ease to victory.

Oakland are the team that Mularkey’s men should aspire to become as both have had numerous years of struggles.

However, with quality quarterbacks now in place, both can now challenge for the AFC crown. It was clear from the opener that the Raiders are ahead of the Titans in their progress. Therefore it was important that Tennessee bounced back against the Jaguars.

Their first-half performance raised concerns as Mariota’s offense put only six points on the board.

However, the Titans took control of the game in the second half, scoring 31 points to secure the win. Mariota was still not firing on all cylinders, throwing just one touchdown and completing just 55.6% of his passes.

The new parts of his offense Eric Decker and Corey Davis have not hit the ground running. It may take time to bring them up to speed over the course of the campaign, but the display of running back Derrick Henry was encouraging.

He played behind DeMarco Murray last season, but his performance against the Jags, rushing for 92 yards on 17 carries suggests that he’s ready for the primary role.

Defensively there were concerns in the opener that may hold them back in the long run. Derrick Morgan and Brian Orakpo provide talent off the edge, but the secondary is suspect.

Their performance against the Seahawks could provide an insight to the fortunes of the club this season on both sides of the ball.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks had a frustrating start to the term in their defeat to the Green Bay Packers. The Seahawks were on the receiving end of a controversial decision when Nazair Jones returned a Rodgers interception for a touchdown.

However, the score was chalked off for a penalty against Seattle, while cornerback Jeremy Lane was removed from the game by the officials.

Wilson and his offense were unable to punch the ball into the endzone at Lambeau Field. They could only muster nine points as Rodgers was able to wear down Seattle’s defense to guide the Packers to the win.

The Seahawks were handed the chance to get back on track against their rivals the 49ers, who were soundly beaten in their opener. However, not even that contest at CenturyLink Field proved to be straightforward. Wilson and his offense struggled to move the ball into the endzone, being held to six points in the opening three quarters.

Eventually Wilson managed to find Paul Richardson for a touchdown to secure the win late in the contest. Pete Carroll’s men are displaying the same traits as last season, with their offense failing to match the quality of their defense. Resentment began to build between the two groups in the last campaign and spilled into the off-season.

The Seahawks cannot afford to have a lack of balance in their play once again. Wilson and his playmakers are capable of putting up points and need to do so sooner rather than later.

Defensively, Seattle remain one of the most stringent teams in the NFL. Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, Bobby Wagner along with ‘The Legion of Boom’ in the secondary are still operating at the peak of their powers. However, the all of the burden must be lifted from the shoulders this season.

Betting Options

The contest will feature a battle of strength against strength as the Titans’ offense will collide against Seattle’s defense. Carroll’s men boast one of the most consistent units in the NFL. Since 2013, Seattle have had arguably the most dominant defense in the league, although Denver could make a claim over the past two years.

Tennessee are a team on the rise and with talent they could blossom into one of the strongest offenses in the NFL.Their early struggles suggest they’re not quite there yet. However, a breakout game against a top unit could be just what they need to take their game to the next level.

Rodgers highlighted some weaknesses in Seattle’s secondary, attacking the second and third receivers away from Richard Sherman. The Titans have the depth to challenge even the ‘The Legion of Boom’, with Delanie Walker a threat through the middle of the field. It’s time for Mariota to make the next step in his development. Taking down Seattle on home soil would signal that he’s ready to take his team forward in the AFC.

Therefore back the Titans at odds of 1.69Bet €100 to win €16969/100Bet £100 to win £169-145Bet $100 to win $1690.69Bet HK$100 to win HK$169-1.45Bet Rp100 to win Rp1690.6900Bet RM100 to win RM169  with Bovada sportsbook to secure the win. The contest will be close, with a field-goal game a strong possibility. Take the +2 spread for Seattle at odds of 2.10Bet €100 to win €21011/10Bet £100 to win £210+110Bet $100 to win $2101.10Bet HK$100 to win HK$2101.10Bet Rp100 to win Rp210-0.9091Bet RM100 to win RM210  with SkyBet as the Titans are not ready for a significant margin of victory.

There is a great deal of pressure on Wilson to get the Seahawks’ offense firing. However, due to their problems on the offensive line expect another poor afternoon of production. Backing them to score under 18 points with Ladbrokes at 2.35Bet €100 to win €23527/20Bet £100 to win £235+135Bet $100 to win $2351.35Bet HK$100 to win HK$2351.35Bet Rp100 to win Rp235-0.7407Bet RM100 to win RM235  is a solid option.

Tips Summary

Tennessee Titans To Beat Seattle Seahawks
Sunday 24th September 2017 16:05 ET (21:05 BST)
Odds: 1.69Bet €100 to win €16969/100Bet £100 to win £169-145Bet $100 to win $1690.69Bet HK$100 to win HK$169-1.45Bet Rp100 to win Rp1690.6900Bet RM100 to win RM169

Seattle Seahawks To Cover +2 Spread
Sunday 24th September 2017 16:05 ET (21:05 BST)
Odds: 2.10Bet €100 to win €21011/10Bet £100 to win £210+110Bet $100 to win $2101.10Bet HK$100 to win HK$2101.10Bet Rp100 to win Rp210-0.9091Bet RM100 to win RM210

Seattle Seahawks To Score Under 18 Points
Sunday 24th September 2017 16:05 ET (21:05 BST)
Odds: 2.35Bet €100 to win €23527/20Bet £100 to win £235+135Bet $100 to win $2351.35Bet HK$100 to win HK$2351.35Bet Rp100 to win Rp235-0.7407Bet RM100 to win RM235