NFL Week 16 Previews and Predictions: Part 1

Thursday, December 18th

Tennessee Titans (2-12) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (2-12)

8:35 pm ET @ Everbank Field (NFLN)

Though out of the running for the playoffs, both teams enter into a matchup this evening that could prove pivotal for the losing team’s future, as whomever falls to 2-13 will be among the front-runners for the top overall pick in the 2015 draft. Blake Bortles has performed about as well as could be expected behind what is one of the league’s worst offensive lines, and rookie mistakes have only added to Jacksonville’s woes. There have been some encouraging sparks, but overall, Bortles will have to make sure that he does not add to his AFC-leading 46 sacks if Jacksonville is to have any chance in this game. The loss of Denard Robinson has been a big blow to the team, and it will fall on the likes of Toby Gerhart, Storm Johnson, and improving rookies Marqise Lee and Allen Hurns to produce offensively.

Tennessee can neither run nor stop the run, and if they continue this trend, it will be a long night for them on both sides of the ball. Bishop Sankey and Shonn Greene have struggled to impress, and the lone bright spark for Tennessee has been the play of tight end Delanie Walker, who has quietly become one of the most productive players at his position in the entire league this season. Charlie Whitehurst will be taking the snaps under center as Zach Mettenberger still nursing a shoulder injury. Though hardly lighting up the stat sheet in his 3 starts for Tennessee so far, Whitehurst’s one win has come against the same opposition tonight.

PREDICTION: The stat leaders on the night may be Brett Kern and Bryan Anger – the punters. This game is not shaping up to be a classic.

Jacksonville 17, Tennessee 10

(Feature image: AP Photo/Nick Wass)