Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos Week 1 Betting Preview
The first week of the NFL schedule ends with an AFC tilt as the Tennessee Titans travel to take on the Denver Broncos. The line on this game has shifted 5.5 points in Tennessee’s favor since opening at Denver -3. The contest will kick off at 10:20 pm ET on Monday at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium on ESPN.
The Broncos shut down Derrick Henry and shut out the Titans 16-0 in Week 6 last year in a home win that resulted in Tennessee changing quarterbacks and saving its season. Since the Titans moved from Houston, they have never won in Denver, going 0-3 and trailing the series 5-2.
Tennessee Titans Outlook: Feed the Running Game
The Titans went 9-7 last year and stunned both New England and Baltimore on the road in the playoffs before finally losing 35-24 to Kansas City in the AFC Championship Game. Mike Vrabel’s squad had the third-best running attack in the NFL at 139 yards per game, and they were 10th in scoring at 25.1 points per game. The defense was 12th in the league at 20.7 points per game and 10th in turnovers forced with 23.
The Titans’ season changed when they switched from Marcus Mariota to Ryan Tannehill during the Broncos loss. Tannehill went 7-3 down the stretch, 9-4 including the playoffs, and signed a new deal with the team after the season while Mariota is now gone.
The offense starts with 2019 NFL rushing champion Henry, who had a monster 2019 season and playoff run. He ran for 1,540 yards and 16 touchdowns in the regular season with an average of 5.1 yards per carry. In three playoff games, he added another 446 yards at 5.4 yards per carry and scored two more touchdowns.
A.J. Brown had a breakout season at wide receiver with 52 catches for 1,051 yards and eight scores, while Corey Davis caught 43 balls for 601 yards and two scores.
The defense got a boost last week when the Titans signed free agent DE Jadeveon Clowney, who had three sacks and four forced fumbles with Seattle in 2019. They also added LB Vic Beasley and LB Nick Dzubnar in free agency and drafted CB Kristin Fulton out of LSU.
Denver Broncos Outlook: Lock Time
Things changed for the Broncos this week when All-Pro LB Von Miller suffered a severe ankle injury in practice that could be season-ending. Vic Fangio’s team was 10th in scoring defense last year at 19.8 points per game, but Miller was a huge part of that as he led the team in sacks (eight), QB hits (20) and TFL (10), and took up double-teams to free other defenders.
Denver went 4-1 down the stretch last year after handing the QB reins to rookie Drew Lock, who completed 64% of his passes and actually led the team in passing touchdowns (seven) in just five games. He has new weapons on offense as well with former Chargers RB Melvin Gordon, plus drafted WRs Jerry Jeudy, K.J. Hamler and Tyrie Cleveland, and drafted TE Albert Okwuegbunam.
Phillip Lindsay ran for 1,011 yards and seven touchdowns last year but now shares the backfield with Gordon, who ran for 612 yards and eight TDs in 12 games. WR Courtland Sutton had a breakout 2020 season with 72 catches for 1,112 yards, while TE Noah Fant was the No. 2 receiver with 40 catches for 562 yards and three touchdowns.
The defense added DT Jurrell Casey from the Titans in a trade and also picked up CB A.J. Bouye in a deal with the Jaguars. In addition to losing Miller, the Broncos also cut 2019 tackles leader Todd Davis and lost CB Chris Harris Jr. in free agency.
Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos Betting Lines By Realbookies PPH
- Tennessee spread: -2.5 (-110). Tennessee moneyline: -130
- Denver spread: +2.5 (-110). Denver moneyline: +110
- Total points: 51 (over -115, under -105)
Empower Field will be empty on Monday night as these teams open the season. The Broncos have a lot of optimism with Lock and the new toys on offense, but their defense may struggle to adapt to playing without Davis and Miller. Look for the Titans to pound the ball with Henry and control the clock.
Gameadvisers Free NFL Pick: Under 51 points (-105)
