NFL Power Rankings: October Edition finds LA Rams rising

4 Tennessee Titans

The 3-0 Tennessee Titans had to postpone their game against the Pittsburg Steelers due to players and coaches testing positive for COVID-19.  They will host the Buffalo Bills with a depleted roster, and will likely play several weeks with a depleted roster.  As such, they will likely lose games and drop rapidly. But for now, they are good.

2020 Summary

The Titans are the first team in the NFL to have a full-fledged coronavirus outbreak. In response, the Titans were forced to take a bye week as the NFL reshuffled their schedule and that of other teams to allow a 16 game season to continue. The need to reschedule Titans games does not eliminate the possibility that they will play some games severely outmanned by their opponent.

2020 Outlook

The Titans, like many teams this early in the season, have been successful at the expense of bad NFL teams. They have beaten the Vikings, Broncos, and Jaguars, who have a combined record of 3-9. So the question then becomes, how good are these Titans?  Well, they have been rather formidable since adding QB Ryan Tannehill under center.  But RB Derrick Henry’s 3.9 rushing average is a small red light.

The Titans offense plays well with the lead, not from behind.  Right now, the Titans schedule has six games against very good teams. If the Titans lose all six, they will remain 10-6 and be in good shape for the AFC playoffs.