The Titans take on the Lions today at LP Field at noon, with the game airing on Fox instead of the regular CBS. Adjust your TV and/or DVR accordingly.
As I wrote in Enemy Intelligence, the Lions have pretty much moved the ball the first two weeks, against defenses that are better than the one the Titans will roll out this week. To win this game, the Titans will have to score. To score, the Titans will need big plays. Given the Lions' defensive strengths and weaknesses, those big plays will very likely come from the passing game.
It'd be great if the Titans had a running game that could be sustaining and help drives continue, but they don't. Even when CJ was at his best, he wasn't a sustaining runner. Given Locker's status as a quarterback, the passing game won't be a drive-sustainer either. That leaves the Titans with the choice between two non-sustaining options, one of which could produce big plays and one of which seems very unlikely to. In my book, this means the Titans should be running even less than they are right now. I still expect them to try to run the ball, because I think they want to be able to do so, but don't expect it to produce much.
And now, your inactives today:
DETROIT: S Louis Delmas, OT Jason Fox, OT Corey Hilliard, DE Lawrence Jackson, LB Travis Lewis, QB Kellen Moore, TE Tony Scheffler
TENNESSEE: S Al Afalava, WR Lavelle Hawkins, G Deuce Lutui, LB Colin McCarthy, OT Mike Otto, RB Javon Ringer, QB Rusty Smith
For the Lions, corners Jacob Lacey, Dwight Bentley, and Chris Houston are all active, as is DT Corey Williams. Delmas and Lewis were both questionable. Jackson is apparently a bit of a surprise inactive as they keep up seven defensive linemen.
For the Titans, Sen'Derrick Marks makes his season debut, while fellow questionable players Otto and Ringer miss the game. Pity, as I was looking forward to Ringer's return to the lineup. With all five receivers healthy, Hawkins sits. I guess that means while he looked good in the second half last week Darius Reynaud is still your kick returner. Reports also indicate Jordan Babineaux is listed as the starter at safety for Robert Johnson after Mike Munchak and Jerry Gray both said this week they were happy with the Griffin-Johnson pairing.
Feel free to leave your comments here during today's game or follow me on Twitter, where I'll be chiming in from time to time.
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