Tennessee Titans 3 Keys to Victory Against Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 10
The Tennessee Titans have struggled away from Nashville this season. They have yet to pick up a victory outside the comfortable confines out Nissan Stadium and if they want that to change against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they will need to make sure they execute in a few key areas.
Don't Lose the Turnover Battle
Typically, you would see this as "Win the Turnover Battle" and while that would certainly help, I don't think the Titans necessarily need to win. What they can't do though is lose the turnover battle. The Buccaneers are the third-best team in the NFL in turnover margin at +8.
Tampa Bay was expected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL coming into the season, but they have surprised, especially early in the season, and won three games already. Despite a middling roster, the turnover battle has allowed the Buccaneers to remain competitive.
If the Titans lose the turnover battle and make it easy on Tampa, they simply don't have the talent to overcome it. So, winning isn't necessary, but losing the turnover battle would be walking the plank(Get it? A pirate joke! Ok, ok I hear the boos.)
Stop the Run
In the first four weeks of the season the Titans allowed an average of 70 rushing yards per game. In the last four games, the Titans have allowed an average of 159 yards per game. That is truly an insane fall off.
The Buccaneers are one of the worst rushing teams in the NFL, averaging just above 78 yards per game on the ground. If the Titans allow a bad running team to dominate them on the ground, they are doomed.
Getting into third and long opportunities allows this Titans pass rush group to do the exotic stunts and games upfront that make them successful. If the Bucs have numerous third and short chances, the Titans are in trouble.
Attack Through the Air
Last week, rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud put up a historic performance against the Buccaneers in the air, throwing for 470 yards. Tampa has given up the fifth-most passing yards in the NFL this year. Not only that, but they are experiencing cluster injuries in their secondary and could be without multiple starters.
The Titans may not have an elite passing game, but against this defense, they have to be able to find success like the Texans did by attacking this defensive secondary down the field.
That also goes hand in hand with the Buccaneers' aggression. Tampa currently blitzes on just over 35% of their defensive snaps and will certainly look to pressure a rookie passer in Will Levis. That should create isolated matchups for the Titans' receivers.
Someone like DeAndre Hopkins will have to dominate his matchup to take advantage of these chances. But whether it is Hopkins or someone else, the Titans should look to aggressively attack a porous secondary.
Related Titans stories
- WEEK 10 PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Tennessee Titans will hit the road this week to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and if they hope to get their first road victory of the season, they will need certain players to step up in a big way on Sunday. CLICK HERE
- WEEK 10 INJURY UPDATE: The Tennessee Titans continued their preparation for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday and with that came another long injury list, but with the bad, there is some good news for the Titans as well. CLICK HERE
- HENRY TALKS LEVIS: The Tennessee Titans announced that Will Levis will be the starting quarterback going forward and star running back Derrick Henry seemed to speak for the fan base when talking about his feelings on playing with Levis going forward. CLICK HERE
- RADUNZ MUST START AT LT: The Tennessee Titans have had struggles on the offensive line all year, but one player who keeps playing well is Dillon Radunz and now it is time for him to be a starter. CLICK HERE
- LEVIS NAMED STARTER: The Tennessee Titans will see rookie quarterback Will Levis continue to be the starter regardless of health of Ryan Tannehill according to head coach Mike Vrabel on Tuesday. CLICK HERE
- WILL LEVIS FILM ROOM: The Tennessee Titans are getting a look at rookie quarterback Will Levis and he showed all of the chaotic gorgeousness we expected from his college tape when the Titans lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 9. CLICK HERE
