GameDay Prediction: AllTitans.com Publisher Tom Brew Makes His Pick on Titans-Saints

NEW ORLEANS, La. — Throughout the offseason, to a man the Tennessee Titans have been adamant that they've moved on from the seven-game losing streak that ended the 2022 season.

It's ancient history, they say.

But now that the 2023 season is here, that losing streak still exists as a matter of public record. It's tied for the longest active losing streak in the game, along with the Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals.

The worst of the bunch.

So now here we are in the Big Easy, with the 2023 season all teed up and ready to go. The Titans are here to take on the New Orleans Sunday on Sunday at Noon CT. There's nothing they'd like more than to start the season off with a victory.

"It's always great to get off to a good start, but everybody wants that, right?'' TItans safety Kevin Byard said earlier this week. "You want to win that opener, but it's also just one game and there's 17 more weeks to go.

"But we've had a really good training camp and I'm really excited about what this defense can do. We've got a lot of talent at every level and I do think we're capable of dominating games. That starts on Sunday.''

The Saints, with new quarterback Derek Carr, went 7-10 last year, just like the Titans did. They are favored to win by 3 points, according to just about every gambling website. They are also favored to win a couple more games than Tennessee this season.

And I can see that.

As I mentioned on Saturday's story about how the two teams fare against the point spread, only five of 16 underdogs won outright in Week 1 a year ago. And this is a tall task, winning in the Caesers Superdome that's one of the loudest buildings in the league.

That's one of the reasons why I'm picking the Saints to win today. We've written a lot about Tennessee's offensive line all summer long, and this group basically has five new starters.

It's really hard to communicate with 70,000-plus Saints fans yelling at you all game long. That's the difference in the game to me. I think the Titans will struggle to move the ball consistently, and it's going to be a low-scoring game.

I'm taking the Saints, 20-16.

And don't get at me for being a hater. That's not the case at all. It's just that I'm in a ''show me'' kind of mood with this offense. I'd like to think new offensive coordinator Tim Kelly will have a heck of a game plan dialed up. I'd like to think that Derrick Henry is still the best, most physical running back in the game. I'd like to think that veterans Ryan Tannehill and DeAndre Hopkins will hook up often.

But I don't know that for sure.

And I guess I'm just taking the cautious approach.

The offensive line is a work in progress, and it takes time to work as a part of fine. There are new tackles in Andre Dillard (left) and Chris Hubbard (right). There is a new right guard in Daniel Brunskill and first-round pick Peter Skoronski starts at left guard. The only Titans holdover is center Aaron Brewer, and he's at a new position.

So, yes, show me.

"It’s awesome to see a lot of guys have that opportunity to really be a full-time starter for the first time and to be a part of something,'' said Brunskill, who played in San Francisco last year. "The coaching staff has faith in us, and we've gained a lot of ground through training camp, I think. We're excited about getting out there and showing what we can do.”

Related Titans stories