There are three weeks remaining in the NFL 2021 regular season and Christmas week begins with a very important Thursday Night Football as the Tennessee Titans host the San Francisco 49ers in a match which massive playoff implications.
The Titans currently head the way in the AFC South but their lead has been eroded by the Indianapolis Colts so this is a massively important match for them. The 49ers have been the Cardinals and the Rams fly off in the NFC West but remain on course for a wildcard spot, if they keep winning matches.
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans flew into a huge lead in the AFC South division this season but as you would have expected once Derrick Henry went down injured they have been clinging on to that position a little. What really hasn’t helped them in that time is the fact that A.J. Brown and Julio Jones haven’t spent much time on the field. This isn’t a Titans side that can afford to be missing its three key offensive players and expect to dominate the league.
The Titans go into this match having lost three of their last four matches, with a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars hardly the best form guide in between that. In their three defeats they have scored just 13 points in each of them so they are going to have to find a way to put more points on the board. Jones and Brown are expected to suit up for this match which will be important, but only if Ryan Tannehill ups his game. Even then their defence needs to come to the party.
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San Francisco 49ers
The season has been the other way around for the San Francisco 49ers. Their injuries came early on in the campaign but since they have got important players like quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle back they have gone on a fine run. They have won five of their last six matches to go from 3-5 for the season to 8-6 and currently sit second in the list of teams in the wildcard race. A win here would strengthen those hopes.
There hasn’t been a huge amount of flashiness in that run. Jimmy G is very much a safety first operator but his link up with Kittle is working out nicely and the 9ers are establishing the run game to great effect. Their defence is beginning to make enough plays at the right time and against a decimated Titans offensive line they are likely to go hunting for Tannehill. The 49ers look like they are coming to the boil at the right time.
Betting
The Tennessee Titans offense should be slightly more potent with the return of A.J Brown and Julio Jones but just how fit they are and how involved they will be remains to be seen. Even if they are fine there are two clear issues which are hard to get away from – the defence gives up more passing plays than any team in the league and their offensive line is so bashed up that Tannehill could be a sitting duck to a strong San Francisco 49ers pass rush.
I’m a little surprised the 49ers are giving up less than a field goal here. I hate backing road sides on these Thursday night matches but injuries can sway that and a much healthier 49ers side, who are in decent form and don’t carry an imbalance to their side, look good enough to get the better of the Titans and cover a 2.5pt spread. They have the luxury of doing this on the ground or through the air and on offense or defence. San Fran for me.
Tips
Back San Francisco 49ers (-2.5) to beat Tennessee Titans for a 3/10 stake at 1.80 with Coral
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