Chris Johnson's Tennessee Titans Take On Chad Pennington's Miami Dolphins

Kickoff: 1:00 PM ET, November 14, 2010
Where: Sun Life Stadium, Miami, Florida
TV/Radio: CBS, WINZ 940
Spread: Titans by 1
Last Week: Tennessee lost to San Diego 33-25, Miami lost to Baltimore 26-10

Notes

Apparently Miami did have some interest in Randy Moss, but backed off after a lack of mutual interest.

Tennessee quarterback Vince Young is a game-time decision.

Brandon Marshall guaranteed playoffs.

C-Penn does Eminem.

Miami Injuries:

DE Phillip Merling (Out)
CB Al Harris (Out)
LB Karlos Dansby (Probable)
TE Anthony Fasano (Probable)

Tennessee Injuries:

QB Vince Young (Questionable)
WR Justin Gage (Questionable)

When Miami has the ball…

The Dolphins have undergone an abrupt change midway through this wacky NFL season, subbing in Chad Pennington at quarterback for the inconsistent Chad Henne.

Will this make a substancial difference for an offense that has looked inept? Well they sure aren’t going to turn into the Colts anytime soon. But where Pennington will help is in the little things. Whereas Henne might miss in a key third down situation, such as the goal-line incompletion at the end of the first half in Baltimore, Pennington has a better chance at converting.

It’s a good fit. A boring quarterback for an even more boring offense. A match made in heaven.

When Tennessee has the ball…

Tennessee is tied for fifth in turnover margin at plus-six. Miami is tied for 27th at minus-seven. The game becomes much easier when you take care of the football as the Titans have done. With the addition of Randy Moss will they sacrifice their ability to protect the football by taking more shots deep?

For Miami, they should hope so. Moss isn’t the same player he once was and Vontae Davis has the ability to take away the opposition’s top receiver.

The key for Miami will be limiting running back Chris Johnson, the most dangerous offensive player in football. He has the type of speed to take it to the house on any given play and Miami must do a better job at tackling than they showed last week.

Quarterback: Tennessee

Backs: Tennessee

Receiver/Tight End: Miami

Offensive Line: Miami

Defensive Line: Miami

Linebacker: Miami

Secondary: Tennessee

Special Teams: Tennessee

Three Keys

1. Contain Chris Johnson – Johnson hasn’t been as dominate this year but that’s because teams are devoting consistent eight men fronts to stop him. Will Miami follow that blueprint with Moss on the outside?

2. Turnovers – The Dolphins need to cut down on turnovers to have a chance. In fact, I doubt they win this one if they don’t win the turnover battle.

3. TDs in the red zone – Can Miami score touchdowns when/if they get into Titan territory?


Prediction

Well, this is it for the Dolphins. If they can’t beat a playoff-caliber team at home this week, they will have a near impossible shot at making the playoffs, not with games at New England and New York in December.

I think Pennington at quarterback gives this team a little boost this week and Miami gets it done with an ugly win on their home turf.

Miami 20 Tennessee 16