Titans at Dolphins
Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams didn't mince words after watching his team get taken to task in a lopsided loss last week. The Titans will look to give their 89-year-old owner a much better showing on Sunday when they visit South Beach to face the upstart Miami Dolphins. After getting blitzed 51-20 by Chicago, the Titans received a bit of good news as quarterback Jake Locker has been cleared for contact for the first time since dislocating his non-throwing shoulder on Sept. 30.
Barring a setback this week, Locker will get the nod over veteran Matt Hasselbeck, but the Titans certainly need for their beleaguered defense to make a stand. Although he doesn't receive the fanfare of Indianapolis' Andrew Luck or Washington's Robert Griffin III, Dolphins rookie Ryan Tannehill has quietly put together a solid season. The eighth overall pick of the draft, Tannehill hasn't committed a turnover since Sept. 30 (98 attempts).
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Dolphins -6, O/U 44
ABOUT THE TITANS (3-6): Adams declared that Tennessee was "grossly outcoached and outplayed" and detailed that everyone was "on notice" following last week's debacle. Such is life for a club that has seen five of its six losses come by at least 21 points. Chris Johnson provided the lone bright spot against Chicago after scampering for an 80-yard touchdown, albeit with the outcome clearly decided.
ABOUT THE DOLPHINS (4-4): Tannehill completed 22 of 38 passes for 290 yards and a touchdown, but Miami saw its three-game winning streak halted in a 23-20 setback to Indianapolis last week. Although Reggie Bush found the end zone, the Dolphins' rushing game is limping along at a paltry 3.8 yards per carry. Bush excelled in his lone meeting with Tennessee as the then-New Orleans Saints tailback scored twice in a game on Sept. 24, 2007.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Miami posted a 29-17 victory over Tennessee in 2010 for its eighth win in 11 meetings.
2. Tennessee WR Nate Washington has collected a touchdown in three of four career games versus Miami.
3. Miami WR Brian Hartline needs three receptions to surpass his career high of 43, which was set in 2010.