Tampa Bay @ Tennessee preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 18, 2018 ) Tampa Bay 30, Tennessee 14

The Tennessee Titans scored a total of 24 points while losing their first two home games this season but nearly matched the amount en route to their first win of 2019 at Nissan Stadium last week. The Titans attempt to even their home record when they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

Tennessee posted a 23-20 triumph over the Los Angeles Chargers last week, using a defensive stand in the final minute that required the help of the replay official on three consecutive plays to negate the go-ahead touchdown - with the final stop resulting in a turnover that sealed the win. Ryan Tannehill helped the Titans avoid a third straight loss, throwing for 312 yards and two TDs in place of the benched Marcus Mariota. Tampa Bay will try to do the same thing as it comes off its bye week after losing each of its two preceding contests. The Buccaneers have to tighten up on defense, as they've allowed at least 31 points in five of their first six games this season.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Titans -2.5. O/U: 45.5

ABOUT THE BUCCANEERS (2-4): Jason Pierre-Paul, who led the team with 12.5 sacks last year, was a full participant in practice on Tuesday for the first time since suffering a neck injury in a car accident in May and could be activated for Sunday's game. "It felt great," Pierre-Paul told reporters. "It's been a long journey and there's still a lot going on, but it's been great working with my teammates. All I can say is, everything is good right now. I'm on the right track, I'm keeping fit. I've got a lot to do in a short amount of time." Jameis Winston passed for 400 yards for the second time in his career in Tampa Bay's 37-26 loss to Carolina in London in Week 6 but also threw five interceptions, giving him an NFL-worst 86 turnovers over the last five seasons.

ABOUT THE TITANS (3-4): Tennessee, which has not allowed more than 20 points in a game this season, received a boost on defense last week as Jeffery Simmons made his NFL debut after missing the team's first six contests with a torn ACL. The 22-year-old defensive lineman, who was selected with the 19th overall pick in this year's draft, was on the field for only 21 plays but finished with four tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack. Safety Kevin Byard has recorded a league-leading 15 interceptions since 2017 while A.J. Brown leads all AFC rookies with 327 receiving yards.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Titans have won the last two meetings and are 9-2 in the all-time series.

2. Tampa Bay rookie DL Terry Beckner was suspended without pay for four games for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

3. Tennessee waived LB Derick Roberson and added him to the practice squad while signing DE Matt Dickerson, who was waived on Saturday.

PREDICTION: Titans 27, Buccaneers 17