Baltimore @ Tennessee preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 5, 2017 ) Baltimore 20, Tennessee 23

The Tennessee Titans are used to playing close games but wouldn't mind running it up a bit on the scoreboard. The Titans will try to reach 30 points for the first time this season and earn a key AFC win when they host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

Each of Tennessee's first five games was within a touchdown at the finish - the last four within a field goal - due in large part to an offense that struggles to score and is ranked 29th in the league at an average of 17.4 points. "We've just got to make more plays," running back Dion Lewis told reporters. "Just got to bounce back man. That's what it's all about. Come ready to work, take the criticism, learn from the coaching, and try to be better to get ready for the Ravens." Baltimore is not the defense a struggling offense wants to see as it comes into the week first in the NFL in points allowed at an average of 15.4 after holding the opposition to 14 points or fewer in four of its five contests. "We have some good things that we’re doing right now on defense," Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale told reporters. "We're doing very well. And we're still just ... (head coach) John (Harbaugh) always talks about chasing perfection, and that's where we're at. We're trying to ... We take nothing for granted, and we're going to keep just plugging away, plugging away, plugging away as a defense."

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Ravens - 2.5. O/U: 41.5

ABOUT THE RAVENS (3-2): Baltimore saw its offense slip in a 12-9 overtime loss at Cleveland last week and attention to detail is what offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg would like to see improve. "There are some things that you have to do to win a game, and then there are some things that you just have to stay away from or you give the game away, and we did several of those things," Mornhinweg told reporters. "Just big picture, the thing, we talked about it as a team. If you look at it, the last two ball games, we’ve fumbled down there on the goal line and thrown an interception on the goal line. These are things that good teams just stay away from." Quarterback Joe Flacco is averaging 45.4 pass attempts but is up to three interceptions and three fumbles on the season.

ABOUT THE TITANS (3-2): Tennessee has a secret weapon against Baltimore in the form of defensive coordinator Dean Pees, who spent the previous six seasons in the same position with the Ravens. "I know guys always say it's another game. It's not another game (to me)," Pees told reporters. "First of all, it is a game we have to (win) to be 4-2 to keep a lead in our division, that's the most important thing. And second of all, any time you play somebody that you know and know well and respect, it is always an emotional game." Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is hoping another week practicing against Pees' defensive will give him an extra edge and help overcome a 14-of-26 performance for 129 yards and an interception in last week's 13-12 loss at Buffalo.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Titans LT Taylor Lewan (foot) was a full participant in practice on Thursday and is expected to play Sunday.

2. The Ravens have gone over 123 minutes of game time without scoring a touchdown.

3. Mariota threw for 218 yards and a pair of TDs in Tennessee's 23-20 home win over Baltimore last season.

PREDICTION: Titans 24, Ravens 17