Tennessee @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 8, 2017 ) Tennessee 10, Miami 16

The Tennessee Titans kick off the Mike Vrabel Era in earnest on Sunday as they open the 2018 NFL season against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Vrabel became the franchise's 19th head coach after replacing Mike Mularkey, who guided the Titans to the playoffs for the first time since 2008 and saw the club rally past Kansas City in the wild-card clash.

Marcus Mariota, who sat out Tennessee's 16-10 loss to Miami last season with a left hamstring injury, was instrumental in the victory over the Chiefs after throwing two touchdowns -- including one to himself. The former Heisman Trophy winner, however, tossed more interceptions (15) than touchdown passes (13) last season and is learning a new playbook under former Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur. While Mariota had an up-and-down campaign 2017, Miami's Ryan Tannehill will play in a regular-season game for the first time since December 2016 as he returns from a torn ACL that he re-injured last summer. The Dolphins answered a 10-6 campaign with a 6-10 performance last season, with Jay Cutler, Matt Moore and David Fales each taking turns under center.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Titans -1.5. O/U: 45

ABOUT THE TITANS (2017: 9-7, 2ND IN AFC SOUTH): Derrick Henry takes over lead-back responsibilities for the now-retired DeMarco Murray and looks to punish opponents with a 6-foot-3, 247-pound frame that he used to churn out 390 rushing yards in the fourth quarter last season. Offseason acquisition Dion Lewis, who is listed at 5-8 and 195 pounds, posted career highs in scrimmage yards (1,110), rushing yards (896) and rushing touchdowns (six) with New England in 2017. Mariota's most trusted target is Delanie Walker, who has joined Rob Gronkowski (Patriots) and Travis Kelce (Chiefs) as the lone tight ends to record 3,000-plus receiving yards and 20-plus touchdown catches since 2014. Former Dolphin Rishard Matthews has 118 receptions for 1,740 yards and 13 touchdown catches in two seasons with Tennessee while former first-round selection Corey Davis is looking to rebound following an injury-riddled rookie campaign.

ABOUT THE DOLPHINS (2017: 6-10, 3RD IN AFC EAST): Kenyan Drake enjoyed success following the midseason departure of fellow running back Jay Ajayi to Philadelphia, recording 594 scrimmage yards over his final five games of 2017. Drake, however, will be involved in a bit of a timeshare in the backfield with the ageless Frank Gore, who ranks fifth in NFL history with 14,026 career rush yards. Miami likely will be without wide receiver DeVante Parker for the season opener as he nurses a broken finger, but the club added Danny Amendola (Patriots) and Albert Wilson (Chiefs) to go along with Kenny Stills as it deals with the offseason departure of three-time Pro Bowl selection Jarvis Landry (career-best 112 receptions) to Cleveland.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Miami DEs Cameron Wake and offseason acquisition Robert Quinn combined for 19 sacks in 2017.

2. Tennessee S Kevin Byard recorded an NFL high-tying eight interceptions last season en route to earning a trip to the Pro Bowl.

3. Miami's Reshad Jones, who scored on a 38-yard fumble return versus the Titans last season, led all safeties with 122 tackles in 2017.

PREDICTION: Titans 19, Dolphins 16