The Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints will face off at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, this Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CST.

In a battle of rookie quarterbacks, both teams will be battling to keep their winning ways going. The Saints come into the game winners of three in a row and are surging, while Tennessee is coming off its most complete game in two seasons and will be looking to stack wins. 

The Titans have a chance to make a statement by beating the Saints and proving that the growth seen in recent weeks is real, but three issues could turn this into a grind rather than a win. Let’s take a look at three causes for concern in the Titans and Saints Week 17 matchup.

Secondary depth

Injuries have decimated the Titans’ secondary, and they enter this week with another question. The already thin unit has rookie cornerback Marcus Harris battling a knee injury. After losing three safeties in Week 15, the loss of a cornerback was a challenge. Practice squad defensive back stepped up in Week 16 when Harris went down, and Tennessee will need more of that this week if Harris can’t go. Starting cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis returned and played against the Kansas City Chiefs. However, he is still nursing an Achilles injury and was limited in practice, making this an area to keep an eye on. 

Maintaining momentum 

Both teams enter the game with momentum on their side, so something will have to give. Tennessee played its best game of the season against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 16, and will look to build upon that against a Saints franchise that has won three in a row and is surging. 

Although the Titans have shown growth in recent weeks, they must prove they can handle success and stack victories. This is a winnable game, but Tennessee cannot fall back into its old ways and set itself back. 

Passing game

Cam Ward and the Titans’ offense could struggle to get the passing game going against the Saints, who enter the game fifth in the league against the pass. Their stout defense is the latest Top 10 unit the Titans will face, but they could see more success on the ground, where the Saints rank 22nd in the league. 

The Titans’ passing attack has been uneven all season, and although Ward is making strides, the lack of production by the outside receivers has been noticeable. Tennessee will need its receivers to step up and keep the offense balanced against the Saints; if they don’t, it could be a long day.Â