Will the Cowboys put Philly under pressure again?
In between the years in the NFL always means between the chairs. At least for the teams where it is not yet clear whether the trip to the playoffs or not – as with our Tennessee Titans vs. Dallas Cowboys tip here for Tennessee. The Cowboys, on the other hand, have been able to plan for the postseason for some time now.
For them, however, the No. 1 seed in the NFC East is still at stake, even if their chances of getting it are very slim. Even with a win against Tennessee, they would have to hope for two more slip-ups from the Eagles, which are unlikely given their current form.
But the Boys still have more at stake than the Titans on Thursday. For them, this game against Dallas only has statistical significance. If they win, they have a final game on the last day against the Jaguars in front of their chest. If they lose, the same applies.
For that reason, it’s not entirely certain what we can expect from the Titans. However, with backup Malik Willis certainly looking to show what he’s got, the Titans should also be somewhat willing and able to play, though that doesn’t prevent a prediction in the Cowboys’ favour for Tennessee vs. Dallas.
Kickoff of this final Thursday Night Game of 2022 is Friday night at 02:15 in Tennessee. The game can be watched live on DAZN.
Tennessee Titans – Statistics & current form
The penultimate matchday, tied on points with the division leaders from Jacksonville and yet it’s all about the golden pineapple for the Tennessee Titans against Dallas. The NFL and its tie-breaker regulations in the individual divisions make it possible.
Even if the Titans manage a surprise win against the Cowboys and the Jags lose just as surprisingly against Houston, the decisive duel will take place in Jacksonville on the last day of play. The other way round, however, the Titans are not out even if they lose, but also get this final game.
Caution or full power?
With that said, it’s very hard to predict which tactic will be at the forefront for Tennessee on Thursday. Take it easy and focus on the clash with the Jags – or try to get some confidence after five straight losses.
We expect a mix of both. The Titans will certainly try a few things against the Cowboys, which could either go completely to pot or lead to a surprisingly close game. Either way, though, we expect more points in this game than in previous Titans games.
Either they lose in blowout fashion like they did against the Eagles or they score a touchdown or two. The 42.5 total points mark should therefore be exceeded in any case – which is accordingly also our first betting tip.
Willis not really arrived yet
The Titans will definitely have to do without their starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who is out for the rest of the season. Backup and rookie Malik Willis has not yet been as convincing as they had hoped in Tennessee.
His completion percentage of only 50.8% is a cause for concern and he has not yet scored a passing touchdown (although he has already thrown three interceptions). Therefore, for Titans vs. Cowboys, a bet on Dallas is also our second clear betting recommendation.
Key Players:
QB: Malik Willis
RB: Derrick Henry
WR: Robert Woods
TE: Austin Hooper
K: Randy Bullock
Dallas Cowboys – Statistics & current form
The Cowboys are still in the running for the NFC East title after their home win against the Philadelphia Eagles. However, they will also be kicking themselves all the more for giving up those big leads against Green Bay and Jacksonville. Without these lapses, they would now be top of the league.
So they have to cling to the principle of hope and do everything they can to put Philly under as much pressure as possible. A win in Tennessee would be the next step and, under the current circumstances, almost mandatory.
Problems against stumbling teams
However, the word “must win” is not a popular one in Dallas, because they regularly struggle against teams that have big problems of their own. The Cowboys have already been a rebuilding opponent for the crisis-ridden Packers, and against the Texans recently they only managed to get over the finish line with a lot of luck.
They usually have an easier time against teams that are in top form themselves (see the games against the Vikings or the Eagles). In this respect, the stumbling Titans are a very dangerous opponent for Dallas, especially since this game is about less for them and they can take a lot of risks.
Defense flawed against fourth down attempts
With that said, the matchup doesn’t quite suit the Cowboys at this point. Although they are averaging a full eleven points more (28.9 to 17.9), this could also set us up for a slightly closer game than is widely expected.
If the Titans take the risk, they have a good chance, because against the Cowboys defence, 55% of the opponent’s 4th down attempts are successful. It is one of the few weaknesses of this defence, which is otherwise among the top 6 defences (20.2 conceded points per game).
Thus, too high handicap bets on Dallas should be played with caution. Nevertheless, we naturally expect Dallas to win in the end, which can be taken into account with a bet on Dallas + Over 42.5 points as betting option no.1 for Titans vs Cowboys.
Key Players:
QB: Dak Prescott
RB: Tony Pollard
WR: CeeDee Lamb
TE: Dalton Schultz
K: Brett Maher
Tennessee Titans – Dallas Cowboys Direct Comparison / H2H-Balance
Not too often has this duel taken place in the NFL – only 15 times in total. The last duel took place in 2018 and went 28:14 to Tennessee, but they also had a slightly stronger team then. However, their last success against the Boys in their own stadium was over 22 years ago.
This season, the Titans have an average record of 3:4 at home. They have lost their last three home games, including last Saturday’s loss to the league’s weakest team, the Houston Texans.
In this respect, we should not expect a surprise against Dallas, even if they can play with a certain carefree attitude. All in all, for Tennessee vs. Dallas, the odds are best to play Cowboys+ Over 42.5 points.
Tennessee Titans – Dallas Cowboys Tip
A lot of points are in Dallas’ favour on Thursday (offence, defence, turnover ratio) and they should be able to win the game in the end. However, since the Titans can and will try a lot of things, there are also some points in it for the home team.
Thus, a bet on Dallas + over 42.5 points is an option for Titans vs. Cowboys as well as a bet that both teams will score 15 points. Whereby a quite possible blowout win for the Cowboys would not be covered.
Of course, touchdown bets are an option again, on Thursday most likely on a TD by CeeDee Lamb. He seems to be getting back on track in time for the season finale (2 TD against the Eagles on Saturday).