NFL Preview: Broncos Face Steep Challenge in Tennessee

After dropping a frustrating 27-13 decision to Indianapolis at home last week, the Denver Broncos (1-2) will continue their AFC South tour this Sunday with a difficult road date in Tennessee (2-1).

What makes the Titans such a difficult matchup? You know exactly what they’re going to do, but it’s still darn near impossible to stop. Their gameplan is simple:  Smash the ball (the Titans have the eighth-best running game in the NFL with an average of 137.3 yards per game), play solid defense (Tennessee has only allowed three touchdowns in three games and are holding opponents to an average of 14 points per game) and limit the amount of difficult throws QB Vince Young has to make.

Obviously, all Denver eyes will have to be on Tennessee RB Chris Johnson in this one. Johnson, the NFL’s fifth-leading rusher (301 yards), rebounded in a major way last week after a disastrous Week 2 effort against Pittsburgh. Against New York, he carried 32 times for 125 yards and two TDs, thrashing the Giants run defense all afternoon.  The good news on this front is that the Broncos have been very stout against the run this season — allowing just 94.3 yards per contest, Denver is currently ranked 10th in the NFL and does have the right schemes to slow up Johnson…somewhat.

Injury Update: Still no word on whether or not Denver RB Knowshon Moreno (hamstring) will be available for this weekend…Tennessee CB Cortland Finnegan was hampered by a thigh injury last week, but he should be good to go vs. Denver.

Another AFC South team will be taking on a somewhat unfamiliar foe this weekend as the Houston Texans (2-1) travel out west to take on the Raiders in Oakland (1-2).  This is an intriguing matchup given that both teams are coming off very disappointing losses, but in entirely different fashions. The Texans lost for the first time last week to Dallas — at home, no less — and looked flat, lethargic and any other adjective for “tired” you want to throw out there. The Raiders, meanwhile, suffered the gut punch to end all gut punches. After driving down the field against Arizona with the Cardinals leading 24-23, QB Bruce Gradkowski got Oakland within easy field goal range (32 yards) to win the game with just a few ticks left on the clock. But K Sebastian Janikowski shanked the attempt, the game was over and somehow, almost inexplicably, the sad-sack Cardinals found themselves at 2-1 on the year.

The big matchup in this game will be on the ground. The Texans have the fifth-best rushing attack in the NFL (146.3 yards per game) while Oakland has the fourth-best (147.3) — but it’s the rushing defenses that will likely make the difference. The Texans have been great against the run this year and currently have the 2nd-best run defense in the NFL. The Raiders? Ehh, not so good. The 24th-ranked unit has some major holes and is allowing 133.0 yads per game.

Injury Update: Houston WR Andre Johnson (ankle) isn’t looking good for this weekend’s game. Be sure to keep an eye on the official injury reports as the week progresses.