Our Super Bowl 2024 predictions are in. Will the Titans return to the NFL playoffs?
The Tennessee Titans open the 2023 regular season at the New Orleans Saints to begin a tough six-week start to the year.
Tennessee faces the Saints, Chargers, Bengals, Browns, Colts and Ravens in the first six weeks, with the Baltimore game being played in London.
The final half of the Titans schedule is perceived to be less difficult, though that'll prove itself out by December.
Will the Titans return to the playoffs? Can they be a surprise Super Bowl contender with the addition of DeAndre Hopkins and some injury luck? Our experts give their annual predictions:
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Titans 2023 predictions
Titans record: 9-8
The reason: The offense is better. The defense is deeper. The schedule is easier. Barring a third-straight year of cataclysmic injury luck, this team seems to be better off compared to 2022.
One bold prediction: If injuries aren't an issue, the Titans' defensive front of Jeffery Simmons, Denico Autry, Teair Tart, Harold Landry and Arden Key will be the best in the NFL.
Titans offensive MVP: Derrick Henry
Titans defensive MVP: Jeffery Simmons
DeAndre Hopkins receiving yards/TDs: 850 yards, five touchdowns
Derrick Henry rushing yards/TDs: 1,450 yards, 11 touchdowns
Most games played as backup QB: Malik Willis
Where Titans offense will rank: 16th in points, 25th in yards
Where Titans defense will rank: 8th in points allowed, 12th in yards allowed
Is Ryan Tannehill playing his last season with the Titans? Probably, yeah. The Titans have invested too much draft capital in quarterbacks to put another $40 million a year or thereabouts into Tannehill, even if odds are he's still their best options to win in 2024.
NFL Predictions 2023
NFC Division Winners: Philadelphia, Minnesota, San Francisco, Atlanta
NFC Wild Card: Dallas, Seattle, Detroit
NFC Title Game: Philadelphia 28, San Francisco 24
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AFC Division Winners: Buffalo, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Jacksonville
AFC Wild Card: Miami, Los Angeles, Tennessee
AFC Title Game: Buffalo 34, Kansas City 31
Super Bowl: Philadelphia 27, Buffalo 17
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Gentry Estes, columnist
Titans 2023 predictions
Titans record: 10-7
The reason: I don't get why so many nationally are so down on the Titans. Their offense should be better. The defense should be good. And their 2023 schedule looks a lot softer. This could easily be a playoff team again.
One bold prediction: By season's end, Tyjae Spears will have earned more PPR fantasy football points than Derrick Henry.
Titans’ offensive MVP: Ryan Tannehill
Titans’ defensive MVP: Jeffery Simmons
DeAndre Hopkins receiving yards/TDs: 850 yards, six touchdowns
Derrick Henry rushing yards/TDs: 1.150 yards, six touchdowns
Most games played by backup quarterback? 0 starts
Where Titans’ offense will rank: 20th in points, 17th in yards gained
Where Titans’ defense will rank: 8th in points allowed, 4th in yards allowed
Is Ryan Tannehill playing his last season with Titans? Probably. But the gap between him and the young QBs needs to be a lot closer for it to be in the Titans' best interest to move on after this season.
NFL predictions 2023
NFC division winners: Philadelphia, Minnesota, San Francisco, Atlanta
NFC wild cards: Dallas, Detroit, Seattle
NFC title game: San Francisco 28, Dallas 10
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AFC division winners: Buffalo, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Tennessee
AFC wild cards: L.A. Chargers, N.Y. Jets, Miami
AFC title game: Kansas City 34, Miami 21
Super Bowl: Kansas City 35, San Francisco 24
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Paul Skrbina, sports reporter
Titans 2023 predictions
Titans record: 9-8
The reason: The Saints, Chargers, Browns and Bengals to start the season make Tennessee’s early record ugly. After what should be a win against Indianapolis, the Ravens lurk. Playing in the AFC South will help tidy up their record. But Derrick Henry, Ryan Tannehill and DeAndre Hopkins aren’t getting any younger. Their defense, though, could allow them to steal a game here and there.
Titans’ offensive MVP: Derrick Henry
Titans’ defensive MVP: Jeffery Simmons
Where Titans’ offense will rank: 25th in points, 27th in yards gained
Where Titans’ defense will rank: 17th in points allowed, 16th in yards allowed
NFL predictions
NFC division winners: Dallas, Minnesota, San Francisco, New Orleans
NFC wild cards: Detroit, Seattle, Philadelphia
NFC title game: San Francisco 27, Seattle 17
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AFC division winners: Buffalo, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Jacksonville
AFC wild cards: N.Y. Jets, Baltimore, L.A. Chargers
AFC title game: Kansas City 37, Cincinnati 24
Super Bowl: San Francisco 31, Kansas City 28
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Nick Gray, trending sports reporter
Titans 2023 predictions
Titans record: 9-8
The reason: Given the schedule, the Titans should be a double-digit win team. But the offensive line is something I cannot get out of my head. If the issues are more intermittent than last season, then the Titans will win the division. But it could be a real problem, and there's no depth behind a patchwork starting five. Trust Mike Vrabel to max out this team's potential, but the OL is an issue that can impact other parts of the offense.
One bold prediction: Will Levis will start a game in 2023. Malik Willis did not play well enough in the preseason to make Titans fans forget about those three starts last season. Even if Willis is next man up if Ryan Tannehill is out, his lease will be even shorter than last year.
Titans offensive MVP: Derrick Henry
Titans defensive MVP: Denico Autry
DeAndre Hopkins receiving yards/TDs: 925 yards, 6 touchdowns
Derrick Henry rushing yards/TDs: 1,300 yards, 14 touchdowns
Most games played as backup QB: Malik Willis, if only for some designed runs.
Where Titans offense will rank: 21st in points, 23rd in yards
Where Titans defense will rank: 8th in points allowed, 14th in yards allowed
Is Ryan Tannehill playing his last season with the Titans? Yes. Tannehill's age and recent play makes it very likely that 2023 is the last season for him in Nashville. If he has a season like 2019 and/or 2020, it'll make the decision more difficult. But the Titans have to see what they have in Willis and Levis eventually.
NFL Predictions 2023
NFC Division Winners: Dallas, Minnesota, San Francisco, Carolina
NFC Wild Card: Philadelphia, Washington, New Orleans
NFC Title Game: San Francisco 27, Philadelphia 24
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AFC Division Winners: N.Y. Jets, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Tennessee
AFC Wild Card: Baltimore, Buffalo, L.A. Chargers
AFC Title Game: Kansas City 31, Cincinnati 24
Super Bowl: Kansas City 35, San Francisco 23
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Super Bowl 2024 predictions: Will the Titans return to NFL playoffs?
