RAMS (1-0) at TENNESSEE TITANS (0-1)
When: 10 a.m. Sunday
Where: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tenn.
TV/Radio: CBS (Ch. 2)/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 388, 233
Line: Rams by 5.5
Notable injury designations
Rams: DOUBTFUL: LG Steve Avila (ankle), TE Colby Parkinson (AC joint).
Titans: OUT: RT J.C. Latham (hip), NT T’Vondre Sweat (ankle); DOUBTFUL: RB Kalel Mullings (ankle), S Kevin Winston Jr. (hamstring).
What’s at stake? The Rams are looking to start a season 2-0 for the first time since the 2021 Super Bowl campaign, while the Titans try to get rookie quarterback and No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward his first career win.
Who’s better? The Rams are the team in this game with Super Bowl aspirations. The Titans are looking for their first winning season since 2021.
Matchup to watch: Rams’ interior offensive line vs. Titans DT Jeffery Simmons. Sweat’s absence is a big deal for the Titans. But Simmons remains capable of blowing up an offensive game plan on his own, especially a pocket-dwelling quarterback like Stafford. Whether it is Beaux Limmer or Justin Dedich stepping up in Avila’s likely absence, they will have to hold their own against one of the best defensive tackles in football. And even though he’s ready to play, right guard Kevin Dotson bears monitoring after his Week 1 ankle sprain.
Rams win if: They hold the Titans to three yards per carry and force Ward into obvious passing downs. … Corners Ahkello Witherspoon and Emmanuel Forbes play physically with receiver Calvin Ridley and force him into more mistakes on the ball like his two Week 1 drops. … A third pass catcher for the Rams – Davis Allen? Tutu Atwell? Jordan Whittington – gains 50 yards through the air to complement Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.
Fantasy sleeper: Rams TE Davis Allen. The third-year player was the Rams’ most consistent tight end in training camp, so he could be in line for a growing role, especially if Parkinson doesn’t play with his shoulder injury.
Prediction: Rams 31, Titans 10. Beat reporter’s record: 1-0 on the season, 1-0 against the spread.
