The Tennessee Titans will play the New Orleans Saints in their week 17 matchup at Nissan Stadium. The Saints come into this game on a three-game winning streak. The Titans are looking to extend their winning streak to two games after picking up a win against the Chiefs last weekend.
Titans Week Sixteen Recap
In week sixteen, the Titans picked up a 26-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. In this game, the Chiefs’ backup quarterback, Gardner Minshew, got injured in the first quarter, so the Chiefs had to rely on third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun. Cam Ward looked particularly impressive in this game, completing 21 out of his 28 passes for 228 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. Ward also got help from his running backs. Tony Pollard ran the ball for 102 yards, while Tyjae Spears ran for 52 yards and caught five passes for 53 yards.
New Orleans Saints Season Recap
The New Orleans Saints had very low expectations coming into this season. Through the first twelve games, the Saints found themselves sitting at 2-10. However, the Saints have won three straight games to now sit at 5-10. Part of the Saints’ recent success has been the play of rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. Last weekend, Shough threw for 308 yards and a touchdown against the New York Jets. With the Saints on a winning streak, they may be tougher to beat than originally expected.
Rookie Quarterback Battle
With two games left, both teams are prioritizing the development of their rookie quarterbacks. The Titans will go into the offseason confident that Ward is their long-term solution. The Saints still might have questions surrounding Shough. He has looked good the last couple of weeks, however the Saints might look to target a quarterback with their first round pick in this offseason’s draft. Shough is currently a 26 year old rookie quarterback, which might raise questions about his long-term upside as the franchise’s starter. The Saints will continue to use these last games of the season to evaluate how long they want to keep Shough around as the starter. For the Titans, Ward has had an up-and-down season, but he is playing much better now than he was at the beginning of the season. Ward has made the necessary progressions for a rookie quarterback. These last couple of games will give Ward even more on-field experience to help his development.
Both Teams Building Momentum
With both teams out of the playoff hunt, these last couple of weeks are about building the confidence of these teams’ young players. The Saints and Titans are using this matchup as a chance to evaluate talent and see who can be part of their long-term plans. For many of these players, increased playing time provides valuable in-game experience that cannot be replicated in practice. While the outcome still matters, the bigger picture is growth, development, and setting a foundation for next season.
Lack of Running Games
Both of these teams have struggled to run the ball throughout this season. The Titans have gotten better as of late, but it has still been a season-long struggle. The Saints have struggled all year as they only average 3.6 yards per run play, which is 30th in the NFL. Establishing the run game may be the key for these teams as they play each other in week 17. A more consistent rushing attack could help take pressure off the quarterbacks and open up the passing game. Whichever team finds success on the ground may control the tempo and gain an edge in this matchup.
Game Information
Tennessee Titans vs New Orleans Saints
Time: December 28th, 2025 @ 12:00 PM CDT
Location: Nissan Stadium (Nashville, TN)
TV Broadcast: CBS
TV Broadcast Crew: Kevin Harlan and Trent Green
Radio: Titans Radio (104-5 The Zone)
Radio Crew: Taylor Zarzour, Dave McGinnis, Rhett Bryan, Amie Wells
Line: Titans +120 (+2.5 pts)
Over/Under: 39.5
Written By: AJ Hughes
