One might feel a bit bad for some members of the Tennessee Titans. Rookie Cam Ward deserves better, but probably knew what to expect. He might not have expected his head coach to get fired so quickly, though. He might expect the Indianapolis Colts to beat the Titans in Week 8.
Make no mistake, if Tennessee at 1-6 defeats a very good Indy team (who is 6-1) in Week 8, then people might want to check into whether the NFL has the same betting problem the NBA might have. Here's a hint: The NFL doesn't.
Indianapolis is going to win. The real question is by how much. Ward might be good, but that doesn't mean the Titans' defense has any chance of shutting down quarterback Daniel Jones and head coach Shane Steichen's offense because they don't.
Indianapolis Colts relatively healthy entering Week 8 against the Tennessee Titans
To make things worse for Tennessee, Indy is a bit healthier in Week 8 than in Week 7, at least offensively. Slot receiver Josh Downs has cleared concussion protocol and will play on Sunday. Indianapolis's offense was potent enough in Week 7 without Downs against a good Los Angeles Chargers team.
Defensively, the Colts are a bit worse off. Edge rusher Samson Ebukam (knee) and cornerback Jaylon Jones (hamstring) won't play. Ebukam has been decent in getting pressure this season, but his absence is not going to mean that Laiatu Latu, Grover Stewart, and DeForest Buckner won't get pressure because they will.
Jones might be a good player, but he hasn't played a defensive snap this season. In other words, the Colts don't know what they might have missed.
In other somewhat related injury news, rookie Riley Leonard will continue to be QB2 "for now," according to Shane Steichen. The weird part is that Anthony Richardson is on injured reserve and cannot play at least until Week 12. Why would Leonard be a "for now"? Odd.
If there was any game that the Indianapolis Colts could afford injuries, it is Week 8 against the weak Tennessee Titans. Better to get some rest now before Indy has to play some better teams.