Predicting the Final Score of Titans vs. Saints in NFL Week 9

After a 3-20 record through his first season-and-a-half, the Tennessee Titans decided that was enough time to evaluate head coach Ken Whisenhunt, and the team sent him packing on Tuesday. As a result, interim head coach Mike Mularkey will take the Titans into a hostile Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday afternoon to face the suddenly hot New Orleans Saints.

The good news for the Titans is that Marcus Mariota is expected to start on Sunday. Mularkey has said that he plans to adjust the offense a bit to take advantage of the strengths of Mariota. While that comment almost assuredly means that Mariota will be used outside the pocket a bit more, it’s a bit of a dangerous plan as the former Oregon signal-caller will be returning from a two-game absence due to a sprained knee.

The other declaration that Mularkey made this week is that Antonio Andrews will be the bell cow running back from here on out. Andrews’ 54 carries for 202 yards on the season may not blow your skirt up, but when the other two options are Bishop Sankey and an overweight David Cobb, Andrews looks more attractive.

In last week’s game against the New York Giants, Drew Brees looked like the Brees of old, as he threw for 505 yards and seven touchdowns in a 52-49 victory. While it’s unlikely that Brees will match those numbers against the Titans, it finally seems like he’s gotten over that early-season shoulder injury, which could spell doom for the rest of the NFC.

If anything, Brees’ success should open up some running lanes for Mark Ingram who is on pace for 1,060 yards and 10 touchdowns this season which would both be a career-high. With the season-ending injury to Khiry Robinson, expect Ingram’s touches to increase slightly as C.J. Spiller and Tim Hightower don’t really fit the same role as Robinson.

Mariota will likely be a bit rusty, but I expect an impassioned effort from the Titans in their first game under Mularkey. That being said, it’s hard to bet against a guy like Brees, who is in an absolute zone right now. Expect him to throw at least three touchdowns on Sunday, as the Saints pull out the victory, and move above .500 at 5-4.

Prediction: New Orleans 31, Tennessee 20

Jason Fletcher is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JasonFletcher25, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.