The Tennessee Titans played their first of what'll be several games without star running back Derrick Henry on Sunday night, and somehow, someway, they didn't really miss him.
On the road, in primetime, the Titans unexpectedly pounded the NFC favorite Los Angeles Rams with defensive fortitude, as their unit forced two turnovers, recorded five sacks, and scored a touchdown in a stunning 28-16 upset win at SoFi Stadium. Perhaps a new identity for a team that owns sole possession of the AFC's top seed.
"The Titans are rolling, 7-2. They're first in the AFC South. They're still able to put up points. I'm trying to understand how long this is going to last," JR said during Monday's edition of the JR SportBrief show. "Last night was certainly the Titans abusing Matthew Stafford. Are they going to do the same thing against the Saints?
"I wouldn't fawn over the Titans. They're going to stay alive. Their schedule is going to help them. Their division is going to help them... Go ahead and look at the Titans and find a bright spot... But the AFC is really moving into a place where you can just flip a coin."
The Titans flexed their muscles against Stafford in the second quarter, picking him off twice on consecutive possessions. They happened to score twice in an 11-second span -- after Ryan Tannehill threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Geoff Swaim, Titans safety Kevin Byard completed a pick-six one player later, handing Tennessee a 14-3 lead.
Los Angeles didn't score its first touchdown until fourth quarter garbage time, when Stafford connected with Sony Michel on a three-yard pass with only 24 seconds remaining. Stafford finished with 294 yards on 31 of 48 passing, and the Rams recorded a season-low 347 total yards of offense.
Tennessee (7-2) will host New Orleans (5-3) in a Week 10 matchup on Sunday. According to FiveThirtyEight's projections, the Titans now have a 61-percent chance to earn the AFC's first-round bye and a 13-percent chance to win Super Bowl 56.
JR's complete thoughts on the Titans' statement win can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow the JR SportBrief show on Twitter @JRSportBrief and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.