Tennessee Titans vs NY Jets NFL Prediction

Sunday, Sept. 27th NFL week 3 - 1 p.m. Eastern - CBS Tennessee Titans (0-2) at New York Jets (2-0)

Rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez has become a "rock star" for the New York Jets just two games into his NFL career. But if Sanchez's team is going to record a third straight win to open the 2009 NFL season, it probably will come down to another dominating defensive effort in the Tennessee Titans at New York Jets game Sunday.

The Titans and Jets will play at 1 p.m. Sunday at Giants Stadium. CBS will televise the game regionally.

Sanchez, the rookie quarterback out of USC and the Jets first-round draft pick, has played like an NFL veteran so far, throwing for 435 yards with two touchdowns and just one interception in upset wins at Houston (24-7) and at home against New England (16-9).

The key component for New York heading into the Titans-Jets game Sunday, however, has been the Jets defense under new Coach Rex Ryan. New York has allowed just one touchdown in two games, thwarting two potentially powerful offenses in the process. Houston had only 183 total yards against the Jets in Week 1, but the Texans bounced back and recorded 420 total yards in a 34-31 win at Tennessee in Week 2. New England had no touchdowns and only 299 yards against the Jets in Giants Stadium, one week after beating Buffalo 25-24 with 368 total yards.

Tennessee will be a desperate team entering Sunday's Titans-Jets game, as the Titans have opened the season with two straight losses, both on late field goals. Pittsburgh defeated Tennessee 13-10 in overtime in Week 1, before the Titans lost on Houston's late field goal in Week 2.

Titans quarterback Kerry Collins has thrown for 460 yards in two games, hitting three touchdown passes versus two interceptions. Tennessee running back Chris Johnson is off to a fast start, with 254 yards and two touchdowns on just 31 carries this season. Johnson also has 98 yards receiving on 10 catches with a touchdown.

Tennessee is 1-1 ATS, losing by three at Pittsburgh as a 6.5-point underdog, then losing by three against Houston as a 7-point favorite. The Titans were favored in seven of their eight road games last season, only being listed as an underdog early in the season at Cincinnati, a game Tennessee won outright, 24-7. In fact, dating back to last season, the Titans have won four straight games ATS as an underdog, regardless of the game's location.

Although the Jets have been a slight underdog in their first two games, the early line shows them as a 3-point favorite against the Titans. Dating back to last season, New York has lost three straight games ATS as a home favorite.

The Titans and Jets played at Tennessee last season, and, behind quarterback Brett Favre, the Jets bombed the Titans, 34-13. New York entered that game as a 5.5-point underdog.