In the upcoming regular-season finale of the National Pro Football League, Tyjae Spears, the racehorse of Tennessee Titans, will be watching from the sidelines. Incidents from Week 17 confirmed that Spears experienced a concussion, ruling him out for the final season game against the Houston Texans. This news was confirmed in the Week 18 injury report released by the Titans, mentioning Spears’ inability to join his team on the field.
With Spears’ unfortunate absence, the Titans will look towards Tony Pollard to take the reins. Pollard, however, has an ankle injury that puts him in the questionable list for the forthcoming game. Although his condition is a matter of concern, expectations suggest that Pollard will indeed take the field this Sunday.
The game with Houston Texans stands crucial for veteran Pollard. He is presented with the opportunity to achieve a couple of key bonuses based on his performance on Sunday. Achieving these goals will not only boost his career statistics but also offer a significant addition to his earnings.
Pollard’s targets are both challenging and rewarding. For his first bonus, he must accumulate a minimum of 83 rushing yards. Hitting this target would pocket him a whopping $250,000. As challenging as it may seem, achieving this would add an exciting chapter in his football career.
Beyond the 83-yard target, Pollard has a second incentive lying on the horizon. If he manages to touch the end zone twice during the game, another $200,000 will head his way. The potential of securing these bonuses would significantly motivate Pollard, making the field more interesting to watch than ever.
Spears has made a robust impact on the Tennessee Titans during this season, serving as a strong backup to Pollard. Although his yards per carry averaged at 3.7, he managed to cover 312 rushing yards and secure 4 touchdowns. His presence was always a major addition to the aggressive front put up by the Titans.
Just last week, Spears demonstrated stellar performance, logging 95 yards in 20 carries, despite Pollard missing the action. His play showed the depth of talent within the Tennessee Titans. It’s unfortunate that he had to make an early exit due to injury in what could have been one of his best games.
Betting odds and prop bets for this encounter might appear limited due to Houston’s current position. The Texans, standing with a lacklustre season, may resort to resting some of their key players making the odds unpredictable. Despite the circumstances, Pollard securing a score seems fairly probable.
Houston’s record this season has not been strong in the face of ground assaults. With an average of over 4.5 yards conceded per carry, if there is a breach, it is most likely to happen there. Pollard’s twin touchdown incentive will be more challenging to achieve given the game’s context.
My concern lies in Pollard’s playtime during the game. Considering his recent performance, will he be on the field long enough to reach his incentives? Some troubling signs suggest this may not be the case.
Pollard’s health concerns resulted in him being discarded from Week 17 action. Moreover, he has seen below-average playtime in his last two appearances, accounting for 44 and 39 percent respectively. These numbers suggest that his ankle problem continues to impact his game time.
It’s also worth noting that Pollard made 83 yards in only six of this season’s games. Thus, the odds of him reaching this threshold are not the most promising. Achieving those numbers under his current physical state would indeed be an uphill task.
One glimmer of hope remains in his previous performance against Houston. Pollard successfully accomplished a 119 yard rush in 24 carries in their last encounter. This performance could serve as a benchmark for his upcoming game and shows potential in reaching his set target.
Much will depend on the rushing yards prop being offered for this game. Should the number be reasonable, there’s a good chance Pollard could hit his yards target. However, this feat is by no means a given but surely an exciting prospect to look forward to.
In conclusion, the final game of the regular season between Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans comes loaded with uncertainties and opportunities. It is hardly predictable, with injury concerns and individual player incentives playing a massive role in the outcome. Nevertheless, all eyes will rest on Tony Pollard, who may seize this occasion to solidify his mark on this remarkable season.