Titans vs Giants Prediction: Jaxson Dart's Knee Decides Week 3
- We pick the Titans to win 20–17 at MetLife Stadium on Sunday 27 September 2026. That is our judgement from box scores and injury reporting, not odds or a model.
- With Jaxson Dart, the Giants gained 394 yards and converted 9 of 11 third downs against Dallas. After he left in Los Angeles they gained 182 and converted 3 of 14.
- On the afternoon of 22 September, SNY and NFL Network reported that Dart’s knee injury is far worse than the first MCL-sprain read, and SNY said it could mean season-ending surgery. The Giants had confirmed none of it and had not named a starter.
- Jameis Winston is the only other quarterback on the Giants’ 53-man roster. In relief on 21 September he went 11 of 27 for 111 yards with an interception.
- This page was written on Tuesday 22 September, before the first official Week 3 injury report on Wednesday 23 September, so no player on it has an official game status.
We pick the Titans, 20–17, and the reason is Jaxson Dart’s left knee. With Dart in Week 1, the Giants gained 394 yards and converted 9 of 11 third downs against Dallas. Without him in Los Angeles in Week 2 they gained 182 and converted 3 of 14, and on the afternoon of Tuesday 22 September two insider reports said his injury is far worse than first thought.
When is Titans vs Giants and what channel is it on?
Titans vs Giants kicks off at 1:00 PM ET (10:00 AM PT) on Sunday 27 September 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on CBS. CBS carries Sunday-afternoon games regionally, so check that your local CBS station has this one.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Kickoff | Sunday 27 September 2026, 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT |
| Venue | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ (open-air) |
| TV | CBS, regional coverage |
| Streaming | Paramount+, where CBS carries the game in your area |
| Phone | NFL+ on phones and tablets, in-market |
| Elsewhere | NFL Sunday Ticket, out-of-market |
This is Tennessee’s first road game of 2026, after two home games in Nashville to open the season. We have not listed a broadcast crew, because CBS had not confirmed one for this game when we checked.
How have Titans and Giants played so far?
The Titans are 0–2 after losing both of their home games, 23–10 to the Jets and 24–20 to the Eagles. The Giants are 1–1. They beat Dallas 28–20 at home on Sunday night, 13 September, then lost 28–6 to the Rams in Inglewood on Monday night, 21 September. Dart was hurt in the Rams game.
| Date | Game | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Sun 13 Sep | Jets at Titans | Jets 23, Titans 10 |
| Sun 20 Sep | Eagles at Titans | Eagles 24, Titans 20 |
| Sun 13 Sep, night | Cowboys at Giants | Giants 28, Cowboys 20 |
| Mon 21 Sep, night | Giants at Rams | Rams 28, Giants 6 |
Cam Ward, in his second season, has not thrown an interception in 52 attempts. He is 32 of 52 for 323 yards and one touchdown, and he scored two 1-yard rushing touchdowns against Philadelphia. He has been sacked five times. His yards per attempt rose from 4.4 against the Jets to 9.2 against the Eagles. Tennessee’s run game went from 68 yards on 14 carries to 122 on 29, led by Tony Pollard (14 for 64) and Tyjae Spears (7 for 41).
The Titans’ problem has been keeping the ball. They lost time of possession 38:46 to 21:14 against the Jets and 36:25 to 23:35 against the Eagles, and Philadelphia converted 11 of 18 third downs. Tennessee led 20–17 after Joey Slye’s 33-yard field goal with 1:56 left. Jalen Hurts then threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Darius Cooper with nine seconds on the clock. Amani Hooker’s 92-yard interception return was one of Tennessee’s two takeaways, and the Titans have given the ball away once.
The Giants’ defense has three takeaways, all by Jevon Holland, but only one sack in two games. It gave up 481 yards to the Rams, including 327 passing yards by Matthew Stafford and 195 receiving yards by Davante Adams.
How much does Jaxson Dart’s injury change the Giants?
On two games of evidence, it changes almost everything. John Harbaugh is in his first season as Giants coach. In his first game, with Dart playing throughout, the Giants gained 394 yards and scored on all four trips to the red zone. After Dart left on the opening drive in Los Angeles, they gained 182 yards and scored only two field goals.
| Measure | Week 1 | Week 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterback | Dart: 23 of 29, 230 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT | Winston: 11 of 27, 111 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT |
| Total yards | 394 | 182 |
| Third down | 9 of 11 | 3 of 14 |
| Red zone | 4 of 4 | 0 of 2 |
| Rushing | 165 yards on 37 carries | 52 yards on 21 carries |
| Points | 28 | 6 |
Dart also ran 11 times for 54 yards against Dallas, which helps explain why the run game held up that night. Cam Skattebo had 81 yards on 18 carries against Dallas and 36 on 12 in Los Angeles. Isaiah Likely caught eight passes from Dart for 78 yards and two touchdowns.
Two points cut the other way. The opponent changed along with the quarterback, from Dallas at home to the Rams on the road, so not all of the gap is down to Dart. And Winston came in cold as the backup, not after a week of preparing as the starter. Dart went 3 of 5 for 20 yards before he left. Winston entered on the Giants’ second drive, at 7:50 of the first quarter.
What is the latest on Jaxson Dart’s knee injury?
As of 3:10 PM ET on Tuesday 22 September, the Giants had not released an MRI result, had not placed Dart on injured reserve and had not named a Week 3 starter. What changed that afternoon was the reporting. SNY and NFL Network both said the injury is much worse than the MCL sprain first described, and SNY said it could mean season-ending surgery. Both reports rely on unnamed sources, and the team has not confirmed either one.
Here is what was said, when and by whom (times Eastern):
| When | Source | What |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 21 Sep, 1st quarter | Play-by-play | Dart hurts his left knee on the opening drive and does not return |
| Mon 21 Sep, postgame | John Harbaugh | Says it is “in the neighborhood” of an MCL sprain and that an MRI is coming on Tuesday. He calls avoiding “the devastating outcome” good news |
| Overnight 21–22 Sep | NFL Network (Rapoport, Garafolo); ESPN | Report a believed MCL sprain, with X-rays negative. ESPN’s story says early indications are that the injury is not long-term |
| 22 Sep, before the MRI | SNY (Connor Hughes) | Reports the team is bracing for a two-to-four-week absence |
| 22 Sep, 2:38 PM | SNY (Hughes) | Reports the MRI showed a “much more serious” injury and that Dart could face season-ending knee surgery. SNY says the earlier timeline no longer holds |
| 22 Sep, 2:43 PM | ESPN, citing NFL Network’s Rapoport and Garafolo | Reports Dart is out for an extended period and could miss the rest of the season |
| 22 Sep, 2:46 PM | ESPN roster feed | Still lists Dart as active |
| 22 Sep, 3:10 PM | Giants | No MRI result, no IR move and no named starter |
What the Giants have confirmed: Dart hurt his left knee on 21 September and did not return, and Harbaugh said an MRI would follow. What is only reported: the MRI finding, the possibility of surgery and how long Dart will be out. ESPN’s injury tracker labels Dart “Doubtful”, but that is ESPN’s own tag. It is not an NFL designation.
Winston is the only other quarterback on the 53-man roster, and Jake Haener is on the practice squad. That makes Winston the presumptive starter. The Giants have not said so, though, and they could still add a quarterback before Sunday.
Who is injured for Titans vs Giants?
No player has an official Week 3 status yet. The first practice reports for Sunday games come out on Wednesday 23 September, and final designations come on Friday 25 September. As of 22 September, the Giants have more injuries to worry about. Besides Dart, Malik Nabers, Brian Burns and Andrew Thomas were all hurt against the Rams, and the secondary was already without Paulson Adebo. Tennessee’s main questions are cornerback Cor’Dale Flott and rookie right guard Fernando Carmona Jr.
| Player | Issue | Latest |
|---|---|---|
| NYG WR Malik Nabers | Right shoulder | Hurt late in the first quarter and returned in the second. Said it was OK; X-ray result not published |
| NYG OLB Brian Burns | Ankle | Harbaugh called it a low ankle sprain. ESPN said he left in a boot; Burns called it “nothing serious” |
| NYG LT Andrew Thomas | Groin | Did not finish the game. Harbaugh: “we’ll see about that” |
| NYG CB Deonte Banks | Calf | Inactive for Week 2 |
| NYG LB Micah McFadden | Neck | Inactive for Week 2 |
| NYG CB Paulson Adebo | Knee | On injured reserve since 18 September, so out at least four games |
| TEN CB Cor’Dale Flott | Quad | Inactive for Week 2. Saleh said on 21 September he is hopeful Flott plays |
| TEN RG Fernando Carmona Jr. | Shoulder | Hurt in Week 2; no update on 21 September, per AP |
| TEN LB James Williams Sr. | Elbow | Inactive for Week 2 |
ESPN reported on 21 September that Nabers, Burns and Thomas were not expected to miss significant time, and Harbaugh said “Those guys will be back.” That is an early read, not a designation. ESPN’s tracker also tags Carmona “Questionable”, which is again ESPN’s own label. ESPN’s roster feed showed tight end Thomas Fidone II and defensive tackle Darius Alexander as out for Week 2, for reasons we could not confirm. Tennessee put tight end Jaren Kanak and defensive end Jaylen Harrell on injured reserve in August. ESPN’s transaction log shows no Titans IR placements from 1 to 22 September.
What is the Titans vs Giants head-to-head record?
The Giants lead the regular-season series 7–6, counting the Houston Oilers years, and the teams have never met in the playoffs. The last meeting, on Sunday 11 September 2022 in Nashville, was a 21–20 Giants win.
A two-point conversion decided that game. With 1:06 left, Daniel Jones threw a 1-yard touchdown to Chris Myarick and then hit Saquon Barkley for two. Randy Bullock’s 47-yard field goal attempt went wide left with four seconds left. It was Brian Daboll’s first regular-season game as Giants head coach. The Giants fired him on 10 November 2025, and he now returns to MetLife as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator under Robert Saleh. We found nothing that confirms who calls Tennessee’s plays.
The last game between them at MetLife, on 16 December 2018, was a 17–0 Titans win. Tennessee’s roster now includes three former Giants: receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, tight end Daniel Bellinger and Flott.
What will the weather be for Titans vs Giants?
MetLife Stadium has no roof, so the weather will matter. The National Weather Service forecast for East Rutherford, issued at 2:35 AM EDT on 22 September, gives a 40% chance of showers on Sunday. It calls for partly sunny skies, a high near 69°F and a north wind of 12 to 16 mph.
This is a five-day forecast and it will change. It also has a chance of showers on Friday and Saturday (40–50%). Check it again on Friday or Saturday.
What is our Titans vs Giants prediction?
Our pick is Titans 20, Giants 17. That is the site’s judgement, based on box scores and injury reporting. It is not a model, and it would change if the Giants’ quarterback situation changes.
Five inputs push us toward Tennessee:
- The Giants’ offense without Dart. Our only look at this team without him produced 182 yards, 3 of 14 on third down and 0 of 2 in the red zone. Every report on 22 September points to Dart missing this game.
- Ball security. Ward has no interceptions in 52 attempts, and the Titans had no turnovers against Philadelphia.
- A thin Giants pass defense. The Giants have one sack in two games. Burns has a low ankle sprain, Adebo is on injured reserve and Banks was inactive in Week 2. The Rams threw for 327 yards against them.
- The run matchup. Tennessee has allowed 3.4 yards per carry (241 yards on 71 carries). Without Dart, the Giants ran for 52 yards on 21 carries.
- Rest. The Giants played on Monday night in Inglewood and returned to New Jersey on Tuesday. The Titans played on Sunday afternoon and have a full week.
The case for the Giants is real, and it is why our margin is only a field goal. They are at home. Tennessee is 0–2, lost time of possession by 17:32 and 12:50, and just let Philadelphia convert 11 of 18 third downs. We expect a low-scoring game decided in the fourth quarter.
What would make this prediction wrong?
The most likely way this pick fails is a Giants quarterback, probably Winston, who plays far better after a week preparing as the starter than his 11-of-27 relief line suggests. The other is a Titans third-down defense that looks like it did in Week 2, not Week 1.
- Dart. The team has not confirmed any of the reporting. If the Giants say he is healthier than reported, this pick is wrong at its root.
- Third downs. Tennessee held the Jets to 2 of 12 but let the Eagles convert 11 of 18. The Eagles version hands the Giants the clock.
- The Giants’ run game. If they get anything like the 165 yards on 37 carries they had against Dallas, their quarterback will be under far less pressure.
- Pressure on Ward. Abdul Carter has the Giants’ only sack. If Carmona cannot play at right guard, watch that side of the line.
- Turnovers. Tennessee lost a fumble against the Jets, and Holland already has three takeaways.
- Rain and wind. Showers and a 12–16 mph wind could limit passing for both teams and make field goals decisive. Dominic Zvada made one from 52 yards in Los Angeles.
What to check before kickoff
- Wednesday 23 September: the first practice reports. For New York, look for Dart, Nabers, Burns and Thomas; for Tennessee, Flott and Carmona.
- Any Giants statement on Dart: an MRI result, a move to injured reserve, a named starter or a quarterback signing.
- Friday 25 September: final game designations.
- Friday or Saturday: the updated NWS forecast for East Rutherford.
- About 11:30 AM ET on Sunday 27 September: inactives, 90 minutes before kickoff.
How we verified this
✅ Every score on this page was checked twice against ESPN box scores and scoreboards, and every one matched. That covers both teams’ 2026 games (ESPN events 401872924, 401872939, 401872930 and 401872947), the 2022 meeting (401437640) and the 16 December 2018 game. Kickoff times were converted from UTC. The Giants’ Sunday-night opener started at 8:20 PM ET on 13 September. Their Monday-night game in Inglewood started at 8:15 PM ET on 21 September, and some outlets list it as 22 September because they use UTC.
✅ Stat lines come from the box scores rather than from summaries of them, because the summaries got two of them wrong. One automated summary gave Cam Ward 127 passing yards against the Jets. That is Tennessee’s net passing after sacks, and the box score gives Ward 140. Another summary credited Tyjae Spears with Ward’s two 1-yard rushing touchdowns against Philadelphia.
🔴 A second check of the Dart timeline on the afternoon of 22 September overturned the first research pass. The first pass found no MRI result and an SNY report of a two-to-four-week absence. The second check found SNY’s 2:38 PM ET report that the MRI showed something much more serious, possibly season-ending. It also found ESPN’s 2:43 PM ET item citing NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. Both rest on unnamed sources. We found no Giants release of the MRI result, no injured-reserve move and no named starter, and ESPN’s roster feed at 2:46 PM ET still listed Dart as active. Harbaugh’s MCL-sprain comments and an early ESPN story saying the injury was not expected to be long-term are shown as what was said before the MRI, not as current status.
✅ The pick was made before the MRI reports and re-examined after them. It stays at Titans 20–17, because the new reporting strengthens its main input, a Giants offense without Dart, rather than changing it. The original research said one scenario would flip the pick: Dart cleared to play. Every report since contradicts that scenario.
⚠️ ESPN’s injury labels are not official designations. ESPN’s tracker tags Dart “Doubtful” and Carmona “Questionable”. Those are ESPN’s labels, and no player has an official Week 3 designation before the 23 September practice report. ESPN’s early read that Nabers, Burns and Thomas would not miss significant time is also a report, not a designation.
✅ Where recap prose disagreed with the play-by-play, we went with the play-by-play. One ESPN story put Nabers’ injury in the second quarter, but the play-by-play has it at 0:06 of the first. An NJ.com item said Winston led the Giants in the second half, but he entered at 7:50 of the first quarter. One outlet reported that Arvell Reese briefly left the Rams game. The play-by-play does not back that up, so it is not on this page. Carmona’s lack of an update is credited to AP alone, because the Titans’ own Monday notes do not mention him.
⚠️ The 7–6 series record comes from StatMuse and ChampsOrChumps, which agree game by game. ESPN’s schedule data shows the same twelve meetings after 1973. Its 1973 data is incomplete and its 1994 score reads 0–0, which is a data gap, so those two games rest on the secondary sources alone. Pro Football Reference blocked access.
⚠️ CBS is confirmed as the network by ESPN’s scoreboard and Paramount+’s Giants schedule page, but the broadcast crew is not. The crew in a USA Today compilation matches only a Wikipedia list of 2026 CBS pairings, not a CBS assignment for this game, so we left it out. We did not check the 2026 terms for NFL+ or NFL Sunday Ticket, so they are described in general terms and no prices appear.
✅ The weather is the National Weather Service’s own forecast, not an app’s. It comes from the New York/Upton office for grid OKX 30,46 and was issued at 2:35 AM EDT on 22 September. It is a five-day forecast.
🔴 No betting lines, odds, prediction-market prices or model win probabilities were consulted for this page, and none appear on it.