As the New Orleans Saints (5-10) prepare for their match-up in Nashville for a Week 17 clash against the Tennessee Titans (3-12), the narrative isn't about playoff positioning. It isn't about seeding. It’s about pride, jobs, and for the Saints' defense, the opportunity to put an exclamation point on a season where they have often been the only adult in the room. Earlier this week we talked about what the Saints defense `should look for going up against Cam Ward.

Here is what the Saints defense should expect and demand of themselves against Tennessee.

1. A Rookie Quarterback Playing With The Keys

The Titans have handed the keys to rookie quarterback Cam Ward, and the results have been exactly what you’d expect from a talented but raw playmaker on a bad team. Ward has flashed potential (2,866 yards, 13 TDs), but he has also been careless with the football (7 INTs).

The Saints should expect Ward to try and extend plays. He isn't a rhythm passer who will pick them apart with three-step drops; he is a freelancer. For a disciplined secondary led by veterans, this is a gift. If the Saints can maintain lane integrity and keep Ward in the pocket, he will eventually make a mistake. He will try to force a ball into a window that isn't there because he’s trying to spark a 3-12 team. Staley’s complex coverage shells should be designed specifically to bait Ward into these "hero ball" throws.

2. An Anemic Run Game

The Titans rank near the bottom of the league in total offense (2nd worst, averaging just over 258 yards per game). Their run game, led by Tony Pollard, hasn't been the stabilizer they hoped for. Pollard has managed respectable numbers (949 yards), but the explosiveness is often stifled by an offensive line that can't sustain blocks.

Expect the Titans to try and establish Pollard early to protect Ward, but don't expect them to stick with it if the Saints get a few early stops. The Saints' front seven, with Demario Davis still patrolling the middle and Cameron Jordan (9 sacks) continuing to defy Father Time, should be able to make the Titans one-dimensional very quickly. If New Orleans stuffs the run on first down, they effectively end the Titans' drive before it starts.

3. A Desperate Need For "Chunk" Plays

Because the Titans struggle to sustain long drives (averaging only ~17 points per game), their offense relies entirely on variance. They need the 40-yard play to score because they can't string together 10-play drives. They will look to targets like Chimere Dike or tight end Chig Okonkwo for quick strikes.

The Saints defense must simply keep everything in front of them. The Titans offense is not efficient enough to dink-and-dunk their way down the field 12 times a game. If the Saints eliminate the explosive play, they eliminate the Titans' only path to the end zone.

The Verdict: Defensive Stat Buffet

This is a "get right" game for the defensive stat sheet. The Titans are a broken offense led by a rookie quarterback in a meaningless game. The Saints defense shouldn't just expect to contain them, they should expect to dominate them.

If Cam Ward leaves Nissan Stadium without multiple turnovers, the Saints defense will have underperformed. Expect a low-scoring affair where the Saints' pass rush finally gets to pin its ears back and feast.