For the first time in months, we have Titans football on the horizon
Knock on wood harder than you ever have before. In the year 2020, nothing is a certainty, and I’m about to say something that might worry the superstitious– but the Tennessee Titans are set to start playing football again in less than a month.
The wait for football is never an easy one, especially now, with no preseason to hold over the NFL fans that have been waiting for over six months for the league to pick up again. But when the 2020 season finally does get underway, the Tennessee Titans will be starting off with a fun one– Monday Night Football against an up-and-coming Denver Broncos team.
With an exciting offense full of young talent looking to prove their mettle, and a talented veteran defense looking to live up to the expectations of their big-name stars, the Broncos should make for a fun opening-week matchup. Especially for a Titans roster with most of its big-name contributors returning, looking to avenge that AFC Championship loss.
These two teams have been given the Monday Night billing for a reason. They’re two talented franchises that should have enough exciting players and team matchups to make Week 1 the NFL comeback we all deserve.
So, for the first time in months, let’s get into a reasonably timed game breakdown– and see why this one should be so much fun, from offense to defense, and even special teams.
Titans Offense vs Broncos Defense
You can’t tell the tale of the Tennessee Titans offense without talking about Derrick Henry, who could be up for a tough test when he faces off against the Broncos’ defensive line– now staring a former Titan in Jurrell Casey.
The Broncos run defense, led by their interior defensive line, wasn’t exactly a world-beating unit in 2019— and for as good as Casey is, his presence on the team won’t be a complete overhaul. But Denver’s run defense wasn’t a cakewalk either, and when these two teams met in Week 6 of 2019, Henry had by far his worst performance of the season.
Of course, the glaring difference between the last time these two teams met and their impending matchup for the coming season, is that this time Ryan Tannehill will be running the show for the entire game.
An effective dose of Ryan Tannehill at quarterback should be able to take just enough pressure off of Derrick Henry in order for the Titans to do some damage, but against a talented secondary like the Broncos have, Tannehill at his top form isn’t a guarantee.
Tennessee will be facing a strong safety duo in Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson, and while he isn’t the threat that he used to be, Denver’s newly acquired cornerback AJ Bouye is still a threat on the outside.
The threat that might shut the Titans gameplan down entirely is the Broncos’ pass-rush, headlined by Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. Tennessee won’t have the help of Jack Conklin to help Taylor Lewan in shutting that talented duo down anymore, and whether the starting right tackle is Dennis Kelly or the rookie, Isaiah Wilson, they’ll have their hands full in what could be a crucial Week 1 role.
Broncos Offense vs Titans Defense
The story of the Broncos’ offense is youth. Not only will Denver’s quarterback be making just the sixth start of his career, but the team will also be breaking in two rookie receivers, a second-year tight end, and possibly a rookie center in Lloyd Cushenberry III.
But for as young as this Denver offense is, they could be equally dangerous. Those two rookie receivers, Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler, could quickly develop alongside Courtland Sutton as one of the best pass-catching corps in the league. Luckily for Tennessee, the Titans have the talent and the experience in the defensive secondary to make for a nightmare debut to the league.
No more Logan Ryan at cornerback for Tennessee, but the Titans will have the efforts of some truly dangerous cornerbacks and safeties, from Malcolm Butler, Adoree Jackson, Kenny Vaccaro and Kevin Byard. For as talented as the Broncos’ offense is, going up against a secondary as strong as Tennessee’s is going to be a tall task– especially with an inexperienced quarterback.
But Denver is more than a quarterback and a cast of pass-catchers. The Broncos already had a strong presence at running back in 2019 with Phillip Lindsey, but they added to their running back room in the 2020 offseason with the addition of Melvin Gordon. Lindsey and Gordon could be a tough one-two punch for the Titans inexperienced defensive line to handle, especially with how much effort the Titans might need to dedicate to Denver’s passing game.
The biggest difference makers here will be the presence of Jayon Brown and Rashaan Evans running at middle linebacker. Their combined skill could help slow down the running game, especially against a weaker Broncos offensive line, and confuse Drew Lock enough into making mistakes in the passing game. If they have a good night, it could be game over for Denver.
Special Teams
This game will be played in Denver, Colorado, and even if fans aren’t allowed in the building, the location will make a huge difference in regards to special teams.
Quick history lesson: Of the seven made field goals in NFL history of 63-yards or more, three of them while playing at the mile-high altitude of the Broncos’ home field.
This could be a massive benefit to the Titans, who spent the 2019 season on shaky ground in the kicking game. The good news is that Tennessee brought back Greg Joseph, who didn’t miss a single field goal in the regular season for the Titans. The bad news, on the other hand, is that Joseph didn’t make a regular-season field goal either.
Tennessee won’t know quite to expect from Joseph, but the Broncos should be in steady hands with Brandon McManus– their kicker since 2014. The punting situation, on the other hand, is about the opposite.
Denver will most likely be in the hands of Sam Martin for 2020 when it comes to punting, the former Lions punter and a former fifth-round pick in 2013. Martin is decent, but he’s not Brett Kern— the Titans All-Pro game-changing punter.
Yes, literally game-changing. Ideally, for both sides, this game won’t come down to a few well-placed punts. But if it does, Kern has been there done that, most recently in the NFL Playoffs. And he can do it again.
What It Means
All things put together, we should have one incredible game for Monday Night Football.
The two teams share some key similarities. Strong defensive secondaries, impressive running games, capable special teams units– but in their differences, you’ll find the keys to the game for both sides.
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Where the Titans’ pass-rush is one of the weaker aspects of the roster (insert mandatory Jadaveon Clowney summoning circle joke here), the Broncos shine in their ability to get to the quarterback. And regardless of who the team chooses to start at right tackle, be it Kelly or Wilson, they’ll have a tough night against Bradley Chubb and Von Miller. If the Denver pass-rush can do enough to contain Tannehill, they can start to focus on slowing down Derrick Henry.
If the Tennessee offensive line can hold up, and give enough time to Tannehill to keep the Denver defense properly respecting the passing game, Henry has the skill to run all over a middle-of-the-pack Broncos run defense.
For Tennessee, it’s their experience against Denver’s youth that could be a huge difference. Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler were both excellent college players– but they’ve never played at the NFL level before. If the veteran efforts from Butler, Byard and Jackson are enough to contain the Denver receiving corps and force Drew Lock into mistakes– it will be a long night for the Broncos.
But if Jeudy, Hamler and Lock can shine past their inexperience, that trio working with Melvin Gordon and Courtland Sutton could be too much firepower for the Titans to contend with.
But no matter which way it goes, at least one thing will be clear by the end of the game:
Football is back.