The Tennessee Titans brought Julio Jones here to make plays. Period.
It’s been a while since Tennessee Titans fans have seen Julio Jones. The last time they played the Atlanta Falcons was September 29th of 2019. Jones, obviously, was on the other sideline for that one, but the two-tone blue handled him pretty well.
Jones caught four passes for 52 yards as Tennessee left the ATL with a 24-10 beatdown in their back pockets. Fast forward a season, and there wasn’t much of a reason to watch the Falcons last season, other than the dramatic aspect. It almost became comical to see how they’d blow this game or that one, and Jones wasn’t himself, missing six games on the season with a hamstring issue. That includes weeks 14 through 17.
He finished the campaign with 51 receptions for 771 yards and three trips to the end zone, which aren’t Jones-like numbers at all. Julio also turns 32 on February 8th, so if you’re wondering why there’s some concern about how his body will hold up, blame all of those factors.
By now you’ve heard the news. On June 6th, Jones traded his Atlanta jersey for a Titans ensemble, one that will sport the number 2. Tennessee’s schedule is a gauntlet, but with A.J. Brown on the other side of the formation, there’s a chance that he’ll face the second-best cover guy on many of the opposing teams’ rosters.
With that being said, might a comeback player of the year award be on the horizon or, better yet, Jones’ eighth trip to the Pro Bowl? It should be a huge year for Jones, all things considered, With that being said, here are three teams he figures to torch during the 2021-2022 season.
The Tennessee Titans get a test in Week 1, but it’s still a very winnable game.
Date: Sunday, September 12th at 12 PM CST
If you’re going to catch anyone off guard, the best way to do so is in Week 1. There are jitters. Everyone’s trying to find their rhythm. The new guys, at times, haven’t quite adjusted to the scheme they’re playing in. Sometimes, something as simple as playing at home can work wonders.
Tennessee’s first game that counts against the win-loss total is at Nissan Stadium as the Titans host an Arizona Cardinals team that will be flying across the country to get their first taste of football in 2021. It’s always easy to wonder about West Coast teams that are playing games that will, to them and their body clocks, feel like they’re being played at 10 A.M. PST.
The Titans welcome back a former comrade, Malcolm Butler, who will now line up as the CB1 in Zona. On the other side of the formation is Robert Alford. We’re all probably, as of right now, expecting Byron Murphy to play in the slot.
No disrespect is intended to those guys, but how do we say this nicely? There will be an opportunity for Jones and A.J. Brown to make some noise.
The defending AFC Champs will, no doubt, provide some opportunities on offense.
Date: Sunday, October 24th at 12:00 PM CST
Let’s be honest. Whenever we discuss the Kansas City Chiefs, we rarely discuss defense. That is a fact no matter how we try to dress it up.
In keeping with that same theory, there’s this. Whenever we bring up the two-time defending AFC Champions (and the winners of Super Bowl LIV), we normally talk about Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, and the rest of that vaunted Chiefs offensive attack, and then, if there’s any time left, we might drift off into a conversation about the other side of the ball.
There’s a reason for that. Successful arguments can be made for the fact that Andy Reid, many moons ago, decided that he’d play defense in one way. He’d build a super-elite offense and ride that to as much success as he could muster. Sure Kansas City has some stars on the defensive side of the ball, Tyrann Mathieu and Chris Jones for instance, but if there’s one area where they can be had, it’s through the air.
Look at it this way. The Chiefs relied heavily on an overrated Bashaud Breeland over the past two seasons as one of their starters. He’s gone but, at best, someone who should be a team’s third corner. He leaves a unit behind that features second-year man L’Jarius Sneed and Charvarius Ward.
They’re okay, but here’s one very truthful statement. Kansas City will, again, be giving up a lot of big plays. This after they gave up 25 points or more seven times during the season, including that 31-9 stinger in the most recent Super Bowl. Julio Jones and A.J. Brown should both have big games in this one, and just like the Cardinals game, this one is at home in the friendly confines of Nissan Stadium.
The Seahawks will provide the Tennessee Titans some opportunities in Week 2.
Date: Sunday, September 19th at 3:25 PM CST
It’s an early-season matchup, Week 2 to be exact. It features two teams that let the other team throw the ball all over the place on them from time to time in 2020. Both sides, despite making some changes or as many as they could (Seattle only had three draft picks in 2021), will need time to gel defensively.
All of that means this figures to be a high-scoring game that comes down to the last possession or one that could be decided by a bad turnover at the wrong time.
The Seattle Seahawks fielded seven Pro Bowlers in 2020. They’re led by a legitimate MVP candidate who proves that every season but never gets any MVP votes when it’s time to name one.
Still, even with that being said, Seattle gave up 25 points or more eight times during the 2020-2021 season, including their Wild Card Game versus the Los Angeles Rams, and they gave up 20 points or more in every game but five. The Titans are going to light this team up.
Matched up across from A.J. Brown and Julio Jones will be, more than likely, Ahkello Witherspoon and Tre Flowers. They aren’t bad, but that isn’t exactly an elite unit. A.J. Brown and Julio Jones are in the elite class from a wide receivers perspective.
This game within the game could go a long way in ensuring a Tennessee Titans victory, and if we’re being honest, this is a very winnable game that the Titans could be favored in despite playing it on the road. Put an asterisk by this one if you’re a fan.