The Tennessee Titans are in the middle of a rebuild, which means fans expected to take some lumps in Week 1. After all, that is what happens when five rookies earn significant snaps against a team with Super Bowl aspirations like the Denver Broncos.
In a shocking (and aggravating) twist, the Titans' rookie class performed admirably. It was a handful of key veterans who stumbled in big moments.
Historically, Week 1 is often misleading. Last year, the New Orleans Saints scored 47 points, the New England Patriots went on the road and beat the Cincinnati Bengals, and Jayden Daniels struggled mightily in his debut, throwing for 184 yards and no touchdowns, fumbling the ball three times.
The Titans want Week 1 to be a liar, and these three veterans need to bounce back against the L.A. Rams in Week 2.
Titans veterans who can and must do better in Week 2
Dan Moore, LT
It is hard to believe, but in 2024, Dan Moore looked like a left tackle who had gotten much more consistent in pass protection. Not great by any means, but average, and his worst game came against Myles Garrett when he allowed five pressures on 36 pass attempts. PFF only credited him with four pressures in 36 attempts in Week 1, but that feels generous.
The book on Moore is that he struggles against elite competition, but that he can hold his own against good competition. Garrett was second in the NFL with 14 sacks last season, and Broncos EDGE Nik Bonitto was right behind him with 13.5 sacks, so it is fair to classify both of those players as elite.
This week, the Titans face a tough Rams front, but their top EDGEs (Byron Young and Jared Verse) combined for fewer sacks in 2024 (12) than Bonitto. Moore needs to live up to his contract and his reputation, and he needs to be much better against the Rams EDGEs, who are not in that elite category yet.
Jarvis Brownlee, CB
In a game where some cornerbacks were allowed to hand-fight with wide receivers, Brownlee was wrongfully targeted by the officials when he was flagged for DPI twice. However, Brownlee has a reputation for being handsy in coverage, and receivers and offensive coaches are going to nag the officials until they get their calls against him. That means the former Louisville standout has to change the way he plays this week against the Rams' receivers.
The Rams will move receivers around, so Brownlee is going to see some Puka Nacua, but mostly he will see Davante Adams and Jordan Whittington. Adams is very good, but he is almost 33 years old, and he doesn't have the same physical tools he used to, while Whittington didn't have a catch in Week 1.
Brownlee needs to be less physical in his routes this week and focus on disrupting players at the catch point with violence like he has shown in the past. Playing with a clean sheet would be huge for Brownlee, even if that means allowing a short catch or two.
Calvin Ridley, WR
Listening to him talk throughout the week, it is clear that no one is more upset about Ridley's drops last week than he is. Ridley started slow last season with just 183 yards in his first six games, and he seems determined to prevent a similar slow start this season.
With a nightmare matchup against Patrick Surtain behind him, Ridley needs to take advantage of his reps against solid (but not elite) cornerbacks like Cobie Durant, Emmanuel Forbes, and Ahkello Witherspoon.
Given the environment and the competition this week, Ridley and Cam Ward should be able to play more "loose" and hit on some of the big plays that we saw from them in training camp and the preseason. The two were close to connecting on some explosive plays in Week 1, but this week, they must transition from being "close" to "making plays" to ensure that this offense gets back on track quickly.