The Jacksonville Jaguars got them a win Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts and it’s now time to turn their focus to the Tennessee Titans. A Week 2 win on the Jags’ part would thrust them into first place in the division, a place nobody expected them to be so early in the season, or at any point in 2020.
To get our readers more acclimated with the Titans, Jags Wire sat down with the Titans Wire and their managing editor Michael Moraitis. Here are five burning questions he was able to answer as we get closer to Week 2’s important game:
Jags Wire: With there being no preseason, Week 1’s series of games were very important for all 32 teams to iron out the kinks and give fans a preview of their teams. What were your takeaways from the Titans’ Week 1 win over Denver?
Michael Moraitis: The Titans’ offense looked pretty sluggish, and it was the defense that really kept Tennessee in the game long enough to grab the win. Overall, Ryan Tannehill didn’t look sharp and Derrick Henry didn’t seem to have much bounce in his step, even though he broke the 100-yard mark. The Titans were lucky to escape with a win, especially given their struggles in the kicking game.
JW: Last year the Titans went to the AFC Championship and were a game away from going to the Super Bowl. What were some of the additions made this offseason to get them over the hump and make them stronger in the AFC South?
MM: The Titans have tried to get faster in the slot with the addition of second-round pick Kristian Fulton, and their pass-rush should be much better with the additions of Jadeveon Clowney and Vic Beasley – that is, once Beasley actually gets on the field.
We got a good taste of what Clowney can do in Week 1, but his impact was minimal in the second half as he was dealing with fatigue, which wasn’t surprising considering he had less than a full week of practices ahead of the Broncos game. After the game, Clowney said he expects his play to get even better once his conditioning improves, and he admitted he’s still learning the defense and wasn’t totally sure what was going on out there in his debut.
JW: Of course, we all know about Derrick Henry, A.J. Brown, and Kevin Byard, but who are some of the lesser known names who could make an impact Sunday for the Titans?
MM: On offense, it’s no doubt wide receiver Corey Davis. Granted, he’s a former No. 5 overall pick, but he has been flying under the radar since Brown exploded last season. Davis was sensational in Week 1, pulling in seven catches for 101 yards, and both of those totals were the most he’s had in a game since Week 10 of 2018.
Also, watch out for tight end Jonnu Smith. The Titans are lining him up all over the field – including in the backfield – and really trying to get him the ball in space so he can make plays with his insane athleticism.
On defense, outside linebacker Harold Landry could wreck this game. He started off a bit slow in Week 1, but he made his presence felt in the second half by creating pressure and being effective when dropping back against the pass, which is something he has struggled to do in the past.
JW: Sunday’s game is going to be significantly different than those we’ve seen in the past because there will be no fans at Nissan Stadium. Do you think that may work against the Titans this week?
MM: Not at all. Unfortunately for the Titans, they’ve had lackluster attendance at games over the years, and when a team with a bigger fan base comes to town, the visiting fans can make it feel like a road game for the Titans. Tennessee has also been a good road team in the past, proving it can thrive in even the most hostile environment (see: the 2019 playoffs). If there’s one team who can easily overcome not having the energy of fans in the stands, it’s the Titans.
JW: What are your score predictions for the game?
MM: Until the Jaguars prove to me they can stop Derrick Henry, I don’t see them beating the Titans. The Titans are going to try and do what they couldn’t in Week 1, which was setup the play-action game with a lot of Henry, who should have more room to run this week after being mostly stifled by a stellar Broncos run defense. Titans come out on top, 28-17
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