The Tennessee Titans completed a sweep of the season series over their long-time division rivals, the Indianapolis Colts, in Week 8. It was an important win for the Titans in a game that felt like a heavyweight fight. While the positive impact of the victory was monumental, so was the negative.
The Titans have lost star running back Derrick Henry for what will probably be the rest of the regular season. There is hope that Henry will return for the playoffs, and even though the aforementioned Colts win puts the Titans in a great position, they still have to make the playoffs.
The black cloud of Henry’s absence will linger over the rest of the season. How large and devastating that cloud will be remains to be seen. Although Henry hasn’t been incredibly productive numbers-wise in the previous two weeks, his presence has an impact all in itself.
The reality is, though, when Henry isn’t going off, the Titans’ offense was still performing.
The reason for that is the same reason there should be optimism the Titans can still be one of the best teams in the league to finish out their year; a bright light shining through that black cloud, a single ray of positivity beaming down — and the Titans will need that now more than ever.
As mentioned, Henry’s presence matters, no doubt, but A.J. Brown has been the Titans’ primary weapon the past two weeks, and that will need to continue.
After a slow start to the season due to injuries, Brown has started to look like himself in the past three weeks. He started to ramp things up against Buffalo in Week 6 with seven catches for 91 yards, but in the past two weeks, he has gone nuclear.
Against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7, he went for eight catches, 133 yards and this sexy touchdown. He followed that up with his best performance of the year, going for 10 catches, a career-high 155 yards, and a score.
Not only are these big days, but A.J. is showing up in the biggest moments as well. When Henry was being held to less than four yards per carry, these performances were absolutely necessary, and they will be even more necessary with Henry out.
The numbers are impressive without question, but what has impressed me is how it is happening. A.J. is winning one-on-one matchups with ease. He has the highest grade of any receiver in the league when going against single coverage over the past two weeks, per Pro Football Focus.
But winning is only one part of this equation. The other comes from offensive coordinator Todd Downing putting Brown in the best possible position to succeed.
As we do each week, let’s take a look at the film and see how these two elements are coming together.