The Tennessee Titans return home to host the New York Jets on Sunday in a bid to bounce back from their Week 1 loss to the Chicago Bears. The Jets also lost their season opener and will be on the hunt for their first win.
The Titans had an aura of hope around them through preseason — the offseason changes appeared to be good ones. And that continued through the first half of their outing against the Bears, but in the second half, the Titans lost their grip on the game. Will Levis threw two interceptions, the Bears capitalized on one, and a general offensive disconnect was evident. The defense played well throughout the game, not allowing a single offensive touchdown.
For their part, the Jets struggled throughout their match against the San Francisco 49ers. And when the game was out of reach, veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers was subbed out in favor of Tyrod Taylor to reduce the strain on the aging quarterback’s body.
The Titans don’t have an easy route to victory on Sunday, but there are six things they can do to aid in getting a victory.
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The offense as a whole has to play better. The offensive line was much improved over last year but Will Levis was still sacked three times for 23 yards. Levis also threw two interceptions and fumbled the ball. The running game, led by Tony Pollard, is the Titans’ most reliable form of offense right now, but it can’t stay that way if they want to win. The offense as a whole has to get on the same page and be ready to efficiently execute plays.
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Head coach Brian Callahan has to make better in-game adjustments on Sunday. Last week, while the poor offensive play and turnovers led to the loss, Callahan failed to make any meaningful adjustments to change the outcome of the game. The defense played well; Dennard Wilson had his guys ready to go and they knew their assignment from the start of the game. If the Titans want a shot at beating Aaron Rodgers and the Jets, Callahan has to make impactful adjustments during the game.
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Yeah, most people are saying to stick L’Jarius Sneed on Garrett Wilson, but the reality is Allen Lazard was the most reliable receiver for the Jets last week. Wilson was targeted 11 times, Allen nine. Wilson caught six passes for 60 yards, Allen caught six passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns. Lazard’s years-long bond with Rodgers dates back to Green Bay, and while Wilson is the future of the Jets receiving corps, Lazard is currently more dangerous at the moment given his rapport with Rodgers.
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Tony Pollard was a bright spot on offense last week, carrying the ball 16 times for 82 yards and a touchdown. He’s a reliable back who can get the job done, but the Titans must remember that he doesn’t have to do it alone. Rookie Tyjae Spears had only four carries for 21 yards last week, but he showed he can do the job as well. The Jets will be on the lookout for Pollard as the starter and veteran back, but Spears can do damage, and the Titans need to get him more involved this week.
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DeAndre Hopkins was all but invisible last week against the Bears, recording just one reception for eight yards. It was the only ball thrown his way the whole game. As the most veteran receiver on the team, and one of only two who played with Will Levis last year, he should absolutely be targeted more. His injury doesn’t seem to be much of a hinderance right now, he’s been practicing and he’s suiting up for games. It’s time to get him involved so the offense can move down the field.
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Last week, the Titans defense did its job. The Bears did not score a single offensive touchdown. It’s unlikely that will be the case this week as the Jets are led by a future Hall of Fame quarterback, but there is one thing the defense can do this week that it didn’t do last week: Create turnovers.
Aaron Rodgers throws multiple interceptions every year when he’s healthy enough to play and has thrown 106 INTs over his decades-long career. He’s a fantastic quarterback, but he has his faults. If the Titans defense can reduce his decision-making time and create some turnovers, it will put their offense back on the field and give them a much better chance to win.
