- Tennessee gained only 1 net yard in the first six possessions of the second half.
- Penalties were a major issue for the Titans, who committed 13 infractions.
- Despite the loss, the Titans’ special teams and ability to force turnovers showed significant improvement from last season.
DENVER — Rapid reaction from the Tennessee Titans‘ season-opening 20-12 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sept. 7 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Talking points
- The Titans, 8 1/2-point underdogs, went toe-to-toe in a raucous atmosphere against a respected opponent that reached the playoffs last season and is expected to be better in 2025. Defensively, the Titans were opportunistic, forcing turnovers and creating a rough afternoon for Denver quarterback Bo Nix. Special teams for once was a plus for the Titans. So that’s the good news.
The bad? It still wasn’t enough.
The Titans couldn’t seal the deal, missing a golden opportunity at what could’ve been a huge opening victory in this season that isn’t supposed to amount to much. Instead, the Broncos’ defense won this game because the Titans’ offense could not. Just too many things the Titans didn’t do. Too many penalties. Too many field goals instead of touchdowns. Too many instances where the Titans’ offense was ineffective and unable to punish the Broncos’ mistakes. Not enough Calvin Ridley. But not enough success for the offense, period, which gained a total of 1 net yard on its first six possessions of the second half. And that’s how a winnable game got away.
- Cam Ward was 12-of-28 for 112 passing yards, and he ended up getting sacked six times. It wasn’t the worst NFL debut (I mean, he made fewer mistakes than Nix), but Ward wasn’t able to make plays when the Titans needed them the most. It didn’t help that Ridley wasn’t a factor. He had two key drops in the fourth quarter and was largely erased by Denver star cornerback Pat Surtain II. Overall, the Broncos’ defense was as good as advertised. But in the rare instances the Titans did get a little bit going offensively, they came away with field goals when touchdowns were needed.
- Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed – sort of – returned for this game. But it was in a part-time capacity in the first half. For a while, Sneed rotated in and out with Darrell Baker Jr., and Baker was in coverage when Nix found top receiver Courtland Sutton for a 22-yard touchdown late in the second quarter. Sneed, evidently, is still recovering from a knee injury. It’s unclear when, if ever, that isn’t going to be the case for him. But the Titans continue to pay Sneed a lot of money to stand on the sideline.
- Prior to halftime, the Titans received possession with 47 seconds remaining and promptly went three-and-out near their own goal line. Poor play-calling and clock management by the Titans in this instance allowed the TD pass to Sutton with 16 seconds left in the half, giving Denver its first lead of the game.
Where the game turned
The Broncos made that mistake that could’ve cost them this game, coughing up a punt return in the fourth quarter and allowing the Titans (while trailing 13-12) to take over deep in Denver territory with 11:43 remaining. During the next series, though, right tackle J.C. Latham limped off the field. Next play, his replacement Oli Udoh allowed a sack. Ward was sacked again on the next play. The Titans ended up punting on a possession that started on the Broncos’ 23-yard line.
Key number
13: Penalties for the Titans in this game — which means that a major problem from last season remained unsolved. The Titans still committed far too many avoidable penalties. Not enough space to list them all here, but cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. continued his penalty problems from last season. He picked up an illegal contact penalty to nullify a third-down stop, and he had a defensive pass interference just before the Broncos’ first-half touchdown.
With the Titans trailing 13-12 in the fourth quarter, James Williams got an silly unnecessary roughness penalty for a late hit on the punt return, putting the Titans on their own 10-yard line to start the drive. And a late unnecessary roughness penalty for Jeffery Simmons all but ended the Titans’ hopes.
What I liked
Two aspects that routinely held the Titans back last season – turnovers and special teams – became advantages in this season opener. The Titans’ defense picked off Nix twice, and an early forced fumble by Jeffery Simmons was the type of impact play this defense needs him to make.
Meanwhile, the Titans’ special teams looked vastly improved from the weekly liability it was a season ago. Chimere Dike’s 71-yard kickoff return meant a field goal in the final seconds of the first half, and new kicker Joey Slye and new punter Johnny Hekker each performed well.
What I didn’t like
The Titans still don’t know how to win games like this. And the Broncos do. That difference became clear in the fourth quarter. The Titans’ offense stumbled away chances. Meanwhile, the Broncos cranked up their pass rush and did enough offensively to put the Titans away.
Reach Tennessean sports columnist Gentry Estes at gestes@tennessean.com and hang out with him on Bluesky @gentryestes.bsky.social