Not much went well last week for the Tennessee Titans despite the scoreboard reflecting a close contest with the Denver Broncos at 12-20. It was Cam Ward’s first game against one of the best defenses in football, though the degree of difficulty doesn’t lessen into Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) team grades put the Titans fourth from the bottom of the NFL. The only teams behind them are the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, and Miami Dolphins—all who lost decisively
in their regular season openers. Currently, mostly thanks to Matthew Stafford’s elite and best of all quarterbacks grade, the Rams are number one overall.
If the Titans are going to have a fighting chance against Los Angeles on Sunday, they will need to lean into the one strength that they demonstrated last week against Denver. I’m not saying this is a trap game, though it is possible the Rams must find different ways to win in Week 2.
The one thing the Titans did well last week
Tennessee’s PFF coverage grade ranked second at 77.6 behind only the Arizona Cardinals (87.0).
Individually, there were several Titans who posted great to near-elite coverage grades:
- Xavier Woods, FS: 87.3; two targets, zero receptions, one INT
- Roger McCreary, SCB: 85.0; six targets, four receptions for 24 yards, one INT
- L’Jarius Sneed, CB: 85.0; one target, zero receptions, one PBU
Unfortunately for Tennessee, Sneed did not play the entire game last week (21 of 76 snaps) and he’s been a limited participant so far in practice ahead of Week 2. His status is uncertain and there’s a chance he’s not at full health when they take on the Rams this weekend. Darrell Baker filled in for Sneed and allowed catches on all four targets for 45 yards and a touchdown.
What does this mean for Los Angeles?
This might not be a game to ask Matthew Stafford to air the ball out. We know the Rams are managing at least three injuries between their starting offensive line, and it’s more concerning that both guards’ status are in question versus the formidable Jeffrey Simmons. The Titans ranked 20th according to PFF in run defense, which could signal a heavy usage game for Kyren Williams and possibly Blake Corum. Cody Schrader was poached off the practice squad by the Jacksonville Jaguars, which means Jarquez Hunter could be active on gameday for the first time.
Simmons is a one-man pass rushing show
Simmons, who has wrecked Sean McVay’s game plans in the past, pressured Bo Nix last week seven times with one sack. The Titans defense overall recorded 14 pressures and no other defender individually accounted for more than two.
Tennessee has major questions at their EDGE rusher positions. Their interior is dangerous between Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat.
The Rams must have a plan for Simmons. They cannot let him live in the backfield in light of the sticky coverage by the secondary and the injuries along LA’s offensive interior. This is all easier said than done.
