The Tennessee Titans Week 2 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles comes with very different vibes for the two teams.
Tennessee is coming off a disappointing 23-10 home loss to the New York Jets that exposed plenty in all three phases, especially QB Cam Ward's performance. Philadelphia, meanwhile, survived a close one at home against the Washington Commanders
24-22 behind three touchdown passes from QB Jalen Hurts.Now the Titans host the Eagles in a matchup that could tell us whether they’re really as bad as they looked in Week 1 or if they can show improvement.
Here are six things to know before the Titans and Eagles kick off Week 2.
Titans need a much better offensive showing
While improvements are needed in all phases, the biggest storyline is the Titans’ offense needing to be much better.
The Titans produced only 195 yards against the Jets, ranking 31st in the NFL after Week 1.
The Titans cannot afford another game where Ward and the offense spend most of the afternoon trying to escape pressure and find consistent yardage. If Tennessee wants to challenge Philadelphia, it needs to establish the run, keep Ward comfortable, and find ways to get its talented group of receivers involved.
Cam Ward needs to show growth
Ward’s second NFL season didn’t begin the way the Titans or he hoped. He completed 19 of 32 passes for 140 yards and one touchdown against New York. However, 55 of those yards and his lone touchdown came in garbage time when the game was out of reach.
Now Ward faces an Eagles defense that could be an even tougher challenge than the Jets. He doesn’t need to become a superstar overnight, but Week 2 is a chance to show his Week 1 performance was a bad outing, not a sign of what's to come.
Philadelphia Is favored by a touchdown
Philadelphia opened as a seven-point road favorite against Tennessee, which reflects how differently the two teams looked in Week 1. While they were likely favorites regardless because of where the two teams are in the timeline and their recent success, that is a big number for a road team.
A loss wouldn’t necessarily end Tennessee’s season, but falling to 0-2 while being dominated by a team expected to contend in the NFC would make the questions surrounding the Titans much louder.
Jalen Hurts could pose a problem
Tennessee’s defense was just as disappointing as the offense in Week 1, considering their head coach is a defensive guy in Robert Saleh. After allowing Jets QB Geno Smith to throw for 215 yards on a 104.0 QB Rating, they now have to deal with Eagles QB Jalen Hurts.
Hurts threw for 203 yards and three touchdowns in Week 1 while also remaining a major threat with his legs (46 yards). The Titans will need their front seven to provide more pressure on Hurts than they did on Smith (only 12 QB pressures). If Hurts consistently gets comfortable, Tennessee could be in for another long afternoon.
Saquon Barkley could pose just as big of a problem
Hurts isn’t the only player the Titans have to worry about. Their defense also gave up 102 yards and a touchdown to Jets RB Breece Hall, with Eagles RB Saquon Barkley licking his chops. Their superstar RB rushed for 83 yards on 15 carries against Washington, including a 42-yard run.
Titans starting LB Cedric Gray is expected to return after missing Week 1 with a concussion, so the Titans hope he will help contain Barkley. Tennessee will need disciplined run defense to contain Barkley from taking over the game in Nashville.
Titans have a chance to change the losing narrative quickly
Perhaps the most intriguing thing about Week 2 is how quickly the Titans can change the conversation surrounding them. One week ago, Tennessee entered the season with optimism surrounding Saleh, Brian Daboll, Ward, and their defensive line.
After the loss to the Jets, that optimism took a significant hit, but even a strong showing against the Eagles would change a lot. Philadelphia is coming off five consecutive playoff seasons and remains one of the more talented teams in the NFC. So, competing against a team of that caliber would give the young Titans team confidence going forward.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans vs Philadelphia Eagles: 6 things to know about Week 2
