The Philadelphia Eagles visit Nashville, a.k.a. 'Music City', and they hope to play a tune of their own. Meanwhile, the Tennessee Titans will be looking to put their ugly Week 1 performance behind them. Tennessee managed only 195 total yards in a 23-10 loss to the New York Jets. Cam Ward threw for 140 yards, and the offense struggled to sustain drives for most of the afternoon. That doesn't mean Philadelphia can afford to overlook the Titans. Tennessee has a mix of established veterans and young players who can make a difference if the Eagles allow them to settle into the game. Both sides hope to control the line of scrimmage and limit explosive plays.
That can turn a road game into a frustrating afternoon. The Eagles are favored by more than
a touchdown, but if they want to leave Nissan Stadium with another victory, these are seven Titans who deserve particular attention.
Cam Ward, quarterback
Cam Ward didn't have the Year 2 debut Tennessee wanted, completing 19 of 32 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Jets. He also rushed four times for 21 yards, showing that his mobility remains an important part of his game.
The Eagles don't want to be the team that allows Ward to find his rhythm. A few early completions, some successful scrambles, and a couple of explosive plays could quickly change the tone of the game. Philadelphia's pass rush needs to make Ward uncomfortable without losing discipline, because giving him easy opportunities to extend plays could help a struggling quarterback build confidence.
Tony Pollard, running back
The Eagles know Tony Pollard well from his time with the Dallas Cowboys, and while his Week 1 workload was limited, Philadelphia shouldn't assume Tennessee's rushing attack will remain quiet. Pollard carried seven times for 35 yards against New York, averaging 5.0 yards per attempt.
The bigger concern is what happens if Tennessee establishes the run early. The Eagles don't want to spend another afternoon watching an opponent control the clock and limit their offensive opportunities. Keeping Pollard and Tyjae Spears from consistently creating manageable down-and-distance situations should be an early priority.
Carnell Tate, wide receiver
Carnell Tate's NFL debut wasn't spectacular, but it was encouraging enough to warrant attention. The fourth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft caught four passes for 38 yards, tying Wan'Dale Robinson for the team lead in receiving yards.
Tennessee will want to get more out of its young receiver as the season progresses, and Philadelphia's cornerbacks could provide a significant test. If the Eagles mix in man coverage, Tate could see plenty of Quinyon Mitchell and Riq Woolen. Philadelphia doesn't need to erase him, but it can't let Tate turn short opportunities into the kind of explosive plays that can change a game.
Anthony Hill Jr., linebacker
Anthony Hill was one of the few bright spots in Tennessee's Week 1 loss. He led the Titans with 16 tackles and added two passes defended, becoming the first NFL player since at least 2000 to record 16 tackles and two passes defended in his debut, according to the Titans' official website.
That kind of activity matters against Philadelphia because the Eagles will challenge Tennessee's linebackers in several ways. Hill will have to deal with Jalen Hurts' mobility, the Eagles' rushing attack, and an offense that can create mismatches in space. If Philadelphia can force Hill to process too much pre-snap and move laterally, it can create opportunities elsewhere.
Amani Hooker, safety
Amani Hooker tied for second on Tennessee with 10 tackles in Week 1 and also recorded a tackle for loss. His role becomes particularly important against an Eagles offense that can attack all three levels of the field.
Hooker is experienced enough to recognize formations and tendencies, but Philadelphia will try to put the Titans' safeties in conflict. If Hooker is constantly forced to choose between helping against the run and protecting against Philadelphia's passing game, the Eagles can find opportunities underneath or downfield.
Kevin Winston Jr., safety
Kevin Winston also finished with 10 tackles in his first game for Tennessee, tying Hooker for the second-highest total on the team. The Eagles will test him differently than the Jets did. Philadelphia can use motion, formations, and Jalen Hurts' ability to threaten the defense with his legs to force Tennessee's safeties to make difficult decisions.
Winston and Hooker have the chance to form an important tandem for the Titans. The Eagles' offense will look for ways to manipulate that duo throughout the afternoon.
Jeffery Simmons, defensive tackle
Jeffery Simmons didn't dominate the stat sheet against the Jets, finishing with four tackles, but Philadelphia has much more reason to worry about him than one quiet Week 1 box score suggests. He was one of the NFL's most productive interior pass rushers in 2025, recording a career-high 11 sacks and setting a Titans franchise record for sacks by a defensive tackle.
This matchup matters even more because Philadelphia will be dealing with a change at left guard after Landon Dickerson's move to injured reserve. Drew Kendall is expected to take over that spot, putting a relatively inexperienced interior combination in front of Jalen Hurts.
Simmons doesn't need to record a sack to influence this game. If he consistently pushes the pocket and prevents Hurts from stepping up, Tennessee can make Philadelphia's offense work much harder than it did against Washington.
Final thought
The Titans' Week 1 loss made them look vulnerable, but that's exactly why Philadelphia needs to approach this game with some caution. Tennessee's offense has several players capable of making big improvements from one week to the next, while the defense has enough talent to create problems if the Eagles get careless with the football or let Simmons and the Titans' secondary dictate the terms.
For Philadelphia, the goal should be to make Ward and the Titans' young offensive pieces earn everything. If the Eagles can stop Pollard from establishing the run, pressure Ward without losing contain, and keep Tate from finding explosive plays, Tennessee will struggle to sustain an offense.
The Eagles don't need to complicate it. They need to prevent the Titans from finding confidence early, because the easiest way to turn a rebuilding team into a dangerous one is to give it reasons to believe.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles vs. Titans: 7 players Philadelphia must contain in Week 2
