1. Can AJ Brown Continue Early Success?
AJ Brown didn’t participate as much as you’d like in training camp or even play as much in the preseason, but none of that mattered in his NFL debut last week. Brown hauled in 3 catches for 100 yards, looking smooth on the field and providing a small sample of how explosive the Titans’ offense could be with his skill set.
Brown will try to add to his early hot start against a Colts secondary that features ball hawk Malik Hooker. Look for the Titans to get Brown involved early on, as Corey Davis and Delanie Walker have the potential to steal a good bit of attention from a young Colts defense.
2. Titans Offense and Missed Opportunities
The Titans ‘ offense wasn’t all flowers and candy last week. In fact, there was a time where the Titans could’ve blown the door off the game late in the 1st half and early on in the 2nd half. But the opportunities the Titans were given were squandered, keeping the Browns in a game they shouldn’t have been in.
As the season goes on, the Titans can’t afford to fumble chances away like they did last week. They’ll go up against better coached teams and even teams with just more plain talent as well.
Going from good to great can be explained in many different ways. But one important aspect of that process is being able to smell blood in the water and pounce on it.
If the Titans offense can capitalize on the golden opportunities they’re given, they’ll put up a lot of points and pull out the W at home.
3. Is Derrick Henry In Store For a Big Game?
Derrick Henry didn’t get off to the best start last week. At one point, getting only 3 carries for under 10 yards. But as the game went on, Henry found a lot of room and started to fall forward for extra yards, rather than succumbing to arm tackles.
Henry has the chance to get his first big game of the season this Sunday. Due to a Colts defense that didn’t have a good performance stopping the run last week against the Chargers. The Chargers’ 2 headed rushing attack consisting of Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson combined for 115 yards rushing. Plus Ekeler and Jackson both averaged over 4.5 yards per carry.
Those numbers signal an opportunity for Henry to eat and be the ingredient for a potent Titans offense this week. Watch out for Henry to receive a good amount of carries too. Especially if the Titans get a lead in the 4th quarter and need to chew some clock.
4. Jacoby Brissett Tries to Replicate Luck’s Success Against Titans
It’s widely known on how successful Andrew Luck was against the Titans during his career. Sporting a 11-0 record, including a win at Nissan Stadium to get into the playoffs last season.
Now with Luck riding into the sunset, the Colts QB job belongs to Jacoby Brissett.
Brissett hasn’t enjoyed the same success against the Titans however. Of course, Brissett hasn’t had nearly the amount of starts against the Titans. So his record of 0-2 doesn’t sound any type of crazy alarms for Colts fans.
He’s thrown for 408 yards and 1 touchdown in his 2 starts against the Titans. But with an improved roster and coaching staff from the last time he made starts against Tennessee, he has a better chance to come out with a win this time around.
5. Will Adoree Jackson Be Able to Keep Up With TY Hilton?
Adoree Jackson is the mystery man in the Titans secondary. He has talent, no doubt. But his inconsistency is one of his largest flaws on the field. Take the 2 game stretch between New England and Indianapolis for example.
The New England Patriots came into Nashville last season with Julian Edleman and Josh Gordon as their top 2 WRs. Jackson matched up all day against Gordon and he yielded from pretty nice results.
Gordon was held to 4 catches for 81 yards, but Jackson was in his pocket all game long.
The following week however, was a different story. Jackson was tasked with following TY Hilton and Hilton ripped him apart.
That’s just saying it nicely.
Hilton tore Jackson apart for 9 catches, 155 yards, and 2 touchdowns. Hilton did the heavy lifting that day, leading the Colts to a blowout victory.
Jackson has to be more consistent on the field. If he does, the Titans will significantly increase their chances for a win Sunday, and even more, boosting a defense that already plays at a high level.
6. Will Corey Davis Be More of a Gamechanger?
Corey Davis came into the 2019 season as the obvious WR1 for the Tennessee Titans. He had a good 2018 season, and backed that up with some insane play during training camp. These things signaled a potential big year for the 3rd year wideout from Western Michigan.
But while Davis did have the hype, his numbers last week didn’t match up to it. Davis didn’t register a single catch all day against the Browns and was only targeted a mere 3 times.
Davis did do some great things during the game. Including his downfield block to help seal Derrick Henry’s 75 yard touchdown catch and run.
Plus, Davis was doubled a a good bit during the game, so his numbers of course seem lackluster. But his presence along helped open up 1v1s for AJ Brown and Delanie Walker.
Adam Humphries was a victim of the same treatment Davis received as well.
With Brown and Walker coming off great games last week, there’s going to have to be some sort of compromise with the Colts defense. Walker could be the one doubled the most during the game, but that’ll open up opportunites for Davis and Humphries.
It’s all a matter of matchups and the flow of the game. If the flow of the game gets the Colts to double up Walker, then Corey Davis could break into the 2019 scene with a big game.
7. Can The Titans Pass Rush Come Alive Against Colts O Line?
There’s no secret about it, the Titans pass rush hasn’t been the best for some time now. Even Sunday, with all the pressure Baker Mayfield received during the game, the only pass rusher who got results was 37 year old Cameron Wake.
Wake however wasn’t the only disruptive force against the Browns. Harold Landry, who the Titans are expecting big things out of this year, got in the backfield plenty of times. He just didn’t have the sack numbers to back it up.
Even Sharif Finch was plenty disruptive in the run game and on the pass rush as well.
However, you can only go so far when you’re only getting into the backfield. The numbers have to start matching the tape.
This group of pass rushers will get a chance to get their numbers, but it won’t come easy against a Colts offensive line that’s among the best in the NFL.
Combine that with a heavy QB in Brissett(6’4, 231 lbs) and the Titans will have a hard time even getting to the QB.
Look for Dean Pees and company to try to scheme up pressure early, but also for the Titans to get their 4 man pass rush going early as well.
Flip the page for my prediction of the game.
Cover Photo via Jamie Squire/Getty Images