By: Chase Hoke
The Titans are less than a week away from opening the 2020 season on the road in Denver on Monday Night Football. It is an intriguing matchup with several storylines. Jurrell Casey, the longtime Titan, faces his former team for the first time. The Broncos offense looks very good with the additions of Melvin Gordon and Jerry Jeudy this offseason. The Titans will look to show their playoff run was not a fluke.
I am going to break down this game by the positional groups and name who has the edge, in my opinion. Let’s start with the offensive lines.
Offensive Line:
Broncos – Garett Bolles (LT), Dalton Risner (LG), Lloyd Cushenberry III (C), Graham Glasgow (RG) and Elijah Wilkinson (RT)
Titans – Taylor Lewan (LT), Rodger Saffold III (RG), Ben Jones (C), Nate Davis (RG) and Dennis Kelly (RT)
Advantage – Titans
I have to give the edge to the Titans. The offensive line for the Titans really showed how dominant they can be during the playoff run. The biggest question is if they can hold up in pass protection. I think this group will be solid this season as they have played together for a year now, and they have tremendous chemistry together.
Quarterback:
Broncos – Drew Lock
Titans – Ryan Tannehill
Advantage – Titans
Ryan Tannehill completely changed the offense once he took over as the starting QB last season. Tannehill played elite football and was even mentioned for MVP consideration. I think Lock could be really good, but Tannehill clearly has the upper hand at this point in his career.
Running back:
Broncos – Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay
Titans – Derrick Henry
Advantage – Titans
King Henry. Enough said.
Wide receiver:
Broncos – Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, K.J. Hamler, Tim Patrick and DaeSean Hamilton
Titans – A.J. Brown, Corey Davis, Adam Humphries and Kalif Raymond
Advantage – Broncos
The Broncos set out this off-season to build an offense that can compete with their division rival Kansas City, and they have done just that. Sutton has shown that he has the talent and tools to become an elite receiver in the league. Jeudy was my favorite receiver in the draft and one of the best prospects we have seen at the position since Amari Cooper. If they can get good QB play from Lock, they could have a top 5 offense in the NFL.
Tight End:
Broncos – Noah Fant, Nick Vannett, Albert Okwuegbunam and Jake Butt
Titans – Jonnu Smith, Anthony Firkser, MyCole Pruitt and Geoff Swaim
Advantage – Titans
I give the advantage to the Titans simply because I think, as a group, they are better. Fant is the best tight end in this ball game followed closely by Smith. Firkser and Pruitt both had big moments for this Titans team in the past and have shown they can be relied on down the stretch. I am expecting a big year from Smith as this is the first time that he has started a season as the team’s number 1 tight end.
Defensive line:
Broncos – Jurrell Casey, Mike Purcell and Shelby Harris
Titans – Jeffery Simmons, DaQuan Jones and Jack Crawford
Advantage – Broncos
Giving the advantage to the Broncos simply because of Casey and Harris. The two combined for 11 sacks last season. Of course, they were on different teams last season, but I expect them to be a deadly combo for opposing offenses this season.
Linebackers:
Broncos – Malik Reed, Alexander Johnson, Todd Davis and Bradley Chubb
Titans – Jadeveon Clowney (OLB), Jayon Brown (ILB), Rashaan Evans (ILB) and Harold Landry III (OLB)
Advantage – Titans
The advantage would have gone to the Broncos before the Titans signed Clowney. Clowney is a game-wrecker who instantly propels this Titans pass rush forward. Von Miller is out, and Bradley Chubb is returning from an injury that cost him significant time in 2019. Advantage Titans.
Secondary:
Broncos – Bryce Callahan (CB), A.J. Bouye (CB), Kareem Jackson (SS) and Justin Simmons (FS)
Titans – Adoree Jackson (CB), Malcolm Butler (CB), Kenny Vaccaro (SS) and Kevin Byard (FS)
Advantage – Titans
When you look at the secondaries of these teams, it is clear who has the advantage. Jackson has shown he is capable of being the Titans number 1 corner. Outside of his first six games in a Titan uniform, Butler has been great. Vaccaro has been great for this defense, and Byard is the best safety in the NFL. No contest here.
Game prediction:
I think this will be a close game, but I am giving the edge to the Titans. The Titans should have no trouble feeding Derrick Henry the football and getting A.J. Brown involved in open space. The Titans’ defense will be tested, but I feel like this is the perfect time to play a team like the Broncos. In what has been a crazy offseason, I expect the Broncos to not have great chemistry. The Titans return nearly every starter from last season, and that is a big advantage.
The Titans are going to win this game 24-17.
*Depth charts provided by ESPN.com