The Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos are staring down the barrel of what figures to be another ugly game for both teams.
While both offenses have struggled in 2022, the defenses have been among the league’s best. Denver sports the No. 1 pass defense in the NFL, the Titans sport the No. 2 run defense, and both units are top 10 in points allowed.
However, there is a chance the trends we’ve seen from Tennessee and Denver this season change this week, as both teams are banged-up on defense, and that’s especially true for the Titans, who are missing half their starting defense.
And Tennessee’s passing woes don’t figure to get any better, either. Granted, the potential returns of quarterback Ryan Tannehill and Treylon Burks should help, but this unit was not playing well even when both were healthy.
With all that in mind, let’s take a look at three key matchups the Titans must win if they’re going to escape Nissan Stadium with a win on Sunday.
Derrick Henry vs. Broncos' front-seven
With the passing attack struggling mightily and set to face an elite pass defense, the Titans are going to need a big effort from Derrick Henry, who has been the stabilizing force for the offense this season.
That will be especially true with Ryan Tannehill likely playing hurt if he does suit up, and Henry’s performance is even more vital if Tannehill doesn’t play entirely, forcing Malik Willis to make a third straight start.
Henry draws a very favorable matchup against a Broncos defense that ranks 21st against the run.
The King has to get going early on in this one to force Denver to bring extra help upfront, which will thin out the Broncos’ talented secondary and hopefully open things up down the field.
Success on the ground will also allow Tennessee to control the clock and keep their banged-up defense, which played an astounding 100 snaps last week, off the field.
Treylon Burks vs. Broncos' secondary
By all accounts, it appears that Treylon Burks will be back this week, which comes on the heels of Tennessee’s receiving corps. having its worst showing of the 2022 campaign in Week 9 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
None of the Titans’ wide receivers averaged a yard of separation or recorded a catch, but Burks figures to be a plus in the former area after tallying above the league average (2.92 yards) in every game he has played in and finished this season.
It’s obvious to everyone the Titans should be featuring Burks in this game, but offensive coordinator Todd Downing has proven to be allergic to doing what obviously needs to be done.
So, don’t be surprised if Burks is out-snapped by the likes of Cody Hollister and others in this game. It’s also possible he’s eased into action with this being his first game since Week 4.
Hopefully Downing gives Burks all he can handle, but even if that’s the case he’s going to have to deal with coverage from talented corners like Patrick Surtain and K’Waun Williams, among others.
Regardless, the Titans need to be doing all they can to get the ball into Burks’ hands in space and allow him to do what he does best right now, which is picking up yards after the catch.
Titans' front-seven vs. Broncos' offensive line
Tennessee’s elite run defense will take a hit this week without Jeffery Simmons, but the group upfront still has enough to limit the damage, especially with the Broncos not being very good at running the ball.
The bigger concern is Tennessee’s pass-rush, which will be without both Simmons and Bud Dupree, the two biggest difference-makers in that area.
Dupree’s early exit was no doubt a blow to the pass-rush last week, but the Titans also struggled to contain Patrick Mahomes afterwards, and that issue could rear its ugly head again in Week 10 thanks to Russell Wilson’s ability to make plays with his legs.
Rashad Weaver, who has been quiet and hasn’t tallied a sack in his last three games, must step up and get to the quarterback, while also securing the edge and making sure Wilson doesn’t escape when Tennessee does get pressure.
Adding to that concern, the secondary will be short-handed, with Amani Hooker already ruled out. Kristian Fulton is on the fence ahead of Sunday, and his absence would be an even bigger blow to Tennessee’s coverage.
Granted, the Broncos haven’t exactly been lighting the world on fire and their offensive line is exploitable, but it’s going to be much tougher to take advantage of that weakness with all the injuries.
Also, they do still have Russell Wilson under center and a trio of talented pass-catchers in tight end Greg Dulcich and receivers Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton.
If the pass-rush doesn’t bother Wilson enough, Tennessee’s banged-up secondary is going to have a hell of a time trying to cover that trio for an extended period of time.
