The Tennessee Titans will officially open their 2022 campaign at home against the New York Giants on Sunday in Week 1.
These two teams have gone in opposite directions over the last five seasons or so, with the Giants falling to the bottom of the league. Meanwhile, the Titans have continued to be a contender in the AFC.
New York has had top-10 draft picks in the first round in four of the last five NFL drafts, including running back Saquon Barkley at No. 2 overall in 2018. The Penn State product has been unable to stay healthy after his first two seasons saw him eclipse the 1,000-yard mark.
Barkley was the primary topic of discussion among the Titans heading into Sunday’s matchup. Here’s what Tennessee is saying about Barkley and the Giants ahead of their Week 1 matchup.
S Kevin Byard on approach for Week 1
.@Titans safety @KevinByard on what he hopes to see in Week 1: "Don't do what we did last year, I can tell you that."
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) September 5, 2022
#Titans' Byard: Little bit of feeling out period for this game because of Giants' new coaching staff. Titans' D has looked at a lot of Bills tape because Daboll was Buffalo's O-coordinator.
— John Glennon (@glennonsports) September 5, 2022
Kevin Byard prides himself on film study and knowing the opponent. Wk 1 will feature a lot of new things for the #Giants. Byard acknowledged there will be a feeling out period. pic.twitter.com/3xxsLjX1qd
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) September 5, 2022
HC Mike Vrabel on preparing for Giants' new coaching staff
Vrabel on preparing for the Giants new coaching staff pic.twitter.com/5yRC6vZgxl
— Buck Reising (@BuckReising) August 31, 2022
.@Titans HC Mike Vrabel on preparing for the @Giants. pic.twitter.com/agdOCI7Pas
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) August 31, 2022
Vrabel on approach against Giants
.@Titans HC Mike Vrabel: We want to go out and be aggressive, and move the football early. And we want to try and disrupt the football on defense. We don't want to play cautious at all
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) September 7, 2022
Mike Vrabel on the feeling out period when facing a team with so much newness. #Titans pic.twitter.com/XPhHB5jwWy
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) September 7, 2022
Vrabel on stopping RB Saquon Barkley
“Everybody has to be at the point of attack. If there’s a crease there, he’s going to take it.”
– #Titans HC Mike Vrabel on stopping Saquon Barkley
— AtoZ Sports Nashville (@AtoZSports) September 7, 2022
Vrabel on slowing Barkley: pic.twitter.com/VaALlL0gAH
— John Glennon (@glennonsports) September 7, 2022
Vrabel on Giants DC Don "Wink" Martindale
#Titans' Vrabel: It's a long protection meeting when facing DC Wink Martindale. His teams run similar pressures, but bring different guys — disguise them well.
— John Glennon (@glennonsports) September 7, 2022
The aggressive defense that #Giants DC Wink Martindale likes to use stresses protection rules. Mike Vrabel said the #Titans protection meetings will be a little longer this week. pic.twitter.com/L7dDBcu1C4
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) September 7, 2022
Titans QB Ryan Tannehill on Giants' blitz heavy scheme
Ryan Tannehill on the #Giants blitz heavy scheme and fine-tuning sight adjustments. pic.twitter.com/yLUubs4gWZ
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) September 7, 2022
Byard on facing former teammate Adoree Jackson
Byard on seeing former teammate Adoree Jackson this week: pic.twitter.com/onFcHpnSx1
— John Glennon (@glennonsports) September 7, 2022
Kevin Byard is excited to catch up with former #Titans teammate Adoree Jackson this weekend. pic.twitter.com/F5mibyeQZd
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) September 7, 2022
ST coach Craig Aukerman on Giants' return game
.@Titans ST coach Craig Aukerman: The @Giants protect their punter, which is what we want to do. … They have weapons in the return game, and we'll see who they go with. .. We expect their best and we'll do what we can
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) September 8, 2022
#Titans special teams coordinator on the possibility of Saquon Barkley returning kicks for the #Giants:
“If he goes back there, great. I know our guys will be up for the challenge and we have some veteran players who would want that.”
— AtoZ Sports Nashville (@AtoZSports) September 8, 2022
RB Derrick Henry on Giants DC Don Martindale
Derrick Henry jokes that Giants DC Don Martindale has been building him up in the media only to turn around and telli his defense to knock his head off on Sunday. #Titans
— Ben Arthur (@benyarthur) September 8, 2022
Henry on Giants RB Saquon Barkley
Henry says Giants' Saquon Barkley is a "generational talent." Wishes him the best of luck with his health, but hoping he doesn't have that strong bounce back game on Sunday
— Ben Arthur (@benyarthur) September 8, 2022
Derrick Henry calls Giants’ Saquon Barkley “a generational talent.” pic.twitter.com/JObQYdl9sl
— John Glennon (@glennonsports) September 8, 2022
#Titans RB Derrick Henry said Giants RB Saquon Barkley is a generational talent, adding he can really do it all.
— Kayla Anderson (@KaylaAndersonTV) September 8, 2022
.@Titans DC Shane Bowen: @Giants RB Saquon Barkley is a huge challenge. We have to make sure he is the focal point of what we do
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) September 8, 2022
.@Titans DL @GrindSimmons94 on facing the @Giants and @saquon. pic.twitter.com/mGC7EZgqlW
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) September 8, 2022
