NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans made the controversial decision to wait until Thursday evening to fly to London. Tennessee's opponent this weekend, the Baltimore Ravens, went across the pond on Monday to get well adjusted to the time change.

One of the biggest looming questions about Sunday's game is if Titans players will be ready to play or lethargic from jet lag – much like the Buffalo Bills were last week.

I caught up with Titans players on Wednesday that have experience playing in London to see what tips and tricks they'll use to stay ready this weekend.

---

Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill was with the Miami Dolphins for three different London trips from 2014-2017. His team made the flight on Thursday every time. Tannehill's biggest takeaway from those experiences? Don't check what time it is back home.

"I've been over there a few times now, so I just try to convey to the guys 'take advantage of the rest on the plane. When you get there, hit the ground running, take advantage of your Friday, then try to get a good night's rest that Friday night once we get there. After that, handle business as usual. Don't try to look back and see what time it is back in the states. Look at a clock and whatever time it is, that's what it is. Tell yourself that," said Tannehill. "The biggest thing for me is don't try to compare what time it is back home. You can't think about that."

Titans safety Kevin Byard, who is one of three current Titans players who were on the team for the 2018 London trip (Byard, Henry, Cruikshank), is giving his teammates similar advice. 

"I remember the adjustment and the time adjustment. It's real," said Byard in the locker room on Wednesday. "Try to sleep as much as you can on the plane over there, cause when you get over there it's going to be 12:30 a.m. Nashville time. Your body is going to feel like it's supposed to be asleep but you have to find a way to fight to stay up."

Byard said that in 2018, some Titans players fell asleep after practice on Friday and couldn't fall back asleep until 4:00 a.m. the next morning. "Try to sleep on the plane and when we land, try to stay up another day," Byard concluded.

Titans safety Dane Cruikshank is taking his preparation to the next level. Cruikshank told me on Wednesday that, in an effort to be proactive about the impending time change, he has been going to bed earlier throughout the week leading up to the trip.

While some players like to take time on Saturday to visit tourist attractions in London, Cruikshank doesn't have much interest in sight seeing this time around. "I'm not really focused on all that. I'm focused on beating the Ravens," said Cruikshank.

Only time will tell if the Titans made the right decision by taking a few extra days in Nashville. Either way, any player going through this experience for the first time should lean on the wisdom and tips of those who have done it before. 

Titans and Ravens will kick off from Tottenham Hostpur Stadium at 8:30 a.m. CST on Sunday morning. 

What Mike Vrabel said about potential replacements for Titans CB Kristian Fulton

Titans might need to make a move.