The Tennessee Titans face a Philadelphia Eagles offensive line that looked beatable in Week 1 but still possesses the kind of skill-position talent that can wreck a game in a handful of plays. 

Two matchups stand out above the rest heading into Sunday’s contest, both on the Titans defensive side, and both carry massive implications for whether Tennessee can walk away with a win.

Dallas Goedert vs. whoever the Titans put on him

The matchup that’s most concerning isn’t even cornerback Alontae Taylor on wide receiver DeVonta Smith, though that could be a disaster in its own right. Smith is a fantastic player, and Taylor, while not terrible in Week 1, isn’t someone you’d feel comfortable putting on an island against him. But the matchup that could keep coaches up at night is tight end Dallas Goedert against the Titans’ coverage options.

Who guards the ageless wonder? Is it nickel safety Tony Adams? Starting young safety Kevin Winston Jr.? Veteran linebacker Cody Barton, who feels like he’s been demoted? None of those answers inspire confidence. Austin had two separate conversations with Philadelphia Eagles media this week, including our own A to Z Philly platform, and the consensus is clear: Goedert is a problem.

Here’s the thing about trying to contain him. You can’t just assign one guy and call it a day. You have to throw a combination of looks at Goedert. Winston is athletic and long enough to match up, but probably not strong enough to hold up at the point of attack. Linebacker James Williams is banged up. Do you want Cedric Gray doing it in his first game back from concussion protocol? Do you want Anthony Hill Jr. doing it in the second NFL  game of his career? Do you want Barton doing it because… he’s Cody Barton?

The best approach is taking a page from the New York Jets’ playbook in Week 1. Easton was talking to somebody in the Titans’ locker room this week who admitted they weren’t expecting the Jets to be such a serious ‘rerouting’ team at the line of scrimmage. That’s where Winston could shine, to be the banshee that he is and try to get Goedert off his spot at the line as much as possible.

The biggest issue from the Titans’ secondary in Week 1 wasn’t really about individual coverage. It was zone communication. Players were struggling to pass off routes and find soft spots. Dallas Goedert is the dictionary definition of a savvy veteran route runner who knows how to sit in the soft spot of a zone. At his age, he’s not routing anybody up or burning past you. He’s just smarter and better at football than you are. Somebody needs to keep an eye on this guy and not let him sit with 7 yards of clearance in every direction the way the Jets let Adonai Mitchell do it last week.

Jeffery Simmons vs. the Eagles’ makeshift left guard

Philadelphia has a problem at left guard with Landon Dickerson out, and the replacement is going to be somebody with very little starting experience. It could be Willie Lampkin, who is generously listed at 5-foot-11 and built like a bowling ball. It could be Drew Kendall, a fifth-round pick a year ago out of Boston College who has been cross-training from center. It might be both at different points.

In past years, you can’t discount the Jeff Stoutland legacy in Philadelphia and how that offensive line room has thrived on a next-man-up mentality for years that most teams simply don’t have. But, Stoutland is gone. 

It shouldn’t matter for players like Jeffery Simmons and John Franklin-Myers. Any criticism of Simmons from Week 1 is relatively misplaced upon watching the film. Drew Beatty did a defensive breakdown, and he put it well: Simmons looked good individually, but the unit as a whole wasn’t effective, and there were more limited opportunities to get after the quarterback than it seemed in real time.

The Eagles’ offensive line struggles go beyond left guard. Lane Johnson didn’t have his best game either, and fans in Philadelphia aren’t high on center Cam Juergens, who replaced the soon-to-be Hall of Famer Jason Kelce. The Titans’ defensive line can be the point of attack where Tennessee actually does what we expect them to do: disrupt things.

Survive the Eagles’ explosives, fight to win the game

Philadelphia’s offense had the second-highest 3-and-out rate in the NFL in Week 1 (behind… the Tennessee Titans). Jalen Hurts was sacked three times, which ruined drives. Saquon Barkley had 15 carries for 83 yards, but half of that came on one 42-yard run. Take that away, and you’re looking at 14 carries for 41 yards. The Titans would live with that. Goedert had a long of 43. Dontayvion Wicks had a long of 64. Smith had a long of 31. Of the Eagles’ 203 passing yards, 138 came on just three plays.

The formula is straightforward. Make Philadelphia convert first downs and grind drives the length of the field, something they struggled to do. Don’t allow explosive plays. And for the love of all that is holy, tackle Barkley and Hurts in the open field.