Titans’ sneaky success in Week 1 has to be a lesson if they stand a chance against Eagles in Week 2
The Titans need to do a lot of things differently in Week 2, but perhaps none more important than recommitting to the ground game if they stand a chance against Philly.
The Tennessee Titans’ run game deserves a second look before Week 2.
The box score from the Jets loss was ugly all around. But the advanced metrics on the ground tell a far more encouraging story for Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, and the Titans’ ground attack heading into their Week 3 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Pollard and Spears averaged roughly 4.5 yards per carry against the Jets. Tennessee ranked 5th in EPA per rush and 2nd in success rate, per the advanced metrics. That dog will hunt!
The problem wasn’t that the run game failed. The problem was that New York’s ball control strangled the Titans’ opportunity to stay with it.
The Jets’ time of possession was suffocating
The Jets dominated possession in a way that made it nearly impossible for the Titans to establish any offensive rhythm. New York took 15 minutes on a single drive in the first half! Tennessee was allowed just 3 offensive snaps in the entire second quarter, which is a staggering number. When your opponent is eating clock at that rate, you can’t run your offense the way you want to. The Titans were forced to abandon the run and play from behind, chasing points rather than leaning on what was working.
As Titans coach Brian Daboll acknowledged at the podium, the team didn’t stick to it as much as maybe they should have at the beginning of the game. That’s a telling admission from the coach who otherwise said literally nothing of consequence at his weekly presser. The coaching staff recognizes the run game was effective and that schematic adjustments need to be made to commit to it earlier and more consistently.
The numbers backed up what the film showed when I went through it: Tennessee’s rushing attack was productive when they had the chance to use it.
What to watch against the Eagles
Philadelphia is probably going to try to replicate what the Jets did by playing keep away. The Eagles watched that tape and likely came away with one conclusion: possess the ball, keep the Titans’ offense off the field, and lean on their defense. That’s the formula that worked for the Jets, and it would be surprising if the Eagles didn’t attempt a similar approach. I know I would.
The question for the Titans is whether they can counter that strategy by committing to more downhill running and getting under center more frequently. If Tennessee can establish the ground game early and avoid falling behind, the offensive picture changes significantly. Pollard and Spears proved they can produce when given the opportunity. The coaching staff just has to give them that opportunity before circumstances force the team into a pass-heavy approach.
The numbers support the Titans’ ground game. The situational football around it was the real problem in Week 1. If Tennessee can stay disciplined, stick to the run early, and prevent Philadelphia from controlling the clock the way New York did, the ground game can be an equalizer in Week 2.
