Titans vs. Broncos: Cam Ward’s NFL Debut Headlines Season Opener
Rookie QB Cam Ward Faces Big Test as Titans Visit Broncos in Season Opener
The Tennessee Titans will open their season on the road against the Denver Broncos on Sunday (4:05 p.m. EDT, Fox). Denver is favored by eight points, according to BetMGM. The Titans lead the all-time series 24-16-1 and won the last meeting 17-10 in 2022.
Team Stats
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Titans (3-14 in 2024): Offense ranked 26th overall; defense ranked 2nd overall but gave up the 30th-most points.
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Broncos (10-8 in 2024): Offense ranked 19th overall; defense ranked 7th overall and allowed the 3rd-fewest points.
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Turnover differential: Broncos +6, Titans -16.
Players to Watch
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Titans: QB Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall draft pick, makes his NFL debut. Tennessee hopes he can become their long-term franchise quarterback.
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Broncos: OLB Nik Bonitto, coming off a breakout season with 13.5 sacks, recently signed a four-year extension worth up to $120 million.
Key Matchup
Ward will face Denver’s pass rush, which led the NFL last year with a franchise-record 63 sacks. This is the first time since the 1970 merger that the Broncos will open the season against a rookie quarterback. Since 2000, they are 15-10 against rookie QBs.
Injuries
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Titans: LT Dan Moore Jr. (ankle) did not practice; CB L’Jarius Sneed (knee) is still limited after missing most of last season; rookie S Kevin Winston Jr. (hamstring) is also banged up.
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Broncos: ILB Dre Greenlaw (quad) has been slowed all offseason; TE Nate Adkins (ankle surgery) is out.
Series Notes
The Broncos and Titans have playoff history dating back to the Titans’ Houston Oilers days. The most memorable matchup came in 2016 when Tennessee won 13-10, a game remembered for a heated postgame rant by Denver CB Aqib Talib after a controversial block by Titans WR Harry Douglas.
Would you like me to tighten this further into a short preview piece (like you’d see in a TV broadcast rundown), or keep it in this expanded game-notes style?
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