Let’s be unclouded: The Titans offense must be a lot higher than it used to be in a 16-15 loss to the Saints in Past 1. 

However bearing in mind Sunday used to be his first era passing in a tournament since Dec. 18 of endmost yr, quarterback Ryan Tannehill merits some grace for his unfortunate three-interception efficiency and for his shaky decision-making and timing.

Tennessee’s red-zone struggles (0-for-3) might be extra of an outlier, too, bearing in mind the workforce has ranked within the top-six in potency within the 20 each season for the occasion 5 years. With a pristine playcaller in Tim Kelly and pristine team of workers, together with 4 pristine offensive-line starters, some hiccups to start out the season must be anticipated. 

However the protection started 2023 on a good word — given up simply 16 issues, a complete that provides any workforce a robust prospect to win — even though the Titans are i’m right in now not being proud of the totality in their efficiency on that facet of the ball. 

“If we want to be a great defense,” professor Mike Vrabel stated postgame, “you have to be a great defense all the time.” 

Protection is located to govern the Titans this season, because it has for the endmost two years. Past 1 served as affirmation as to why there are lofty expectancies order Tennessee’s defensive entrance specifically. It boasts the go back of 2021 Professional Bowl out of doors linebacker Harold Landry, plus the signings of edge rusher Arden Key and inside of linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair in independent company. 

The Titans gave up simply 69 speeding yards within the opener, fifth-best within the NFL. That they had the league’s Deny. 1 run protection endmost season (76.9 speeding yards allowed in keeping with tournament) and determine to be within the combine to keep that identify in 2023. 

Their presence used to be felt Sunday within the cross speed, too, posting the second-highest drive fee in keeping with dropback in Past 1 at 51.4%, in line with Then Gen Stats. They secured for 6th with 4 sacks, together with fourth in sacks with out blitzing (3), in keeping with NGS. 

The weighty standout used to be Key, who signed a three-year, $21 million offer — together with $13 million totally assured — with Tennessee. He proved that he may also be greater than the rotational and sub-package edge rusher he used to be applied as in Jacksonville. 

Key had a league-high 11 pressures in opposition to Untouched Orleans, 4 greater than any alternative participant, proving to be a nightmare for Saints left take on Trevor Penning. 

Key additionally had what gave the impression to be a sack fumble in the second one quarter, later hitting Derek Carr’s hand as he tried a cross. Protection Kevin Byard recovered the ball and took it the range of the garden for a landing, which might’ve given the Titans a 13-3 govern in a tournament they in the long run misplaced via one level. However the play games used to be blown useless and dominated an incomplete cross. The decision at the garden stood later Vrabel challenged the ruling.  

Key’s 36 pressures since Past 14 of endmost season rank 3rd within the league in that span, in line with Then Gen Stats. 

“I know what Arden is going to do,” celebrity defensive take on Jeffery Simmons stated Wednesday of coordinating his rushes with Key. “I know if I see this matchup over here on the right side, I know what’s there and I know he’s going to take it. And the same thing with me. He knows that if I’m rushing against the guard and I tell him, ‘I got him,’ he knows that we’re going to work together. I’m going to cover him, he’s going to cover me. Whatever it may be. It’s just that feeling knowing that you can trust your guys on the field, that [they’ll] make you right.” 

There’s enough of room for enlargement defensively. Go protection used to be an Achilles’ heel endmost season — Tennessee allowed 29 passing touchdowns in 2022, secured for second-most — and that used to be a subject from time to time in Sunday’s tournament.

Maximum significantly, cornerback Kristian Fulton — later going back on the competition with a hamstring factor — gave up a 41-yard finishing touch ill the sideline to huge receiver Rashid Shaheed, putting in place the Saints’ game-clinching first ill. 

“We can’t give up the explosive plays,” Al-Shaair stated Monday. “You look at a lot of the drives, those were the things that were hurting us. Giving up those chunk plays. And then obviously the last drive of the game. … It was obviously tough.” 

[Do you want more great stories delivered right to you? Here’s how you can create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow your favorite leagues, teams and players and receive a personalized newsletter in your inbox daily.]

The Titans’ made over offense will most likely decide how some distance this retooled workforce can move in 2023. However the protection will assurance that Tennessee left-overs aggressive within the advance — and there’s room for enlargement there. 

“I just think that as a defense we have to take over games,” cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting stated Sunday. “It’s not enough to be able to stay in them, you know? … We have to generate as many turnovers as we can every opportunity that we get. We got to punch the ball. We got to force fumbles.” 

Ben Arthur is the AFC South reporter for FOX Sports activities. He in the past labored for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Community, the place he used to be the Titans beat scribbler for a yr and a part. He coated the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) previous to transferring to Tennessee. You’ll apply Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.

---

---