The Tennessee Titans (0-0) head west on Sunday to face the Denver Broncos (0-0) at Empower Field at Mile High in Week 1 action, with kickoff scheduled for 3:05 p.m. CDT.
The Titans opened the week as 8-point underdogs, which has slightly changed to 8.5-point underdogs as of this writing.
With this matchup on tap, Titans Wire took the opportunity to hold a Q&A with Broncos Wire contributor Brandon Walker.
There’s been so much hype around Jayden Daniels, people forget that Bo Nix was a rookie last year, too, and a first-round draft pick. And he led the Broncos to their first 10-win season in 10 years. Is it more likely that Nix plays as well as he did last season, or will he suffer the dreaded sophomore slump?
Nix has carried himself like a 10-year veteran. In the offseason, Nix sought out advice from Hall of Fame talent, such as Peyton and Eli Manning, as well as Drew Brees, to get his routine and mindset in a place where he doesn’t slip going into year two.
I believe we will see the Nix we saw in the latter half of 2024; someone who can make quick decisions, take care of the football, and use his legs when needed.
The offensive line is returning in its entirety. Last year, they led the league in several areas like pass block win rate, run block win rate, and short yardage conversion rate, which helped Nix be successful. Can they maintain that kind of play as a unit for another full season?
The offensive line, as you mentioned, was outstanding last year. With the entire line returning and confidence in the players behind the starters, the line could make an even bigger leap in 2025. The key to any good offensive line is continuity and lack of injury. If they stay healthy, they are set to be an elite unit again.
This isn’t Sean Payton’s first rodeo, but he struggled to make use of Russell Wilson in his first season as head coach of the Broncos. He seems to be handling Nix better, but the lack of depth at wide receiver is concerning for a team that ranked 28th in receiving last season. How does Payton plan to make this work?
True, the Broncos seemingly have Courtland Sutton, their No. 1 guy, and a bunch of younger players after him in their wide receiver room. However, during training camp and in the preseason, two receivers really stood out: second-year receiver Troy Franklin and rookie Pat Bryant.
Franklin put on some weight and worked on his game in the offseason, and impressed many when the Denver media put his name on a “could be cut” list before camp. Many believed Bryant would end up taking Franklin’s roster spot. In reality, the two players now complement Nix on offense and will be weapons all over the field. The Broncos also have Marvin Mims, who broke out at the end of 2024. On paper, it doesn’t look like much, but it may surprise people on the field.
On the other hand, the Broncos’ running backs room is full. Right now, J.K. Dobbins is listed as the starter with rookie R.J. Harver backing him up. What does their split look like? The Titans struggled against the run in 2024. Will Sean Payton put a focus on the ground game this week?
This area of the game plan is where the Broncos really struggled in 2024. Sean Payton’s offense is built on using the short passing game and bubble screens as part of the run game. In today’s NFL, you cannot pass on every down. In theory, the Denver rushing attack should get better, but they have not had an individual 100-yard rusher in a game since 2021.
The hope is Payton will use the rushing attack, but the brutal truth is, we have to see it to believe it.
Is the Broncos’ secondary really ready for Cam Ward? They were 22nd in the league against the pass last season, and Ward is already showing signs of becoming an elite quarterback. Pat Surtain can’t do it alone, so will he have help? Who do you expect to step up?
The Denver defense as a whole is projected to be near the top of the NFL in 2025. With all due respect to Ward, he is a rookie quarterback, and rookies make mistakes, especially early in the season. On the front side of the defense, linebacker Nik Bonitto, along with defensive linemen Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers, put significant pressure on the quarterback. The front led the NFL with 63 sacks, nine more than the next closest team.
The Broncos’ secondary is full of talent, with the free agent additions of Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga and the return of linebacker Alex Singleton. But Surtain isn’t alone on the outside. Third-year cornerback Riley Moss is a force to be reckoned with as well, covering the second-best receiver of every team. The depth got even better when the Broncos drafted cornerback Jahdae Barron with the 20th overall pick.
