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Article by Gavin Hams

It is finally here, Week 1 of the NFL Season kicks off this week and the Tennessee Titans play a real football game against the New York Jets. There has been a lot of talk about this being a must win game for Titans and I have a hard time putting a week 1 game as a must win, but it is not to far off from a must win game for the Titans.

The Titans have a brand new coaching staff, a 2nd year quarterback who fans hope will be a franchise quarterback, spent the most money in free agency this past offseason and have a brand new stadium on the way. This city, the fans and this team need to build some excitement and there is no better way than starting the season 1-0, but also proving they are a better team than the Jets. The Titans starting 1-0 would show how things have changed for the better because we have heard the talk that this and that is different but if the Titans go 3-14 or 4-12 all that talk will have been for nothing.

Keys to starting 1-0

1. The run game and O-Line dominance

This to me is the biggest factor for the Tennessee Titans to win this football game. The Jets ranked 29th in the run game last year defensively which puts them in the bottom tier of the league. The Titans have an opportunity to dominate time of possession and balance the offense well and keep the offensive line momentum building from the preseason. It will also take pressure off of Cam Ward and being one dimensional on offense.

2. Protect Cam Ward and don’t force explosives

This is massive for the Titans. Robert Saleh has consistently said this preseason that everything was very basic and vanilla schematically for the offense. The Titans did not show the ability to hit the deep ball and explosive plays in the preseason. That could have been on purpose, only the people in the Titans building know that. The Titans don’t need Cam Ward to throw from 400 yards. He needs to take what the defense gives him and try to keep the turnover number for the offense at ZERO.

3. Make Geno Smith beat you

The Titans need to make Geno Smith beat them. Make him pass the ball and do not let Breece Hall run up and down the field against them. The secondary was a major concern throughout the preseason but I trust the players and coaching staff to put themselves in the best position to win the day and game. I do not think the Titans secondary, which ranked 23rd in pass defense last season, will shut down the Jets receivers, but if the pass rush can get home and the Titans can win the turnover battle I believe the Titans will come out victorious and start the season 1-0.

Score Prediction:

Titans: 24

Jets: 17

I believe the Titans win the turnover battle and the offense controls the game by running the ball and utilizing play action off the run game. I also believe the Titans defensive line will have at least 2+ sacks and Geno Smith will have 1+ interceptions. The Titans win 24-17 with New York scoring late to make the score more respectable.