The Tennessee Titans will launch their 2025 season by introducing rookie quarterback Cam Ward, the top pick from April’s draft, as he faces the formidable Denver Broncos in Week 1. This matchup is a crucial test for Ward and the Titans. They’ll want to fully utilize his rookie status to their advantage versus a tough, pressure-heavy defense.
Ward has quickly built an impressive rapport with veteran wide receiver and Ridley. One thing is clear – now he is ready to take the field for his first official game. The Titans’ head coach, Brian Callahan, expressed confidence in Ward’s abilities, naming him the starter early this offseason. Callahan praised Ward for his exceptional mastery of the offense. Now, Campbell is hoping to see how the rookie handles the pressure cooker.
Ward will have a challenging test in the Titans’ opening game. He’d be up against a Broncos D that made their bones with vicious pass rush and notorious man coverage. This would mark the first time the Broncos will have faced a rookie QB since Week 7 of ’22.
During the preseason, Ward was 10 for 19 passing for 145 yards. Still, he displayed his upside on just 44 snaps with zero passing touchdowns and zero interceptions. He orchestrated a beautiful 13-play, 90-yard touchdown drive in the Titans’ last preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings. This performance was a testament to his strengths in key moments.
As he prepares for his debut, Ward will need to be particularly mindful of his footwork to maintain accuracy against Denver’s relentless pressure, especially with players like Jonathon Cooper and Zach Allen leading the Broncos’ pass rush. He’ll have a stiff challenge in going up against lockdown cornerback Pat Surtain II. Surtain is coming off a season in which he won Defensive Player of the Year.
Nick Holz, a quarterback consultant, said that precision comes from footwork. He mentioned that some of Ward’s throws in preseason practices were affected by inconsistency — caused by bad foot placement.
“Some of the [throws] where his feet are off kilter,” – Nick Holz
Ward has to nail these technical details with ease. He needs to keep his cool when going against a hungry defense looking to impose their will right off the bat. Broncos head coach Sean Payton has stated many times that the NFL is all about quick starts. As he explained, creating that momentum roll early on can define the rest of the season.
“This is the time when you’re anxious to see what you have,” – Sean Payton
Payton knew how crucial it was to get off on the right foot at home. More than anything else, he’s hell bent on escaping those maddening performance yo-yos that have plagued the ballclub in recent seasons.
“And look, we need to start fast … we have a home opener … and we haven’t [started fast] the last couple years and it’s hard to be one of those upper-echelon teams if you play yo-yo football,” – Sean Payton
The Broncos’ defense edition to show just how much they can do as they face off against Ward. One of those defenders recently stated their goals for this year.
“It doesn’t matter who is across from us every week, we want to be that defense that starts fast and just keeps going.”
As the Titans prepare to kick off their season opener, none will be more closely monitored than Cam Ward. He’s been very good with pressure and making plays while under duress. That skill will be incredibly important, as he’s going to be up against one of the league’s most fearsome defenses. In many ways, this game will determine the direction of his career. It could prove pivotal to helping the Titans achieve their ambitious goals for the 2024 season and beyond.
“We want to have the No. 1 defense, we talk about it, 100 percent,” – Nik Bonitto
As the Titans gear up for their opener, all eyes will be on Cam Ward. His ability to handle pressure and execute plays will be crucial as he steps into a challenging environment against one of the league’s top defenses. The outcome of this game could set a significant precedent for both his career and the Titans’ aspirations in the upcoming season.
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