NFL Week 1: Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

The ground-n-pound rivals the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars meet to start the AFC South battle

Titans vs. Jaguars Overview:

The AFC South has gotten attention as the best division in the NFL. Crowned by the Indianapolis Colts for years, there may be finally a changing of the guard. The Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars have the defensive talent to stop Peyton Manning and have defeated the Indianapolis Colts several times in the past. The Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars are both clawing their way back into the playoffs, and the road to the Super Bowl starts early in week 1 of the NFL season.

Tennessee Titans Offense:

Quarterback Vince Young had a brush with the Madden Curse in 2007 but looks to be healthy and happy. Vince Young has been the key to the Tennessee Titans offense and his athletic ability allows him to bust plays wide open. The arrival of rookie RB Chris Johnson will help power RB LenDale White and transforms the Tennessee Titans into the power run team they were during their Super Bowl run. TE Alge Crumpler is one of the best in the game and earned a sterling reputation as the perfect target for a mobile QB. The Tennessee Titans offensive line has come on as one of the best in the league and specializes in running the football.

Tennessee Titans Defense:

All-Pro DT Albert Haynesworth is the key to the entire Tennessee Titans defense. Able to both rush the passer and clog the middle, Albert Haynesworth can take over games by himself. Bookend DEs Jevon Kearse and Kyle Vanden Bosch are also great pass rushers. OLB Keith Bulluck is one of the top LBs in the NFL and flies around the field. S Michael Griffin leads the Tennessee Titans secondary with versatility and speed. The Tennessee Titans secondary may not be speed demons, but no secondary hits harder.

Jacksonville Jaguars Offense:

Just like the Tennessee Titans, the Jacksonville Jaguars are a running team with a mobile quarterback. QB David Garrard has one of the most accurate arms in the NFL and also has great mobility. The two primary offensive weapons of the Jacksonville Jaguars are the pair of RBs in Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor. The dual attack of the RBs works well with the powerful Jacksonville Jaguars offensive line and wears down defenses. WR Joey Porter looks to be the explosive receiving option the Jaguars have coveted for years.

Jacksonville Jaguars Defense:

Free agency/trades may have dismantled the powerful Jacksonville Jaguars defensive line but the unit is steadily being built up. DT John Henderson may be without fellow DT Marcus Stroud but should still be a load in the middle of the line. First round DE Derrick Harvey is finally signed but should not make an impact in week 1. MLB Mike Peterson is healthy again and is a monster when on the field. Second year SS Reggie Nelson has all the talent to develop into one of the best defensive backs in the NFL.

Tennessee Titans Keys to Victory:

Albert Haynesworth must contain the center of the Jacksonville Jaguars. When healthy Albert Haynesworth should have no problem sucking up multiple blockers. If the Tennessee Titans can control the line of scrimmage and contain Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew, then the Titans can focus their attack on David Garrard. With only one real receiving threat in Joey Porter to contain, the Tennessee Titans will be free to bring the blitz. It will be up to Jevon Kearse and Kyle Vanden Bosch to keep David Garrard within the pocket.

Vince Young and Alge Crumpler must work together to jumpstart the Tennessee Titans offense. The Tennessee Titans are not blessed with great receivers and the Jacksonville Jaguars should easily maul them in press coverage. Establishing the run with LenDale White in the first half will wear down the Jacksonville Jaguars defensive front seven, leaving them open for big gains by Chris Johnson in the second half. Vince Young will have to make some key throws or scrambles to convert third downs in order to keep the chains moving.

Jacksonville Jaguars Keys to Victory:
As in any battle between two ball-control teams, controlling the line of scrimmage is key. The Jacksonville Jaguars must take a similar theme to their defense that the Tennessee Titans do. John Henderson must step up to the plate and shutdown the middle of the field. Inward pressure will collapse the passing pocket as well and will force Vince Young to scramble from the pocket. It will be up to DEs like Quentin Groves and Paul Spicer to contain Vince Young. The Jacksonville Jaguars will win the game if they can stop LenDale White and Chris Johnson since the Tennessee Titans receiving corps is mediocre.

Just as their defense does, the Jacksonville Jaguars must hit the Tennessee Titans in the mouth on offense. John Henderson will be double-teamed on every play and the Jacksonville Jaguars are weak at stopping the run from all other positions on the D-line. Greg Jones has emerged as a great lead blocker from the fullback spot and will be needed to spring Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor for big gains. Fred Taylor should be able to wear down the Tennessee Titans early while Maurice Jones-Drew delivers the knockout punch. The real question will be if the rebuilt Jacksonville Jaguars receiving corps can gel with David Garrard.

Titans vs. Jaguars Overview

The Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars playing each other is never pretty. Both teams are built for power run and aggressive defense. Both have had significant losses in their front seven however, and there are some weaknesses on both sides. Both teams are blessed with exceptional safeties, mobile quarterbacks, and thunder-n-lightning running back tandems. Each team is also coached by men who love to ground it out all game long.

Neither team has any real edge in this AFC South struggle. The game will come down to who can take control of the line of scrimmage the most. Big passing numbers will not be had by either team and scores will more than likely be low. The quarterbacks will try to minimize their mistakes and turnovers in order to keep control of the low-scoring affair. Though he is more physically gifted than David Garrard, Vince Young turns the ball over many more times. With the Tennessee Titans more prone to making mistakes, the odds have to favor the Jacksonville Jaguars.