Titans stumble in Mile High debut
Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward faced a challenging start to his NFL career, as the Titans fell to the Denver Broncos 20-12 in their season opener at Empower Field at Mile High. Despite leading for significant stretches of the game, the Titans were plagued by penalties, turnovers, and missed scoring opportunities.
Frustrations Mount for Titans
The disappointment was palpable among the Titans, particularly for Ward, the first overall pick in the draft. “We didn’t score touchdowns, that’s really the biggest frustration,” Ward expressed. The former Miami quarterback noted that his team’s self-inflicted wounds, including prolonged downs and distances, hampered their offensive production. “At the end of the day, we have to continue to get better. It’s only game one, and we have 16 more ahead of us,” he added, trying to keep a sense of perspective.
Discipline Issues Derail Performance
Ward’s potential was evident, but the Titans’ struggles were magnified by their inability to maintain discipline. The team committed 13 penalties that resulted in a staggering 131 yards lost. Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons took ownership of the issues on the field. “Penalties, man,” Simmons stated. “Myself, dumb mistakes that hurt the team. There’s no excuse for that, and I take full responsibility for mine. But even with all the freakin’ penalties, we still had a chance; we were still in the game.” He underscored the importance of cutting down on penalties, especially against a quality opponent like the Broncos.
Lost Opportunities Linger
Center Lloyd Cushenberry III echoed Simmons’ sentiments, reflecting on the missed opportunities to capitalize during crucial moments. The former Bronco, facing his old team for the first time, felt the weight of the moment. “It’s very frustrating,” Cushenberry admitted. “Week One, tough environment, no excuse.” He emphasized the need for the team to convert more scoring chances, saying, “We have to capitalize on those chances we have. Opportunity will come again, but we have to get seven instead of settling for three, and hurting ourselves with penalties.”
Looking Ahead to Week 2
As the Titans regroup and analyze their performance, they will have a chance to learn from their mistakes in practice this week. Their focus will shift to the upcoming matchup against the Los Angeles Rams for Tennessee’s home opener. The Titans hope to harness the lessons learned from their Mile High debut as they strive for improvement in their second game of the season.
