Hardly anyone was willing to put their money on the Tennessee Titans in Week 1’s matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
But the Titans came into FirstEnergy Stadium and quieted the hype that surrounded the Browns with a dominant 43-13 victory.
The Titans were originally ranked at No. 22 in the USA TODAY NFL power rankings, but have surged forward to the No. 8 spot. With the move, the Titans sit just ahead of the Los Angeles Rams, and right behind the Dallas Cowboys.
Here’s what analyst Nate Davis had to say on his reasoning for placing the Titans where he did this week.
“Slightly overshadowed by QB Marcus Mariota’s sublime opener and TE Delanie Walker’s inspiring return was strong debut of new OC Arthur Smith,” he wrote.
Davis makes a fine point about Smith here.
His promotion from tight ends coach to offensive coordinator during the offseason was originally seen as an underwhelming move by some, but his offense has performed well under him.
Continuity was important for the Titans ahead of the 2019 season, it’s already evident that it’s helping quarterback Marcus Mariota on the final year of his rookie contract, as well as his supporting cast.
The Titans will be put to yet another test when they face the division rival Indianapolis Colts in Nissan Stadium at 12:00 p.m. CT on Sunday.
