The Tennessee Titans open the 2025 season with a road trip into one of the NFL’s toughest environments—Denver’s Mile High Stadium. It’s a stage where rookie quarterback Cam Ward will make his debut against the Denver Broncos. Many paths can be taken; however, when dealing with a rookie quarterback like Cam Ward, the path to success is balance.
For Ward and the Titans, that balance means running the football effectively, limiting negative plays, and keeping third-down situations manageable. Against a Denver Broncos defense designed to confuse quarterbacks with pressure and disguised coverages. Discipline will determine whether the Titans start the year with confidence or frustration.
A Test of Poise Against Denver’s Defense
Cam Ward enters the matchup with an appreciation for what the Broncos bring defensively. On September 3rd, Ward described their versatility:
“They are very sound, they are not going to beat themselves. It’s a very good defense—they do a lot of different things up front and coverage-wise that you gotta be ready for. At the end of the day we gotta make plays in the run game. I gotta put the ball in my playmakers’ hands and let those guys make plays for us.”
Denver Head Coach Sean Payton has already made his intentions public. Payton wants to pressure the rookie and see how he responds. Ward was asked directly by ESPN’s Turron Davenport how he viewed that challenge. Cam Ward’s response was measured, yet confident:
“Know your protections, get the ball out, don’t let them kill you. I mean that’s all you can do to handle pressure. No matter what blitz you call, the blitz still gotta get there.”
That mindset, preparing for the inevitable heat but trusting his reads and timing, will be essential. The Broncos’ defense is built to capitalize on hesitation. Ward’s ability to stay decisive may determine how long drives stay alive.
Balance Is the Blueprint
While much of the spotlight will shine on Ward, Titans Head Coach Brian Callahan emphasized that balance—not heroics—will drive results. Speaking on September 3rd, Callahan made his philosophy clear:
“Obviously you gotta run the ball well in this league if you want to win. We’re going to have to run the ball well when we run it. Not any more than it would for any normal game, I don’t think. Yeah, certainly we’d like to run the ball well and keep him out of some of the tough situations that you can get in if you got to drop back a bunch or face the pass rush a bunch. They’re very clearly an excellent pass-rushing football team. So yeah, we’ve got to be mindful of what spots we put him in and running the ball always helps that. But at the end of the day, we’re still going to do what we think is going to help us win a game—and if we gotta throw it, we’ll throw it.”
That balance is not about easing pressure off Ward because he’s a rookie. It’s about setting the tone for the entire offense. By establishing a physical ground game and keeping Denver’s pass rush honest. Tennessee can create opportunities for Ward to use his arm talent without being forced into predictable, obvious passing downs.
The Titans know what they’re walking into on Sunday: a hostile crowd, thin air, and a defense eager to test a first-year quarterback. If they stick to their blueprint, minimizing mistakes, leaning on the run, and letting Ward distribute the ball, they give themselves the best chance to leave Denver with more than just lessons. They allow themselves to leave the Mile High City with a win.
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