NASHVILLE – The Titans kick off the regular season on Sunday against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.
Here's a look at six things to watch in the contest:
Will Levis, Year 2
Everything is different surrounding starting quarterback Will Levis. A year ago, he made his NFL preseason debut as a rookie in Chicago, as the team's No.3 QB. On Sunday, he'll return to Soldier Field for the regular season opener as the team's starter, with new faces around him on the team, and coaching staff. Levis also feels like a different person because of the work he's put in to get more comfortable, and ready. We're about to find out just how much improvement Levis has made.
Rebuilt O-Line
Left tackle JC Latham will be making his first start on an offensive line that looks a lot different this year, with center Lloyd Cushenberry in the middle. Offensive line coach Bill Callahan has preached technique and accountability on the practice field since the day he arrived, and it's looked like a more disciplined group to this point. But the challenge on Sunday is a big one, against a Bears defensive front that's pretty stout, with defensive end Montez Sweat coming off a career-high 12.5-sack season.
1-2 Punch in Run Game
I've mentioned all the changes twice already, and I haven't even touched on the fact Derrick Henry's now a Raven. Everyone got another reminder of this Thursday night when they saw Henry in a Ravens uniform. Life after Henry begins on Sunday for the Titans, as running backs Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears will split duties out of the backfield. Coaches have said their snap count will be in the 50-50 range, but we won't know for sure until games start. If one back has the hot hand, the team could ride him. One thing's for sure: The Titans will be less predictable on offense this fall, and how the team uses the backs will be interesting to watch.
New Look Defense vs a Rookie QB
The defense has undergone a facelift as well, starting at the top, where defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson is now at the controls. In the game now for Tennessee will be a ton of new players, from defensive linemen T'Vondre Sweat and Sebastian Joseph-Day to linebacker Kenneth Murray to L'Jarius Sneed, Chidobe Awuzie and Quandre Diggs in the secondary. The Titans also have key returners, from Jeffery Simmons to Harold Landry to Arden Key to Jack Gibbens to Amani Hooker. Another newcomer, linebacker Ernest Jones IV, is still getting up to speed. How quickly this entire group comes together as a cohesive unit is one thing. How the Titans choose to defend, and pressure, Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is another.
New WRs
Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd bring a pair of veteran receivers to the offense, each one with a unique skill set that should make the offense better. At this point, is Levis on the same page with his new receivers? That's one question. Another question centers on receiver DeAndre Hopkins, whose status for Sunday's game is still unclear. Hopkins was limited in practices this week as he recovers from a knee injury. On the team's final Injury Report, he was listed as questionable for Sunday's game. If Hopkins can't go, returners Treylon Burks and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine will step up to do their part. A familiar face will be roaming the back end for the Bears in No.31: Former Titans safety Kevin Byard.
Special Teams
Change is the theme of this initial Six Things to Watch for the regular season, so the new kickoff format fits in here, and caps this off, nicely. Sure, we saw a sneak peek in the preseason, but just how much changes as a result of the new, reshaped kickoff will be determined starting on Sunday. The Titans hope to turn it into a winning play. Also, punter Ryan Stonehouse made it back for Week 1 after a long rehab process, and he's set to return to action. Veteran kicker Nick Folk aims to continue to consistent ways – he enters the game with an NFL-record streak of 78 consecutive field goals made on attempts from less than 40 yards.
The Tennessee Titans travel to Chicago for their Week 1 game against the Bears at Soldier Field. (Tennessee Titans)
Longsnapper Morgan Cox #46 of the Tennessee Titans and Kicker Nick Folk #6 of the Tennessee Titans during the travel day at the Nashville International Airport on September 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo by Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Longsnapper Morgan Cox #46 of the Tennessee Titans during the travel day at the Nashville International Airport on September 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo by Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Safety Mike Brown #44 of the Tennessee Titans during the travel day at the Nashville International Airport on September 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo by Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Linebacker Luke Gifford #57 of the Tennessee Titans, Tight end Josh Whyle #81 of the Tennessee Titans and Quarterback Mason Rudolph #11 of the Tennessee Titans during the travel day at the Nashville International Airport on September 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo by Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Wide receiver Calvin Ridley #0 of the Tennessee Titans during the travel day at the Nashville International Airport on September 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo by Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Safety Jamal Adams #33 of the Tennessee Titans and Running back Tony Pollard #20 of the Tennessee Titans during the travel day at the Nashville International Airport on September 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo by Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Safety Jamal Adams #33 of the Tennessee Titans and Running back Tony Pollard #20 of the Tennessee Titans during the travel day at the Nashville International Airport on September 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo by Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Safety Jamal Adams #33 of the Tennessee Titans during the travel day at the Nashville International Airport on September 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo by Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Offensive lineman Jaelyn Duncan #71 of the Tennessee Titans during the travel day at the Nashville International Airport on September 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo by Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Quarterback Will Levis #8 of the Tennessee Titans during the travel day at the Nashville International Airport on September 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo by Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Quarterback Will Levis #8 of the Tennessee Titans during the travel day at the Nashville International Airport on September 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo by Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Head coach Brian Callahan of the Tennessee Titans during the travel day at the Nashville International Airport on September 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo by Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Head coach Brian Callahan of the Tennessee Titans during the travel day at the Nashville International Airport on September 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo by Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Defensive lineman Keondre Coburn #91 of the Tennessee Titans, Executive VP/General Manager Ran Carthon of the Tennessee Titans and Defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day #69 of the Tennessee Titans during the travel day at the Nashville International Airport on September 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo by Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo #85 of the Tennessee Titans during the travel day at the Nashville International Airport on September 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo by Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Outside linebacker Arden Key #49 of the Tennessee Titans during the travel day at the Nashville International Airport on September 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo by Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Outside linebacker Caleb Murphy #42 of the Tennessee Titans during the travel day at the Nashville International Airport on September 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo by Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Cornerback L'Jarius Sneed #38 of the Tennessee Titans during the travel day at the Nashville International Airport on September 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo by Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Tennessee Titans during the travel day at the Nashville International Airport on September 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo by Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie #13 of the Tennessee Titans during the travel day at the Nashville International Airport on September 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo by Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie #13 of the Tennessee Titans during the travel day at the Nashville International Airport on September 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo by Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat #93 of the Tennessee Titans during the travel day at the Nashville International Airport on September 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo by Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Wide receiver Tyler Boyd #83 of the Tennessee Titans during the travel day at the Nashville International Airport on September 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo by Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Offensive lineman Nicholas Petit-Frere #78 of the Tennessee Titans during the travel day at the Nashville International Airport on September 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo by Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
