NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans (0-1) play their first road game of the regular season this week, traveling to take on the Detroit Lions (1-0). Kickoff at Ford Field (capacity 64,500) is scheduled for 1 p.m. EDT/noon CDT on Sunday, Sept. 18.
THE BROADCAST
This week's game will be televised regionally on CBS, including Nashville affiliate WTVF NewsChannel 5. Play-by-play announcer Andrew Catalon will call the action alongside analysts Steve Tasker and Steve Beuerlein.
The Titans Radio Network, including Nashville flagship 104.5 The Zone, will carry the game across the Mid-South with the "Voice of the Titans" Mike Keith, analyst Frank Wycheck, gameday host Rhett Bryan and sideline reporter Jonathan Hutton.
TITANS LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK FROM OPENER
Last week at Nissan Stadium, the outlook appeared promising as the Titans launched the regular season. They built a 10-0 halftime lead over the Minnesota Vikings behind a stout defense and a ball-control offense. Ultimately, however, they were undone by three second-half turnovers in a 25-16 defeat.
The Vikings took the lead in the third quarter on a 77-yard interception return for a touchdown by linebacker Eric Kendricks, and they added a fumble return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter by defensive end Danielle Hunter.
Second-year quarterback Marcus Mariota passed for 271 yards, the fourth-highest total in his 13 career NFL games. He completed two touchdown passes, both of which went to running back DeMarco Murray.
Murray, who was acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles during the offseason, was making his regular season debut with the club. He tallied 77 total yards in the contest, including 42 rushing yards and 35 receiving yards.
Mariota's favorite target against Minnesota was Tajae Sharpe, who became became the team's first rookie wide receiver to start a season opener in the "Titans era" (1999–present). The fifth-round pick from the University of Massachusetts caught seven passes for 76 yards. His seven catches rank second in franchise history for a rookie in a season opener, trailing only Sid Blanks' 13 catches in the 1964 opener.
Defensively, the Titans limited Vikings running back Adrian Peterson to 31 yards on 19 carries for an average of 1.6 yards per attempt. During Peterson's career, which began in 2007, there has been only one other occasion in the regular season or playoffs in which he had at least 19 carries and an average of 1.6 or fewer yards (1.5-yard average at New Orleans on Oct. 6, 2008).
THE LIONS
The Titans will be the second consecutive AFC South opponent that the Lions will face to begin the season. They opened last week with a dramatic 39-35 win on the road against the Indianapolis Colts. Matt Prater booted a 43-yard field goal in the game's final seconds to put the Lions ahead, and they tacked on a safety when the Colts committed a penalty in the end zone on the ensuing kickoff.
Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 31 of 39 passes at Indianapolis for 340 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Now in his eighth NFL season, Stafford already owns Detroit's single-season and career records for passing yards, eclipsing 4,000 yards in each of the last five seasons. In 2015, he passed for 4,262 yards and 32 touchdowns and became the first quarterback in NFL history to complete at least 60.0 percent of his passes in all 16 games.
Stafford's top wide receivers in 2016 include Middle Tennessee native Golden Tate and a pair of 2016 veteran free agent additions: Anquan Boldin and Marvin Jones, Jr.
The Lions are in their third season under head coach Jim Caldwell. They went to the playoffs with an 11-5 record in 2014 and followed with a 7-9 campaign in 2015.
AP Photos
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Nate Washington (85) makes a catch as he is defended by Detroit Lions cornerback Jacob Lacey (21) in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. Washington scored a touchdown on the 71-yard play. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
Detroit Lions running back Mikel Leshoure (25) carries the ball against the Tennessee Titans as Lions tight end Will Heller (89) blocks Titans defensive end Kamerion Wimbley (95) in the first quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson (13) catches a pass as he is defended by Tennessee Titans cornerback Ryan Mouton (29) in the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
Tennessee Titans special teams player Tommie Campbell runs a punt back 65 yards for a touchdown after taking a pass from kick-returner Darius Reynaud against the Detroit Lions in the first quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
Tennessee Titans' Tommie Campbell (37) celebrates with Jason McCourty (30) and Zac Diles (53) after scoring on a 65-yard punt return against the Detroit Lions in the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
Tennessee Titans' Tommie Campbell celebrates with fans after scoring a touchdown on a 65-yard punt return against the Detroit Lions in the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
Detroit Lions cornerback Chris Houston (23) breaks up a pass intended for Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt (18) in the first quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
Tennessee Titans tight end Jared Cook (89) catches a touchdown pass as he is defended by Detroit Lions strong safety Erik Coleman (24) in the second quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
Detroit Lions free safety John Wendling (29) brings down Tennessee Titans wide receiver Nate Washington (85) in the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson (28) tries to get past Detroit Lions cornerback Jacob Lacey (21) in the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt (18) catches a pass as he is defended by Detroit Lions cornerback Chris Houston (23) in the second quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
Tennessee Titans kicker Rob Bironas (2) celebrates with holder Brett Kern (6) after booting a 38-yard field goal in the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Tennessee Titans kicker Rob Bironas (2) boots a 38-yard field goal as Brett Kern (6) holds in the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson catches a touchdown pass against the Tennessee Titans in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
Mikel Leshoure (25) de los Titans de Tenes�� acarrea el bal��n ante los Lions de Detroit en un partido de la NFL el domingo 23 de septiembre de 2012. (AP Foto/Joe Howell)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson (13) catches a two-point conversion after catching a touchdown pass against the Tennessee Titans in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. Titans safety Jordan Babineaux (26) defends. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson (13) catches a touchdown pass as he is defended by Tennessee Titans cornerback Ryan Mouton (29) in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson (13) celebrates with running back Joique Bell (35) after scoring a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans on a 3-yard pass play in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Tennessee Titans running back Darius Reynaud runs a kickoff back 105 yards for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
Tennessee Titans running back Darius Reynaud (25) runs a kickoff back 105 yards for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
Tennessee Titans running back Darius Reynaud (25) is congratulated by head coach Mike Munchak after running a kickoff back 105 yards for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
Tennessee Titans kicker Rob Bironas (2) celebrates with holder Brett Kern (6) after booting a 38-yard field goal in the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Nate Washington (85) makes a catch as he is defended by Detroit Lions cornerback Jacob Lacey (21) in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. Washington scored a touchdown on the 71-yard play. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Titus Young (16) catches the ball to score a touchdown after it was tipped in the end zone on a 46-yard pass play against the Tennessee Titans in the final moments of the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Titus Young (16) scores a touchdown after he caught a pass that was tipped in the end zone on a 46-yard pass play against the Tennessee Titans in the final moments in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Titus Young (16) scores a touchdown after he caught a pass that was tipped in the end zone on a 46-yard pass play against the Tennessee Titans in the final moments in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Titus Young (16) watches the ball come to him after it was tipped in the end zone on a 46-yard pass play against the Tennessee Titans in the final moments in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. Young caught the pass for a touchdown. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Munchak, left, shakes hands with Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz after the Titans won 44-41 in overtime at an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker, right, hugs cornerback Jason McCourty (30) after defeating the Detroit Lions 44-41 in overtime at an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz leaves the field after the Lions lost to the Tennessee Titans 44-41 in overtime at an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Tennessee Titans kicker Rob Bironas (2) kicks a 26-yard field goal in overtime to defeat the Detroit Lions 44-41 at an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. Titans' Brett Kern (6) holds for Bironas. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Tennessee Titans defenders Jurrell Casey (99) and Ryan Mouton (29) stop Detroit Lions quarterback Shaun Hill, lower right, from getting a first down on the final play in overtime to seal the Titans' 44-41 win in an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. The defensive stand by the Titans stopped the Lions' drive and ended the game. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Nate Washington (85) runs past the Detroit Lions bench on his way to a 71-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans won 44-41 in overtime. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Nate Washington celebrates after scoring a touchdown on a 71-yard pass-play against the Detroit Lions in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans won 44-41 in overtime. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
