Music City Miracles
The Tennessee Titans entered the 2025 season with a revamped offensive line. The idea was to protect rookie quarterback Cam Ward. That hasn’t happened through two completed weeks.
General manager Mike Borgonzi signed Dan Moore Jr. and Kevin Zeitler in free agency. Flipping JC Latham over to right tackle was supposed to improve both offensive tackle spots. Lloyd Cushenberry returned from an Achilles injury, and Peter Skoronski is their best offensive linemen.
Quarterbacks Will Levis and Mason Rudolph were sacked on 52 occasions last year. That tied for fifth-most in the league. Ward has been sacked on a league-worst 11 occasions through Week 2.
We’re actually keeping a positive mindset about this Titans offensive line. It’s a unit that notoriously takes time to gel. The Titans had two new players, one at a new position, and one returning from a brutal season-ending injury.
The NFL schedule makers did the Titans no favors. The 2025 debut matchup was against a Denver Broncos defense that led the NFL in sacks in 2024, one that didn’t lose any notable pass rushers to free agency. The Week 2 opponent, the Los Angeles Rams, possess one of the most ascending defensive lines in the NFL, with Byron Young, Jared Verse, Kobie Turner, and Braden Fiske all developing at a rapid rate.
Said with an understanding tone, the Titans’ offensive line needs to start performing to preseason expectations. Sunday’s upcoming Week 3 showdown with AFC South rival Indianapolis Colts would represent the ideal opportunity. Analyzing the Colts’ pass-rushing numbers, there’s no excuse for Ward to be sacked 4+ times on Sunday.
ESPN Analytics does an outstanding job monitoring win-rate success. The Colts’ pass rush currently ranks dead-last (32nd) in pass-rush-win-rate (PRWR) at 19%. For perspective purposes, the Titans’ terrible pass rush sits at 33%, nearly double the Colts’ current win rate.
The Colts have recorded three sacks this campaign. All three occurred in Week 1 against a weak Miami Dolphins offensive line. Two of those sacks were registered by defensive backs Nick Cross and Kenny Moore on blitzes. Rotational defensive end Samson Ebukam has the Colts’ other QB takedown. These are telltale signs of a poor pass-rushing unit.
The Colts don’t have a Nik Bonitto, Jared Verse, or Byron Young. Kwity Paye is a stellar, if unspectacular, pass rusher. Dan Moore should manage to go toe-to-toe with him. Sophomore Laiatu Latu is still developing and hasn’t recorded a sack this year.
One thing that could hamstring the Titans is that JC Latham is still being monitored with a hip injury after missing Week 2. Even subpar EDGEs like Latu, Ebukam, and Paye would have the upper hand on John Ojukwu or Oli Udoh. Kevin Zeitler also exited Sunday’s game with the Rams, but should play versus the Colts.
Besides for obvious reasons, we’d prefer Latham and Zeitler to play. This Titans offensive line doesn’t need any excuses. The Colts are a potential get-right opponent for an offensive line with higher expectations than they’ve produced thus far.
