Ahead of the Denver Broncos’ Week 1 matchup with the Tennessee Titans, we asked Serena Burks of Titans Wire five questions about Tennessee and Sunday’s game. Check out our questions and Burk’s answers below.
1) Titans QB Cam Ward has been one of the least talked about No. 1 overall picks in recent memory. From how he looked in training camp to how he performed in the preseason, how would you rate his performance in his limited looks?
It’s crazy how little Cam Ward has been talked about, but I can tell you that he uses that to fuel him. We haven’t seen a lot of him yet, but from what we have seen, Ward has the potential to be an elite quarterback in this league. How has he performed so far? Pretty much as expected. He’s made mistakes, but he’s recovered from them, and he’s had some success. He’s probably not going to duplicate what Jayden Daniels did last year, but he will absolutely turn this franchise around. It’s hard to truly rate his performance so far, but I will cautiously give him an A.
2) Head coach Brian Callahan is in Year 2 of being at the helm. How has the team responded to his leadership? Is this a make-or-break year for Callahan?
Callahan is a players’ coach. It’s the main reason he didn’t lose his job after one year. Well, that and the whole season was a giant dumpster fire for a lot of reasons, but Callahan has an opportunity this season to show the league that he can be a solid head coach. Whether he does that or not remains to be seen, but the players are fully behind him. They buy what he’s selling, and believe in this team.
Is it a make or break year? I would love to say not, but I think this will be situational. If the team wins more games than they did last year, Ward’s development is on track, and the defense comes together, that should be enough. But it’s not just about winning more games in 2025 for Callahan, he has to show that this team is improving overall and is on track to rebuild properly. So, I suppose the short answer is yes, it’s a make or break year for Callahan. But I also wouldn’t put it past the Titans to keep him around if the circumstances around the season aren’t his fault.
3) How will the addition of former Broncos defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones figure into the Titans’ defense?
Dre’Mont Jones is one of my favorite additions this offseason. The Titans’ defense last season was atrocious, especially on the ground. Jones will line up opposite Arden Key, with Cody Barton and Cedric Gray in the middle. Key was second in sacks last season with 6.5, and with a veteran like Jones on the other side, we should see the Titans’ quarterback pressure increase this year. Jones will rotate with Jihad Ward on the weak side, while Key and Femi Oladejo will rotate on the strong side. I expect Jones to take a leadership role with the linebacking corps and see better play in the middle third of the defense this year.
4) Who is an underrated Titans player everyone should know going into 2025?
This one was difficult because I think there are a lot of underrated players on this team. However, I’m going to stay on the defensive side of the ball and offer two options: Roger McCreary and Cedric Gray. McCreary is an elite slot cornerback who consistently makes plays. He’s been with the Titans for three year, this is his fourth, and he has been steadfast, reliable, and consistent. The Titans’ defense led the league with the fewest passing yards allowed in 2024, and McCreary is a big part of that.
Cedric Gary will probably surprise some people, but in his second year in the league, he’s earned his starting spot. He’s athletic, fast, and has a nose for the ball. He recorded 22 tackles in seven games last season in his limited role, and he showed out during the offseason and preseason. We’re going to hear his name a lot this year.
5) What’s your score prediction for the Broncos-Titans game?
This is one of my least favorite things to do, make picks! But we do it every week, right? And no one ever wants to say their team is going to lose … but … the Titans are going to lose. They might surprise people and show up looking like an elite team, but Ward will be nervous. The team is in an environment that most of them have never been in before, and if you’ve never been up a mountain, you don’t understand how the thinness of the air affects you. I know that every analyst has picked the Broncos to win, and it’s hard to go against that, but it would be a shock. Denver wins 24-17.
Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
