One of the most surprising outcomes in Week 1 was the 43-13 win for the Tennessee Titans over the Cleveland Browns. Aside from the score, the numbers prove that Tennessee destroyed the Browns on first down as well.
Throughout the game, the Titans scored three of their four offensive touchdowns on first down. Furthermore, Tennessee had 26 first-down plays in the game with 16 being on the ground and the other 10 coming through the air.
On those plays, the Titans were able to average 5.3 yards per carry and 15.5 yards per passing attempt. That even includes a 10-yard sack that Marcus Mariota took in the game. Mariota and Derrick Henry were nearly unstoppable in Week 1.
Along with those numbers, the Titans had 11 possessions and had 240 of their 339 yards on offense on first down. When you want to win the game, being successful on first down can definitely contribute to the cause.
Over the course of the offseason, there was a ton of hype surrounding the Browns after they acquired Odell Beckham Jr. from the New York Giants. However, the Titans played devil's advocate and upset the Browns by 30 points.
All game long, Tennessee had their way on both sides of the ball—even against Baker Mayfield. The defense forced three interceptions and sacked the second-year quarterback five times on Sunday.
Many were curious to see the offense of the Titans in Week 1 after the starters looked stagnant in the preseason. Luckily for Mike Vrabel, his offense flipped the switch to begin the regular season.
In the end, the Titans seized control of the game on first down and didn't look back.
Follow Us
Subscribe