Tactical Edges for Tennessee Titans Against Rivals

In the competitive AFC South, where divisional games often determine playoff berths, the Tennessee Titans rely on targeted tactical edges to outperform their rivals—the Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts, and Houston Texans. These edges aren’t just about raw talent; they’re about strategic game planning, exploiting opponent weaknesses, and maximizing the Titans’ unique strengths, from Derrick Henry’s dominant running game to their aggressive defensive front. Tactical Edges for Tennessee Titans Against Rivals explores how the Titans tailor their approach to each rival, using film study, situational adjustments, and player matchups to gain an upper hand. Whether it’s neutralizing a rival’s star quarterback or creating mismatches in the passing game, these tactics have been critical to the Titans’ divisional success over the years.

Tactical Edges for Tennessee Titans Against Rivals begins with their approach to the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team that has emerged as their top divisional threat in recent seasons. The Jaguars’ strength lies in their high-powered passing game, led by quarterback Trevor Lawrence and wide receiver Calvin Ridley—so the Titans’ primary tactical edge is a “bend-but-don’t-break” defense paired with disruptive pass-rushing. To slow Lawrence, the Titans use a mix of four-man rushes and blitzes from their linebackers, targeting the Jaguars’ offensive line, which has struggled with consistency. In their 2024 Week 6 win over Jacksonville, the Titans recorded four sacks and forced two interceptions by blitzing on 35% of passing plays, disrupting Lawrence’s rhythm and limiting Ridley to just 45 receiving yards. Offensively, the Titans exploit the Jaguars’ run defense (which ranked 24th in the NFL in 2024) by feeding Henry early and often. In that same Week 6 game, Henry rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns, keeping the Jaguars’ defense off balance and controlling the clock. This “stop the pass, dominate the run” tactic has given the Titans a 7-3 record against the Jaguars in their last 10 matchups.

Tactical Edges for Tennessee Titans Against Rivals also includes a specific game plan for the Indianapolis Colts, a team that prides itself on a balanced offense and a stingy run defense. The Colts’ biggest weakness? Their secondary, which has struggled to cover elite wide receivers and has ranked in the bottom 10 in the NFL in passing yards allowed in three of the last five seasons. To exploit this, the Titans shift their offensive focus to the passing game, using play-action passes to pull the Colts’ linebackers out of position and create one-on-one matchups for their wide receivers. In their 2024 Week 12 win over Indianapolis, quarterback Will Levis completed 21 of 28 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns, targeting wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins on 10 occasions (Hopkins finished with 8 catches for 120 yards). Defensively, the Titans key on the Colts’ running game—led by Jonathan Taylor—using a “gap-control” scheme that limits Taylor’s ability to find holes. By assigning defensive linemen to specific gaps and having linebackers flow to the ball, the Titans held Taylor to just 62 rushing yards in that Week 12 game, well below his season average of 91 yards per game. This focus on exploiting the Colts’ secondary and neutralizing their run game has helped the Titans win 6 of their last 8 matchups against Indianapolis.

Tactical Edges for Tennessee Titans Against Rivals involves a unique approach to the Houston Texans, a rebuilding team that has relied on young talent and a aggressive defensive scheme in recent seasons. The Texans’ defense uses a lot of blitzes (they ranked 8th in the NFL in blitz percentage in 2024) to pressure quarterbacks, but this aggressiveness leaves them vulnerable to screen passes and quick throws. The Tennessee Titans exploit this by using “hot reads” in their passing game—where Levis can change the play at the line of scrimmage to a screen pass or a slant route if he sees a blitz coming. In their 2024 Week 3 win over Houston, the Titans used screen passes 12 times, gaining 145 yards and scoring one touchdown, effectively neutralizing the Texans’ blitzes. Defensively, the Titans take advantage of the Texans’ inexperienced offense—led by young quarterback C.J. Stroud—by using “disguised coverages” to confuse Stroud and force turnovers. By shifting their defensive backs at the last second, the Titans forced Stroud into three interceptions in that Week 3 game, including a pick-six that sealed the win. This tactical focus on countering the Texans’ blitzes and confusing their young quarterback has given the Tennessee Titans an 8-2 record against Houston in their last 10 games.

Tactical Edges for Tennessee Titans Against Rivals also extends to situational football—specifically, late-game scenarios where small adjustments can mean the difference between winning and losing. Against all divisional rivals, the Titans rely on their “two-minute offense” to close out games, a scheme that combines quick passes, Henry’s short-yardage power, and precise clock management. In their 2023 Week 17 win over the Jaguars (a game that clinched a playoff spot), the Titans used a 10-play, 75-yard drive in the final two minutes, with Henry scoring the game-winning touchdown on a 4-yard run with 12 seconds left. Defensively, the Titans use a “prevent-plus” scheme in late-game situations, where they drop seven players into coverage to prevent big plays but still rush four defenders to pressure the quarterback. This scheme helped them stop the Colts’ final drive in their 2024 Week 12 game, as defensive end Jeffery Simmons sacked Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew on fourth down to seal the win. The Tennessee Titans’ ability to execute in late-game situations has been a key tactical edge, with 12 of their last 15 divisional wins coming by seven points or fewer.

Tactical Edges for Tennessee Titans Against Rivals ultimately come down to preparation and adaptability—two hallmarks of the Titans’ coaching staff. Head coach Brian Callahan and his assistants spend extra time studying divisional rivals, breaking down their tendencies, and designing game plans that exploit specific weaknesses. They also emphasize in-game adjustments, allowing players to make changes at the line of scrimmage or during timeouts if the initial plan isn’t working. For example, in their 2024 Week 6 win over the Jaguars, the Titans noticed Jacksonville was blitzing more on third down, so they adjusted to run more draw plays, gaining 65 yards on third down and converting 8 of 12 third-down attempts. This combination of preparation and adaptability has made the Titans one of the most successful teams in the AFC South over the last decade, with four divisional titles since 2017. In the end, Tactical Edges for Tennessee Titans Against Rivals aren’t just about X’s and O’s—they’re about understanding the opponent, playing to the Titans’ strengths, and making the right decisions when the game is on the line. These edges are what keep the Titans competitive in a tough division and give them a chance to win every time they face their rivals.