Bold PREDICTIONS for the Titans’ 2024 Season
The Tennessee Titans kick off the 2024 season on the road, as the team will square off against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday. With the return of the NFL on the horizon, let's go through some bold predictions for the Titans in the 2024-2025 season.
Jeffery Simmons will be a 1st Team All-Pro selection
Due to injuries and subpar nose tackle play, Jeffery Simmons had a down year in 2023 for his standards. When healthy and at the top of his game, there may not be a more disruptive defensive tackle in the entire sport, as Simmons has posted 162 quarterback pressures over the last three seasons despite missing seven games over the past two years.
Simmons has been selected to the second-team all-pro roster twice in his career, but 2024 will finally be the year Big Jeff bursts onto the first team. The Titans' defense has the potential to be one of the better units in the league, and a rejuvenated Simmons will feast with better nose tackle play provided by rookie T'Vondre Sweat.
The Titans will have TWO Pro Bowl offensive lineman
Tennessee's offensive line has been the worst in football over the last two seasons, but there is growing optimism around the unit in 2024. The acquisitions of offensive tackle JC Latham in the draft and center Lloyd Cushenberry in free agency solve two of the biggest position of needs on the unit from last year. Along with Latham and Cushenberry, second-year left guard Peter Skoronski had an up-and-down rookie campaign but should improve tremendously with the coaching of Bill Callahan and a fully healthy offseason. There are some concerns on the right side, as Dillon Radunz and Nicholas Petit-Frere are the weak links of the offensive line.
Many of you would expect me to have JC Latham penciled in as one of the two pro bowlers, but rookie offensive tackles usually take some time to get acclimated to the NFL game. Instead, Peter Skoronski and Lloyd Cushenberry will be excellent this season and notch their first career Pro Bowl selections. Skoronski was hindered due to abysmal left tackle play last season but still showed flashes of dominance. Cushenberry is one of the best centers in the league, surrendering just one sack and 14 QB pressures on 1,069 snaps in 2023.
The Titans will have the most efficient rushing attack in the NFL
This might be the hottest take on this list, but if the Titans' offensive line takes a major jump, Tennessee having the most efficient rushing attack in the league is in the realm of possibilities. Tony Pollard had a career-low four yards per carry in 2023, but the 27-year-old had his best and most efficient years when in collaboration with Zeke Elliott, averaging over five yards per carry in three of his first four seasons.
Despite operating behind a poor offensive line during his rookie campaign, Tyjae Spears still averaged 4.5 yards per attempt and is also an impact player in the receiving game. With the dynamic duo of Pollard and Spears, the Two-Tone Blue boasts one of the most exciting running back tandems in the NFL.
The Titans will make the playoffs
My official record prediction for the Titans in 2024 is 9-8, and barely missing the playoffs. Though I believe the team is still a year away from being a legit playoff contender in a loaded AFC, a surprise postseason appearance in Brian Callahan's first year as head coach is possible.
Tennessee plays an extremely tough schedule, but the acquisitions general manager Ran Carthon made in the offseason, coupled with a fresh approach due to the hire of Brian Callahan, could lead to immediate success in Nashville. Houston is the heavy favorite to win the AFC South and probably will take the division crown for a second straight season, but a wild-card berth is on the table for the Titans.