Tennessee Titans Defensive Player Grades & Takeaways From Week 2 Win Over Los Angeles Chargers
The Tennessee Titans defense had a tough task on Sunday. The Los Angeles Chargers have talent on the offensive side of the ball and were able to utilize it on their way to putting up 24 points, but the Titans defense also held it's own.
The Titans' defense is known for it's fierce defensive line, but taking a look at some of the top grades from Pro football Focus on that side of the ball and you will see the back end of the defense more represented than the front.
Top Fives Grades
CB Sean Murphy-Bunting - 84.1
S Mike Brown - 81.6
DT Jeffery Simmons - 75.4
CB Roger McCreary - 73.6
LB Azeez Al-Shaair - 71.7
The biggest highlight here is Sean Murphy-Bunting. Coming over from Tampa Bay, there was hope Murphy-Bunting could be the physical, press corner the Titans needed. The defense struggled in 2022 with making plays at the catch point and Murphy-Bunting has shown ball-disruption tendencies throughout his career.
That factored in overtime when Murphy-Bunting dropped out of his zone and made a deflection on a pass to Mike Williams. Murphy-Bunting was helping Roger McCreary, who also had a great day. McCreary was physical in run defense and played some sticky coverage in the slot.
Mike Brown might be the biggest surprise on the list. Brown got additional reps on Sunday due to the injury to Amani Hooker. With Hooker out, Elijah Molden stepped in to the starting role, but Brown stepped into Molden's role as the dime safety, performing well in his 20 snaps.
Standout Grades
Run Defense Grades
LB Al-Shaair - 83.0
S Kevin Byard - 81.6
CB McCreary - 81.6
OLB Harold Landry - 43.1 Overall Grade
The Chargers ran for over 200 yards in Week 1 against the Dolphins. The Titans had to come in and stop the run to ever have a chance of slowing down this potent offense. They did precisely that due to some great run-stuffing performances from the defenders in the middle of the Titans' defense.
Al-Shaair, McCreary and Kevin Byard continually stepped up into gaps and put a hat on a runner, swarming to the ball from the back end. Elijah Molden deserves some mention here as well. The Titans try to stop the run while being under-manned size-wise and physical performances from second and third-level defenders is why they can.
Harold Landry continues to struggle in his return from an ACL injury prior to the start of the 2022 season. He was the lowest-graded defender overall and also the lowest graded in coverage and tackling in Week 2. The Titans will need Landry to improve from these first two weeks and they have to hope more comfort on the repaired knee will produce it.
Related Titans-Chargers stories
- WEEK 2 OFFENSIVE GRADES: The Tennessee Titans got a big overtime win over the Los Angeles Chargers and saw some excellent performances on offense, led by a brilliant game from quarterback Ryan Tannehill. CLICK HERE
- GAME STORY: Despite a slow start, the Tennessee Titans made a lot of big plays on offense and got huge overtime stops on defense to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 27-24 on Sunday, snapping an eight-game losing streak dating back to last November. CLICK HERE
- PHOTO GALLERY: Here are two dozen of the best pictures from the Titans' exciting win over the Chargers on Sunday. Lots of great stuff here. CLICK HERE
- DRIVE CHART: Here's what happened during every possession for the Titans on Sunday in the overtime win over the Chargers. CLICK HERE
- WATCH DERRICK HENRY TOUCHDOWN: The Tennessee Titans finally scored a touchdown this season and it came on a second quarter run from Derrick Henry. Here's the highlight. CLICK HERE
- WATCH TANNEHILL TO BURKS: The Tennessee Titans' offense finally got some positive plays in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers starting with a 70-yard bomb from Ryan Tannehill to Treylon Burks. CLICK HERE
- WATCH TANNEHILL GET SACKED: The Tennessee Titans kicked off their Week 2 game with the Los Angeles Chargers and immediately went for it on fourth down on their first offensive drive, but Ryan Tannehill was sacked immediately. CLICK HERE
