All eyes will be on No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward as he makes his NFL debut against the Denver Broncos on Sunday afternoon. Coming off a 3-14 record in 2024, the Tennessee Titans are hoping Ward can reverse their fortunes, but they face a brutal challenge right off the bat.
After a stellar college career at Washington State and Miami, where he finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting last year, Ward is now the face of the Titans. In this matchup against the Broncos, there will be no easing into NFL life. Last season, Denver led the league with 63 sacks and allowed just 18.3 points per game.
On the other side, Bo Nix looks to build upon his impressive rookie campaign. Nix excelled in Sean Payton’s offense, completing 66.3% of passes for 3,775 yards, with 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He’ll share the backfield with new running backs J.K. Dobbins and rookie R.J. Harvey.
The Broncos are favored heavy against the rebuilding Titans, but can Ward pull off a shocker in his debut? The matchup against one of the NFL’s best defenses will be telling.
Where to watch Broncos vs. Titans live
Date: Sunday, Sept. 7 | Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
Location: Empower Field at Mile High (Denver)
TV: Fox | Stream: Fubo
Follow along: CBS Sports App
Odds: Broncos -8.5 | O/U 42.5 (via FanDuel)
Need to Know
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Cam Ward will be tested immediately. There’s baptism by fire, and then there’s this matchup against the Broncos’ defense. Considering Ward is making his NFL debut, expectations should be tempered. Can he manage without making egregious mistakes?
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Bo Nix is looking to level up. Nix, taken with the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, proved himself last year and will need to elevate his game to restore the Broncos as Super Bowl contenders.
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New faces in the Denver backfield. Broncos fans will be keen on how the backfield reps are split, with the new addition of R.J. Harvey and veteran J.K. Dobbins.
Prediction
The Broncos are 8.5-point favorites against a team that finished with the worst record last season. While Ward presents a glimmer of hope for Titans fans, it’s challenging to foresee an upset in Denver.
Prediction: Broncos -8.5
