NASHVILLE – The Titans face the Arizona Cardinals in the regular season opener on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.
Here's a quick look at the Cardinals:
(All stats 2020).
Record: 8-8.
Points for/against: 25.5/22.9.
NFL RANKINGS
Offense: 6th overall, 384.6 ypg (7th rushing, 17th passing).
Defense: 13th overall, 351.8 ypg (22nd rushing, 10th passing).
TEAM LEADERS
Head coach: Kliff Kingbury.
Offense:
QB: Kyle Murray (375-of-558, 3,971 yards, 26 TDs, 12 INTs, 94.3 rating).
Top RBs: James Conner (721 rush yards with 6 TDs last year in Pittsburgh) and Chase Edmonds (448 rush, 402 rec. in 2020).
Top WR: DeAndre Hopkins (115 catches, 1,407 yards, 6 TDs).
Top TE: Maxx Williams (8 catches, 102 yards).
Defense:
Sacks: OLB Dennis Gardeck (7).
Leading tackler: S Budda Baker (118).
Interceptions: S Budda Baker (2).
Take/Give: 0 (21/21).
Kicker: Matt Prater (21-of-28 FGs, 38-of-41 PATs).
Punter: Andy Lee 44.8 (39.5).
Last meeting: December 10, 2017: Cardinals 12, Titans 7.
Of note:
-Titans head coach Mike Vrabel was playing for the Patriots when they drafted and Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury in the 2003 NFL Draft. Kingsbury spent the year on Injured Reserve, but like Vrabel, earned a Super Bowl ring.
-Cardinals receivers coach Shawn Jefferson spent the 2013-15 seasons as Titans receivers coach.
-Cardinals defensive backs coach Marcus Robertson was drafted by the Oilers in 1991 and he spent 10 seasons playing for the organization (1991-2000).
-Former Texans DE J.J. Watt will make his debut with the Cardinals on Sunday.
-Former Bengals WR A.J. Green will make his debut with the Cardinals on Sunday.
Injury Report
TE Darrell Daniels (toe)
LB Dennis Gardeck (knee)
Titans head coach Mike Vrabel on the Cardinals:
"They are obviously talented. They have a dynamic quarterback that can go 80 yards. I saw third down-and-17 and he scrambles for a first down. He goes 70 yards against Carolina, 70 yards or something like that. Pulls it in the red zones, 20-yard touchdowns, he slides, he makes you miss, and he has a strong arm. I think that was the thing that shocked me the most was how strong his arm is. He is very willing to throw outward breaking routes across the field. Two good tailbacks, Obviously (DeAndre) Hopkins, our familiarity with him, A.J. Green, the inside receivers, the ones they have coming back. They have some new pieces and center that I have a lot of respect for who has been a great player for a lot of years. They have a lot of length on defense, on the edges, and then they have added length inside with (Zaven) Collins and (Isaiah) Simmons. Budda Baker is a very disruptive player from anywhere on the field. We could go all the way down and through the roster, but talented and a lot of length on defense that we will have to deal with when we try to either run or throw the football."
