NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Flip the switch.
The defense is about to go from vanilla to four-flavor swirl with sprinkles and caramel and hot fudge and strawberry sauce and, well, you get the picture. The rookie quarterback is allowed to take on contact, and he'll get some he doesn't want. Denver will have a special game plan for Cam Ward on Sept. 7, and he will play four quarters for the first time at this level.
The 2024 Broncos led the NFL with 63 sacks. They were tops with 195 quarterback pressures -- that’s hurries plus knockdowns plus sack plays, per Pro Football Reference. They were second in pressure percentage (27.7). Fifteen players had at least one sack, six had five or more, Jonathan Cooper had 10.5, Nick Bonitto had 13.5.
The curtain rises on Cam at altitude under high pressure.
“First and foremost, very, very stiff test right out the gate with the defense in Denver,” Brian Callahan said. “Very talented, very well-coached, good football team. Good test for our team in general. So yeah, it's going to be a lot different than a preseason game, certainly. That's part of what practice is for, is to try to get as close to that preparation as possible. But yeah, it's going to be the first time against a really good football team that he's going play the entirety of the game.
“And there's going to be learning moments through the course of the whole process, but I think he's up to the task. We're ready for that challenge and looking forward to it. There is no correlation. I don't think in my mind from preseason play to your regular season, there is no ability to make any prediction of what that's going to look like very pleased with where we're at and what we've done. But certainly, the Denver Broncos presented an entirely different challenge in Week One.”
The Titans' rebuilt offensive line and protection will be tested, as will Ward’s ability to negotiate out of some tough situations. He got sacked once in the preseason and had pretty steady shelter.
Last year’s two top rookie quarterbacks didn’t get off to rousing starts.
Bo Nix, who will work opposite Ward on opening day, was 26-of-42 for 138 yards and two interceptions for a 47.5 passer rating in a loss at Seattle. Jayden Daniels was 17-of-24 for 184 yards for a 93.1 passer rating in a 17-point loss at Tampa Bay.
“It’ll be a good challenge,” Cody Barton said of the Denver defense, of which he was a part last season. “What made them good, obviously, the rush was the biggest factor. If you’re getting pressure on the QB, it’s tough for the QB, it’s a long day. They played together well. It’s going to be a big challenge for Cam. I’m excited to go out there and see Cam play well and do his thing.
“The stuff we gave him here during camp and all the looks we gave him, all the pressure we gave him, especially for a rookie, he’s handled it well. He’s a baller.”
The Broncos allowed the sixth-worst passer rating in the NFL last year, 86.2. To the back end, they’ve added first-round 
corner Jahdae Barron from Texas.
Before the Titans shut down for the three-day weekend and next week, when they get specifically into their game plan, Callahan said the Titans will seek to “expand the world that (Ward) has at his disposal.”
Said Mike Borgonzi: “Training camp, it picks up. Preseason, it picks up in speed. And Week One in Denver it’s going to pick up, so they’ll be an adjustment to that. ...The speed of the game is going to be an adjustment for all these rookies.
Calvin Ridley is Ward’s No. 1 weapon, and their chemistry is the No. 1 reason for offensive optimism, along with an improved offensive line.
“We threw everything at him,” Ridley said. “It’s time to play football. And we’ll see when the lights come on in Denver. But I think he’s ready, man. He’s a confident guy. He’s had everything thrown at him. We’ve had some really good plays out here. It’s time to just make it real now.”