TITANS HOST GIANTS IN OPENER; KICKOFF 3:25 PM SUNDAY ON FOX
The Tennessee Titans (0-0) begin the 2022 regular season this week with a late afternoon home game against the New York Giants (0-0). Kickoff at Nissan Stadium (69,143) is scheduled for 3:25 p.m. CDT on Sunday, Sept. 11.
In 12 all-time meetings between the Titans and Giants, the series is tied 6-6, including a 2-1 edge for the Titans at Nissan Stadium. The Giants have not appeared at Nissan Stadium since recording a win in 2014. The last time the Titans and Giants clashed was Dec. 16, 2018, when the Titans recorded a 17-0 shutout at MetLife Stadium. The Titans are 32-30 all-time in season openers, including one previous contest with the Giants, a loss at New York in 1973. More recently, Mike Vrabel is 2-2 as Titans head coach on Kickoff Weekend. Under Vrabel, the Titans have recorded season-opening victories in 2019 (at Cleveland) and 2020 (at Denver) and losses in 2018 (at Miami) and 2021 (against Arizona).
TITANS SEEK THIRD CONSECUTIVE DIVISION TITLE
Vrabel and Titans executive vice president/general manager Jon Robinson lead the team into the regular season seeking their third consecutive AFC South division title and a fourth straight playoff campaign. The Titans are joined by the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers as the only NFL clubs to clinch playoff berths in each of the last three years.
Only the Chiefs (2013–2021) have more consecutive winning seasons than the Titans entering 2022. The Titans have finished above the .500 mark in each of the six seasons since Robinson arrived in 2016.
This week several members of the Titans roster could see their first regular-season action in their new home. Eight of the club’s nine 2022 draft picks are on the 53-man roster, including first-round wide receiver Treylon Burks and second-round cornerback Roger McCreary. The roster also includes veteran additions such as tight end Austin Hooper and wide receiver Robert Woods. A total of 21 newcomers on the roster (39.6 percent) have been added since last season ended (as of Sept. 5).
The new pieces supplement a returning nucleus that helped the Titans go 12-5 in 2021 and claim the top seed in the AFC playoffs. The group of carryovers includes Pro Bowl quarterback Ryan Tannehill, whose 30 wins are the most by a starting quarterback in franchise history during the player’s first three years with the organization, and two-time NFL rushing champion Derrick Henry (2019 and 2020), who ranks fourth in team history with 6,797 career rushing yards. Through the first eight weeks of 2021, Henry ranked first in the NFL with 937 rushing yards but finished the regular season on injured reserve.
On defense, safety Kevin Byard and defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons return from Pro Bowl seasons in 2021, headlining a group that ranked second in the NFL in rushing defense (84.6 yards per game), sixth in third-down defense (36.7 percent), sixth in scoring defense (20.8 points per game) and tied for ninth in sacks (43).
THE GIANTS
The Giants launch a new era this week, as Brian Daboll begins his head-coaching tenure. The former Bills offensive coordinator joined the Giants early in the offseason, shortly after new general manager Joe Schoen likewise was hired away from the Bills. They look to rejuvenate a Giants team that finished 4-13 last year. Giants quarterback Daniel Jones embarks upon his fourth NFL campaign. The sixth-overall selection in the 2019 draft passed for 8,398 yards, 44 touchdowns and 29 interceptions during his first three seasons. In 2021, Jones was limited to 11 starts, passing for 2,428 yards with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
SERIES AT A GLANCE
Overall series (regular & postseason): Series tied 6-6
Regular season series: Series tied 6-6
Postseason series: None
Total points: Titans 219, Giants 239
Current streak: One win by Titans
Titans at home vs. Giants: 3-3
Titans on road vs. Giants: 3-3
Longest winning streak by Titans: 5 (1997–2010)
Longest losing streak by Titans: 5 (1973–1994)
Titans vs. Giants at Nissan Stadium: 2-1
Last time at Nissan Stadium: GIANTS 36 at Titans 7 (12-7-14)
Titans vs. Giants at MetLife Stadium: 2-0
Last time at MetLife Stadium: TITANS 17 at Giants 0 (12-16-18)
First time: Oilers 14 at GIANTS 34 (9-16-73)
Mike Vrabel’s record vs. Giants: 1-0
Brian Daboll’s record vs. Titans: 0-0
Mike Vrabel’s record vs. Brian Daboll: 0-0
A TITANS VICTORY WOULD …
Give the Titans their third win in their last four Week 1 games.
Give the Titans their second consecutive win over the Giants.
Improve Mike Vrabel’s career record to 44-27 as a head coach, including regular season and playoffs. Vrabel would tie Jack Pardee (44-35) for the third-highest win total in franchise history behind only Jeff Fisher (147) and Bum Phillips (59).
Improve QB Ryan Tannehill’s combined starting record in the regular season and playoffs to 75-62, including a 33-16 record with the Titans.
Improve the Titans’ all-time record at Nissan Stadium to 109-82, including the regular season and playoffs.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR THIS WEEK
S KEVIN BYARD
With 23 career interceptions, he needs one interception (23 interceptions entering the season) to tie Zeke Moore (24) for 10th place on the all-time franchise interception list.
Needs two interceptions to tie Michael Griffin and Ken Houston (25) for eighth place all-time for the franchise. He would tie Griffin for the most interceptions for the franchise during its “Titans era” (1999–present).
RB DERRICK HENRY
Can record his 29th career 100-yard rushing game, including regular season and playoffs.
Needs two touchdowns (68 career) to become the third player in franchise history with 70 total touchdowns, joining Eddie George (74) and Earl Campbell (73).
QB RYAN TANNEHILL
Needs one start to break a tie with Steve McNair (43 consecutive starts from 2001 to 2003) for the most consecutive starts in franchise history by a quarterback. Tannehill has started each of the last 43 regular season games since taking over as the team’s quarterback during the 2019 season.
Can extend his career-best streak to 16 consecutive games with at least one passing or rushing touchdown.
Can record his 25th career 300-yard passing game and his ninth such performance since joining the Titans in 2019. Nine 300-yard games with the Titans would put him ahead of Marcus Mariota (eight) for fourth place in franchise history.
Needs one touchdown pass to reach 200 for his career.
Needs one touchdown pass to take sole possession of fifth place on the franchise’s passing touchdowns list. With 76 touchdown passes in a Titans uniform, he is tied with Marcus Mariota for fifth place behind Warren Moon (196), George Blanda (165), Steve McNair (156) and Dan Pastorini (96).
HEAD COACH MIKE VRABEL
Needs one win to reach 44 career wins with the franchise, including playoffs. He would tie Jack Pardee (44-35) for the third-highest win total in franchise history behind only Jeff Fisher (147) and Bum Phillips (59).
WR ROBERT WOODS
Scheduled to make his Titans debut and can extend his career-best streak of 34 consecutive individual games with at least two receptions.
SERIES HISTORY
This week’s game marks the 13th meeting between the Titans and Giants. The series is tied 6-6, dating back to Sept. 16, 1973, when the Giants defeated the Houston Oilers 34-14 in the season opener at Yankee Stadium.
Of all opponents that have been in existence since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, the Giants, Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders have played the Oilers/Titans the fewest amount of times—12 games each.
After the Giants won the first five matchups between the franchises, the Titans/Oilers won the next five meetings. The streak included a 10-6 Oilers win in 1997, a 28-14 win in 2000, a 32-29 overtime victory in 2002, a come-from-behind 24-21 win in 2006 and a 29-10 decision in 2010.
The Giants took back the series momentum in 2014 with a 36-7 victory at Nissan Stadium. The Giants scored the game’s first 30 points as Eli Manning passed for 260 yards and rookie Odell Beckham Jr. recorded 130 receiving yards
The Titans and Giants have met twice at MetLife Stadium, most recently on Dec. 16, 2018. The Titans won 17-0 to record the franchise’s first shutout since 2000 and only the fourth road shutout in team annals. Derrick Henry rushed for 170 yards and two touchdowns, while the Titans defense registered two turnovers and three sacks.
Despite their infrequent meetings, the Titans have enjoyed two of their most dramatic finishes since the team moved to Tennessee against the Giants. On a cold and windy day at the Meadowlands on Dec. 1, 2002, Steve McNair helped force overtime with a touchdown pass and a two-point conversion in the final seconds of regulation, and Joe Nedney sealed the win when he connected on a 38-yard field goal. Eddie George rushed for 64 yards to pass Earl Campbell as the all-time rushing leader in franchise history.
In 2006, rookie quarterback Vince Young led arguably one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history against the Giants. Down 21-0 with less than 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Titans rallied to score touchdowns on three consecutive drives and then won the game on a 49-yard field goal by kicker Rob Bironas. It tied for the second-biggest comeback in NFL history with 10 minutes to go in the fourth quarter and was the largest comeback in NFL history (fourth quarter or otherwise) led by a rookie quarterback.
MOST RECENT MATCHUPS
2006 Week 12 • Nov. 26, 2006 • Giants 21 at TITANS 24
2010 Week 13 • Sept. 26, 2010 • TITANS 29 at Giants 10
2014 Week 14 • Dec. 7, 2014 • GIANTS 36 at Titans 7
2018 Week 15 • Dec. 16, 2018 • TITANS 17 at Giants 0
