Ravens vs. Titans Week 2: 5 Things We Learned from Tennessee's Victory

The Tennessee Titans gave Mike Munchak his first win as a head coach in the team's home opener.

After Week 1, the consensus on the Titans was that despite all the changes made to the coaching staff and roster, they still looked like a club stuck with the same problems from the last season.

But after the Titans' 26-13 win on Sunday, led by a stifling defense and (gasp) an aerial attack, we are all left wondering what Titans team is the real one? 

It's still too early to tell for sure. Today's NFL is one giant parity-filled landmine for prognosticators. Anything can happen from week to week in this league. As we get deeper into this season, teams' true identities will become clear.

Through two weeks, this is what we've learned about the new regime in Tennessee.

5. The Defense Is in the Top Five

The Titans' defense is ranked in the top five in total defense and points against, having surrendered only 14.5 points per game.

After their Week 1 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Titans' defense we had heard nothing but positive changes about failed to perform in the manner expected. Maurice Jones-Drew and the rest of the running back corps for the Jaguars gashed them for 163 yards.

The poor showing left fans questioning what happened to all the added size in the front seven. However, the Titans were without starting defensive ends Derrick Morgan and Jason Jones. In Week 2, both players returned to the lineup and held a Ravens running game that ran all over the Pittsburgh Steelers the previous week to 74 yards.

With the run defense working, changes them from being the bend-but-don't-break defense of years' past to a tough group to crack.  

4. Offense Is Going Pass Happy

With Matt Hasselbeck at the helm, the Titans appear to have finally realized the need to air it out to win in this league. 

In the season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Titans offense looked like it needed more time in the training camp incubator. Hasselbeck looked out of sync with all the receivers, despite a 263-yard performance.

But after Sunday's performance, it is becoming clear that the Titans have assembled the offensive talent to make teams pay for stacking the box to stop Chris Johnson. It appears as though the Titans are shifting away from being a run-first team.

In two games, Hasselbeck has attempted 76 passes and thrown for 621 yards—the most since Warren Moon's 692 in 1992. Hasselbeck threw for 358 yards in the win over the Baltimore Ravens. Before now, no Titans quarterback had ever passed for more than 300 yards when facing the vaunted Ravens defense.

Titans fans finally have a potent passing game that should only get better as Hasselbeck builds a rapport with his receivers. 

3. Chris Johnson Still Has a Lot of Rust to Knock off

Chris Johnson isn't as quick a study as everyone had hoped after missing all of the team's off-season practices and preseason games. Through two games he has rushed for 77 yards on 33 carries, averaging 2.3 yards per carry.

It's still to early in the season to think Johnson may be washed up, but, after all the hit-or-miss performances of last year, his early struggles are becoming a major concern. 

Things were bad enough for him on Sunday that fans started booing him. You can chalk that up to the turmoil caused by the star running back's huge $53.5 million contract he fought so vehemently for. 

No one believes that this is all the Titans will get from Johnson this season, but he definitely has been slow to pick up the nuances of the new scheme and find the rhythm that helped make him a known commodity in the league.

2. Kenny Britt Is Ready for the Spotlight

Leading up to this season, Kenny Britt was touted for his breakout potential and criticized for his off-field transgressions. Luckily for the Titans, Commissioner Roger Goodell refrained from suspending the skilled receiver.

In just two games, Britt has 14 catches, 271 yards and three touchdowns—each touchdown grab has been more impressive than the last. The only wideout with more yards receiving is Carolina's Steve Smith. 

With Chris Johnson's continued struggles, Britt has become the team's primary playmaker. Having Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback has given Britt a stability at the position for the first time in his career. 

Hasselbeck and Britt have only had about three weeks working together, but have managed to build a connection in short order.

If Britt can continue to make 100-yard games a habit, teams will be forced to take the Titans' passing game seriously and give Chris Johnson more room to run.

1. Review

Overall, the Tennessee Titans are a team that is still working out the kinks in its new offensive and defensive schemes. The defense has consistently been able to keep teams out of the end zone so far, giving up just two touchdowns.

How the offense looks once Chris Johnson is back in prime form is yet to be known, but so far it is very much a pass-oriented one that is capable of spreading the ball to several receivers and hitting on big play attempts.

Now the team needs to prove the offense can continue to perform to the level seen in Week 2, rather than what was seen most of Week 1. If they can, Tennessee could very well steal the AFC South division crown from the long-awaited grasp of the Houston Texans.