'He's a dawg!' Titans' D'Vondre Sweat earns high praise

The Tennessee Titans defense was dominant at times Sunday during the 24-17 loss to the Chicago Bears. Not only did it stifle the Bears’ rushing attack, but it also kept rookie quarterback Caleb Williams off-balanced and frustrated most of the day.

One player that stood out was defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat. Sweat was a beast throughout the game and was a force in the middle. The Titans’ young standout even received praise from analyst Brian Baldinger in his “Baldy’s Breakdowns.”

While he didn’t light up the stat sheet, showing 38 snaps and two quarterback pressures, his presence in the middle of the line made an impact that went beyond the stat sheet. The Titans’ 2024 second-round pick dominated the interior and forced the Bears to run the ball away from his area.

In the coming weeks, he should become even more comfortable in the system and even more dynamic. More importantly for the success of the defense, his continued growth should allow for fewer double-teams on standout Jeffrey Simmons as they develop into a fearsome duo.

It’s hard not to overreact after a week, but with Sweat and Simmons on the defensive line, it’s hard not to envision success for the Titans defense. That growth will continue Sunday as the Titans prepare to face the New York Jets in Week 2.