NASHVILLE – If there are any flashes of green in the Tennessee Titans’ family section at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, Kevin Byard knows his relatives are the likely suspects.
That’s the challenge for someone born in Philadelphia who grew up watching the Eagles alongside most of his family. Byard, 25, even had a Lito Sheppard jersey growing up and remembers going to a party to watch the Eagles take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX – even as his father and uncle criticized Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb for never winning an NFL title.
Now Byard is an All-Pro safety who will have a lot of family on hand as the Titans (2-1) host the Eagles (2-1), who finally won the franchise’s first Super Bowl title last season by beating a Patriots team still coached by Bill Belichick and quarterbacked by Tom Brady.
“It’s not a must-win game, but it’s a game that’s going to be definitely a good measuring stick to see where we are right now,” said Byard, who played high school football in the Atlanta area before going on to Middle Tennessee State.
“A team that was just in the Super Bowl, just won the Super Bowl, you’re always going to want to put your best foot forward against those guys. I think that they know every single game this year they’re going to get that best effort from every single team, and it’s no doubt with this team right here.”
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz – sidelined by injury during the final three games of the 2017 regular season, the playoffs and the first two games this season, with backup Nick Foles going 6-2 in his absence – returned to action by starting last week in a 20-16 comeback win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Marcus Mariota will start at quarterback for the Titans after coming off the bench in a 9-6 road win against the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday.
Eagles coach Doug Pederson has been impressed by how the Titans have found ways to finish games the past two weeks under first-year coach Mike Vrabel, a Houston Texans assistant the past four seasons.
“I look back to my first year, two years ago, and one of the things that we didn’t do a very good job of was learning how to finish games and a way to coach games,” Pederson said.
“That’s something that Mike has been able to do with his team. Just seeing his influence on defense, obviously, the impact that he has brought has these guys flying around and making plays. They’re learning how to finish games. That’s important with a new head coach.”
Injuries to Alshon Jeffery – who could make his season debut coming off a shoulder injury – and fellow Eagles receivers Mack Hollins and Mike Wallace have forced Philadelphia to rely even more on tight ends in the passing game. Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert and Josh Perkins combined for 13 catches for 156 yards and one touchdown last week.
Ertz was a Pro Bowl pick last season who caught the go-ahead touchdown pass in the Super Bowl. Goedert, a second-round pick in this year’s draft, had only one catch in the first two weeks before breaking out for five catches and 73 yards against the Colts.
“Obviously he’s a big target down the field,” Eagles offensive coordinator Mike Groh said. “He’s easy to find, and he can elevate and make plays above the rim, too. He’s got really strong hands. He’s just three games in, so we’ll continue to put more and more on his plate, but he’s done a nice job with what we have asked him to do.”