DENVER — After spending quite a bit of time on the ground, Cam Ward had a firm grasp on where he wanted to go next.

“The only way is up,” he said.

It was a hit-filled, pressure-applied debut for the Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback in a 20-12 loss to Denver on Sunday. He was sacked six times by a relentless Broncos defense as his offense managed just seven first downs.

What's more, the Titans nearly had as many total yards (133) as penalty yards (131). The one thing that never wavered, though, was Ward's poise.

He remained cool amid the chaos.

“Denver is a tough place to play, good team," offensive lineman Lloyd Cushenberry III said, "and I didn’t see his demeanor change at all.”

Ward, the top pick in the draft last April, finished 12 of 28 for 112 yards and a QB rating of 54.5.

See Full Page