Cam Ward, Denver Broncos
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Cam Ward #1 of the Tennessee Titans on the sidelines against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Denver Broncos will serve as the welcoming committee, ushering Tennessee Titans quarterback and 2025 No. 1 overall draft pick Cam Ward to his first NFL regular season, and the historic matchup is bad news for the former Miami Hurricanes star.
Ward was the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 2024, finishing behind No. 2 overall pick Travis Hunter, now of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Despite his high pedigree, Ward could be in football danger against the Broncos.
Broncos a Historically Bad Matchup for Titans QB Cam Ward
Cam Ward, Denver Broncos
GettyCam Ward #1 of the Tennessee Titans looks on after facing the Minnesota Vikings.
The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider noted that rookies playing their first game on the road “seldom” fare well, an ominous reminder for Ward as he visits the Broncos in Week 1.
“Since 2020, first-year quarterbacks who make their NFL debuts away from home are 2-15,” Kosmider wrote on September 2. “Those 17 passers have thrown only eight touchdown passes during that stretch. No rookie QB has won a Week 1 road start since 2018.”
Kosmider referenced Broncos head coach Sean Payton welcoming Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford, then a rookie No. 1 overall pick with the Detroit Lions, while with the New Orleans Saints, as an ominous comparison for Ward and the Titans.
Stafford emerged from that contest with a career-low passer rating and wished that he had played better.
QBs in that situation are 17-49 in the last five seasons.
Broncos Defense Built to Put Pressure on QBs
Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Denver Broncos
GettyNik Bonitto #15 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after recording a sack against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Kosmider said Payton and the Broncos will “try to add to that tortured history” against Ward, but added Denver’s defense must “make Ward look like what he is: a rookie quarterback making his first start in a hostile house of horrors.”
The Broncos led the NFL with a franchise-record 63 sacks in 2024. They also return their top four edge rushers – Jonathon Cooper, Nik Bonitto, Dondrea Tillman, and Jonah Elliss.
ESPN’s Jeff Legwold picked the Broncos’ defense as their “biggest strength.”
“Yeah, it’s preseason and they haven’t played many opposing starters, but the Broncos’ defense has dominated at every turn,” Legwold wrote in an article published on August 27. “After two preseason games, the Broncos were No. 1 in scoring defense, total defense, pass defense and third-down defense while allowing the fewest first downs. It is a deep group up front with a secondary that has a legitimate claim as the league’s best. If the defense carries the preseason momentum to the regular season, the only thing that could stand in the Broncos’ way is injuries.”
The Broncos use a lot of match coverage behind blitzes. #Titans OC Nick Holz said they have to beat man coverage. But he feels good about banked reps Cam Ward has vs Dennard Wilson, the Bucs, Falcons, and Vikings. They'll go back to those and pull from Ward at Miami as well. pic.twitter.com/mBk7EvN6ld
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) September 2, 2025
Payton and Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph’s challenge is game-planning for Ward with very little NFL film.
Broncos HC Sean Payton Gets Honest About Titans QB Cam Ward
Sean Payton, Denver Broncos
GettyDenver Broncos head Coach Sean Payton looks on against the San Francisco 49ers.
Payton spoke candidly about the work the Broncos did on Ward, saying they “did all of it,” about studying the QB’s college and preseason film.
“You have a limited exposure in the preseason with them,” Payton told reporters on September 1. “Then you would go back and look at his college tape at Miami. Just to get a feel for not only arm strength, but how does he handle pressure? How does he handle zone? And so, we do a pretty in-depth study.”
According to Pro Football Focus, Ward completed 52.6% of his passes for 146 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions in the preseason. He only absorbed 1 sack in his 22 dropbacks, and he was 5-for-7 for 77 yards when blitzed.