The Titans new and improved running game: DeMarco Murray, check. Derrick Henry, check. Better offensive line, check. With all that said, there are no more excuses for the Titans’ running game. Tennessee last had a running back go over 100 yards in a game in 2013, but Mike Mularkey is promising that the run game will be a staple of the offense.

Secondary a primary concern? Dick LeBeau is a master of defense and the creator of the zone blitz. That said, he will have to do some serious scheming to protect a vulnerable secondary that was chewed up in preseason. The good news is that Jason McCourty and Perrish Cox, the starting cornerbacks, will be on the field together for the first time in forever (Sorry for the “Frozen” reference). But will it be enough?

The Sam Bradford experiment: In losing Teddy Bridgewater to a devastating knee injury, the Vikings rolled the dice that Bradford can get up to speed quickly rather than banking on a backup to run what otherwise is considered a contending team. How much can Bradford learn in just a week?

Marcus Mariota 2.0: Mariota had a successful rookie season, despite being on a terrible team. With the talent around him upgraded and a new scheme in place, the second-year pro’s growth in 2016 bears watching for the Titans.

Three key matchups

Titans front seven vs. Adrian Peterson: With a new QB in Minnesota, the Vikes are likely to rely on Peterson more than ever. The defensive line and linebackers are regarded as the strength of the Titans defense. Can they hold the NFL’s top running back in check and put the game in Sam Bradford’s hands?

Delanie Walker vs. Harrison Smith: Walker is still the Titans best weapon on offense until proven otherwise. Smith, a Knoxville native, is one of the NFL’s top safeties. Those two could be matched up on each other more than once on Sunday.

DeMarco Murray/Derrick Henry vs. Vikings front seven: The Titans have declared that they want to run the football. Keep an eye on how successful they are and if they can wear down Minnesota’s defense with their one-two punch at running back.