Robert Saleh didn’t have much to lean on after Tennessee’s season opener, and he didn’t pretend otherwise.
The Titans opened his debut with a 23-10 loss to the New York Jets, a game that felt over long before the final whistle. The Jets controlled the night in Nashville from the opening drive, and Saleh’s first public answers as Tennessee’s head coach came after a performance that left plenty to unpack.
Asked about what some would call a “lifeless” outing, Saleh pushed back on the word but still made it clear he wanted more.
"I don't know if "lifeless" is the word," Saleh began, "but expected a better performance for sure."
That was the tone of the day for Tennessee: disappointment without much room to hide. The Titans spent the offseason pouring the league’s roomiest salary cap into a roster overhaul, only to get handled by a team that was one of the NFL’s worst the year before. The result was ugly, and it showed in the way New York kept dictating the terms.
Saleh said he did not expect the defensive line rotation to change after the rough showing, then gave the Jets credit for staying patient and pounding away on the ground. New York finished with 152 rushing yards, and both of its touchdowns came on runs.
"They weren't getting explosive runs, they were leaning on us for three, four, five yards a pop. To Frank [Reich's] credit, they stuck to the run... they leaned on us."
There were also obvious issues on offense, and Saleh didn’t duck those either. When asked about Cam Ward missing throws, he agreed with the criticism.
"He missed a couple."
"He's gotta make those throws," Saleh went on. Ward was off target on several key snaps, including one where Carnell Tate was open over the middle and another where Calvin Ridley was left uncovered before the pass sailed out of bounds. Saleh said Ward understands that.
"He [Ward] knows that. Those are things that we're going to continue to work with him on."
Ward’s line reflected the struggles: 19 of 32 for 140 yards. His only touchdown came late in the fourth quarter, a score to Elic Ayomanor after the Jets had already put the game away.
Saleh tried to keep the bigger picture in view, saying the team is still early in the process and that improvement has to come with time.
"We'll get there," Saleh said of the in-progress state of this Titans team. "I get it, it wasn't good enough. But we have to find a way to get better, and we will."
He also said he believes "everyone is frustrated."
The schedule doesn’t give Tennessee much breathing room. Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles are next in Week 2, followed by a road trip to New York to face the Giants. After a debut like this, the Titans need a quick reset, and Saleh’s promise of progress will be tested right away.
In Other News...
Giants Fans Are All Saying The Same Thing About NBCs Booth
A curious broadcast moment during Sunday Night Football ended up drawing as much attention as the game itself, thanks to a mid-sentence burst from Cris Collinsworth that got clipped and shared all over social media. During the Giants-Cowboys telecast, Collinsworth let out an unexpected ehhh!!! on the air, and it was just unusual enough to send fans into detective mode about what was happening in NBCs booth.
For Giants followers, the bigger intrigue may be how quickly a small on-air hiccup turned into a full round of speculation about the dynamic between Collinsworth and Mike Tirico. No official explanation has come from either broadcaster, and theres nothing to suggest anything beyond a professional working relationship, which makes the clip more odd than ominous. Still, in a game full of familiar stakes, it was the booth moment that had a lot of people talking after the broadcast ended. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Skattebo Return Sparked A Giants Controversy Fans Wont Ignore
Cam Skattebos return gave the Giants a much-needed jolt after he worked his way back from a right ankle dislocation and fractured fibula. Against the Cowboys, he handled 17 carries for 73 rushing yards and scored a touchdown, showing the kind of physical, tone-setting presence New York has been missing in the backfield. He even had to navigate a scrappy game within the game, committing a fumble and then recovering it himself as the Giants tried to keep their footing.
The bigger talking point, though, came on a hit away from the usual flow of the offense, when Skattebo was punched in the kidney by a Cowboys player and no penalty was called. It was the kind of moment that can linger after the final whistle, especially in a rivalry game where every collision gets magnified. For the Giants, the encouraging part is obvious: Skattebo looked like a player they can build around again. The frustration is just as clear, and it is not going away quietly. [Read more 🡒]
Paulson Adebos Push For A Giants Starting Role Hit Trouble Fast
Paulson Adebos bid to carve out a starting role for the Giants has run into an early snag. He saw only a brief stint against the Cowboys, and on a third-and-12 he gave up a 15-yard completion, another reminder that the cornerback competition around him has tightened since training camp.
Adebo came into camp with a chance to push for first-team work, but the job has gone to Greg Newsome II and Deonte Banks for now. He sits third on the depth chart, which leaves him in a tricky spot: he still has time to climb back into the conversation, but only if his play sharpens or the guys ahead of him slip. [Read more 🡒]