Week 4 doesn’t offer Tennessee Titans fans much comfort, but it does leave the door cracked.
The Titans head into Baltimore at 0-3 in these game-week scenarios so far, and the matchup with the Ravens looks rough on paper. Still, there’s enough in the setup - especially the weather and what Tennessee showed in its best game of the season - to at least imagine a road upset for Robert Saleh’s group.
The ugly version is straightforward. Baltimore has already put up 34 points twice in three games, and both of those outings ended in wins. In the worst-case script, Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry power the Ravens to another commanding day, and Henry’s first game against his former team turns into a long afternoon for Tennessee.
That kind of loss would also mean the Titans’ offense stays stuck in the mud. They’d be looking at their third game of the season with 10 points or fewer, which is a nightmare against a Ravens defense that has allowed more than 20 points in every game so far. If Tennessee only reaches 10, the result probably won’t be close.
The better path is more demanding, but it’s there. In the ideal outcome, the Titans get to a season-high 23 points and match the blueprint New Orleans used on the same field two weeks ago. The Saints beat Baltimore 24-17, intercepted Lamar Jackson, held Derrick Henry to 68 yards, and went 3-for-3 on field goals.
That kind of performance would require Cam Ward’s best game yet, and that’s probably the price of doing business if Tennessee is going to win anywhere. It would also fit with the kind of defensive pressure Saleh’s unit has already shown it can create. In Week 2, Marcus Harris and Amani Hooker both picked off Jalen Hurts, and even in defeat, that game hinted at a formula that could make life easier for an offense that has been too uneven.
There’s also this: the Ravens have not won a home game in nearly a calendar year, and Ward already found a road breakthrough in Week 5 last season against the Arizona Cardinals. Tennessee still needs plenty to go right, but if the Titans are going to pull this off, the route is clear enough - force turnovers, give Ward workable field position, and keep Henry from taking over the game.
In Other News...
Titans Suddenly Have A New Offensive Line Problem Before Ravens Game
The Titans offensive line took another hit this week, and it comes at an especially inconvenient time. Tennessee placed right guards Fernando Carmona and Jackson Slater on injured reserve after both underwent surgery, leaving the team with two more unavailable pieces inside as it turns its attention to Baltimore.
Garrett Dellinger was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster to help fill the gap, but the move only underscores how thin the Titans are getting at right guard. With the Ravens on deck in Week 4, Tennessee now has a fresh protection problem to sort out before it can even get to game-planning for one of the leagues tougher fronts. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Face A Cam Ward Dilemma In Marvin Harrison Jr. Debate
The Titans slow start has only sharpened the focus on how they plan to support Cam Ward as the rebuilding season unfolds. At 0-3, Tennessee is already in a familiar spot for a team searching for long-term answers, and any discussion about adding help now inevitably circles back to whether the rookie quarterback has enough around him to grow into the job.
Marvin Harrison Jr. has surfaced in that conversation because multiple teams are said to be checking on his availability, with a day-three draft pick mentioned as a possible return for the Cardinals. For Tennessee, the appeal is obvious: a high-end receiver could accelerate Wards development and give the offense a much-needed jolt, but the fit also comes with real questions about whether a move like that makes sense while the quarterback is still struggling to find his footing. [Read more 🡒]
Tony Pollard Could Be Headed Back Into A Contender's Plans
The Titans slow start has only sharpened the attention on what they do next, and Tony Pollard has already become part of that conversation. Tennessee is 0-3 and searching for answers on offense, which has made every move around the roster feel a little more consequential as the season gets underway.
ESPNs Dan Graziano raised the possibility that Pollard could surface as a trade candidate if he stays healthy and the Titans are not planning to extend him. If that path opens, a number of contenders could take notice, with the Saints, Vikings and Packers all mentioned as potential suitors looking to add a proven back into their plans. [Read more 🡒]