Brian Daboll’s first game running the Tennessee Titans offense came with all the wrong kinds of reminders: this is still a work in progress, and Week 1 made that obvious in a hurry.
Tennessee fell 23-10 to the New York Jets, and the numbers told the story of an offense that never found its footing. The Titans produced only 10 points, with their lone touchdown coming in garbage time when Cam Ward connected with Elic Ayomanor after the Jets’ defense had already eased off. Tennessee finished with just 195 total yards, and 65 of those came on that final possession.
It was a rough day across the board. The Titans converted 4 of 11 third-down chances, rushed for only 68 yards and were forced to punt seven times. They also lost the possession battle badly, with the Jets holding the ball for 38:46 compared with Tennessee’s 21:14.
There wasn’t much in the way of a spark, either. No Titans playmaker reached 40 individual yards, the longest offensive play was a 14-yard pass to rookie Carnell Tate, and Tony Pollard’s longest run went for 13 yards. Tennessee didn’t produce a single explosive play against a Jets defense that gave up plenty of them a year ago.
Some of that was always going to come with the territory. Ward is a young quarterback still getting comfortable in a new system, and the Titans are leaning on rookies and sophomores in several starting spots across the offense. Growing pains were part of the package.
Still, the road doesn’t get any smoother in Week 2. Daboll’s offense now has to deal with the Philadelphia Eagles and Vic Fangio’s defense, a matchup that looks harsh on paper. Even so, the expectation from fans is simple: better, and fast.
For Tennessee to have a chance, it needs to hang around long enough to lean on the run game. Pollard averaged a solid five yards per carry, and Ward chipped in a few positive scrambles. The problem was the game script - the Titans were chasing a lopsided loss and had to move away from the ground game.
This is part of the NFL grind in September. Daboll’s experience doesn’t erase the adjustment period, and he’s still learning what his playmakers can handle. The same goes for Ward and the rest of the offense around him.
The upside for Tennessee is that improvement should come as everyone gets more comfortable. Daboll drew interest for multiple openings this offseason for a reason. Now the Titans just need that offense to start looking like it belongs on the same field as the rest of the league - and hopefully that turnaround begins in Week 2.
In Other News...
Titans Already Face One Big Concern After Another Week 1 Letdown
Another season opener came and went without a win for Tennessee, and the familiar frustration around Week 1 was only part of the problem. In their loss to the Jets, the Titans did get a promising debut from rookie linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., who led the team in tackles, but the defense had a harder time making life uncomfortable for the opposing quarterback and never really found a rhythm.
Cedric Grays injury status looms larger now as the Titans turn quickly to Philadelphia in Week 2, where the margin for error figures to be even smaller. Tennessee needs help up front and at linebacker, and Grays possible return would give the defense a much-needed boost at a time when the unit is already trying to steady itself after an uneven start. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Have A Week 2 Decision Fans Will Be Watching Closely
Anthony Hill Jr. made a strong first impression in his NFL debut, stepping into the Titans starting lineup and finishing with a team-high 16 tackles in Week 1. The rookie linebacker filled in for Cedric Gray, who was out in concussion protocol, and did more than just hold the line. He was around the ball all afternoon and even came away with a forced fumble before the call was changed to an incomplete pass on review.
Now Gray is back after clearing protocol, which creates an interesting Week 2 decision for Tennessee as it prepares to face the Philadelphia Eagles. Head coach Robert Saleh said Gray is available, and that opens the door to a linebacker rotation or a tougher choice about how the Titans want to deploy Hill after the way he handled his first start. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Wards Early Titans Debate Isnt As One-Sided As It Looks
Cam Wards first game for the Titans did not land the way anyone around the team hoped. He finished the opener with 19 completions on 32 attempts for 140 yards and no turnovers, a line that looked modest enough to fuel the usual early-season hand wringing that comes with a rookie quarterback. But the bigger picture around him is not as bleak as the reaction might suggest, especially when you compare where he stands right now to other young passers who needed time before they settled in.
His early numbers are landing in the same neighborhood as Bryce Young, Trevor Lawrence, Sam Darnold and Josh Allen were at similar points, which is why the discussion in Tennessee is already more layered than a simple hot or cold verdict. Wards touchdown-to-interception ratio and completion percentage have him tracking with quarterbacks who eventually became franchise pieces, and the Titans have every reason to see this as an evaluation that should be measured in months, not just one rough afternoon. [Read more 🡒]