Tennessee heads to New York in Week 3 with a clean shot to turn the page after the loss to Philadelphia, and the matchup with the Giants feels like the kind of game that can either steady a season or leave a team stuck in neutral.
Robert Saleh is still searching for his first win with the Titans, and last week offered at least a little proof that his defense is moving in the right direction. Tennessee’s front got to Jalen Hurts for three sacks, held Philadelphia to 89 rushing yards, and still came away with two interceptions even though Hurts beat them through the air. It wasn’t a complete outing, but it was a step.
That matters here because the Giants may be in a tough spot at quarterback. Jaxson Dart reportedly suffered an MCL sprain in last night’s game against the Los Angeles Rams, and if he can’t go, veteran Jameis Winston would be next up.
Winston went 11/27 after entering Monday night’s game early, finishing with 111 yards and one interception. That kind of change could tilt the matchup toward Tennessee if Saleh’s defense keeps building on what it showed against the Eagles.
There’s also a clear obstacle for the Titans: this is their first road game of Saleh’s era. For an offense built around rookies and young players, that can be a brutal setting.
MetLife Stadium on the road is a different test, and Tennessee hasn’t exactly proven it can cruise through those kinds of environments. Two of the Titans’ three wins last season came away from home, but those victories came against the Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns, and the Giants look like a tougher ask than either of those teams.
That’s the tug-of-war in this one. Tennessee has reason to believe the defense can keep it close, especially if Dart is out and Winston is forced into action. At the same time, the offense still has to show it can carry its weight, because that unit hasn’t earned the right to be trusted yet.
The Giants still bring real weapons into the game, too. RB Cam Skattebo and pass-catchers like WR Malik Nabers, assuming he’s healthy, and TE Isaiah Likely are the kinds of players Tennessee will have to account for regardless of who is under center.
Still, the pick here leans Tennessee. The Titans nearly pulled off an upset against the Eagles in a game few expected them to be in, and a similar level of performance might be enough to get them over the line this time. Even a small step forward in the passing game could be the difference.
Prediction: Titans 17, Giants 14.
In Other News...
Titans Fans Have Every Right To Be Furious After This Missed Call
Week 2 left Titans fans with plenty to debate, and one sequence in particular has lingered since the final whistle. With Jacob Martin getting pressure on Jalen Hurts and the Eagles quarterback appearing to throw the ball away, the play looked for a moment like it should have drawn an intentional grounding penalty. Instead, the flags stayed in the officials pockets, and Philadelphia kept moving.
For Tennessee supporters, that missed call has only sharpened the frustration around an 0-2 start. It was the kind of moment that can swing a drive and, in a tight NFL game, shape the outcome as much as anything else. The Eagles went on to win, and Titans fans are still left wondering how different things might have looked if that one call had gone the other way. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Fans Saw One More Sign This Team Still Isnt Serious
A familiar bit of pregame theater showed up again before the Titans took on the Eagles, with Julius Chestnut arriving in a Green Goblin costume as part of a tradition that has already rubbed some fans the wrong way. For a team trying to build credibility early in the season, it was the kind of sideline detail that stands out even more when the football itself is going poorly, and Tennessees start has only sharpened the scrutiny around everything surrounding the locker room.
Chestnuts role remains a small one on the field, and the costume only added to the sense among some observers that the Titans are not projecting the kind of seriousness fans want to see. The loss to Philadelphia left Tennessee at 0-2, and with the results going the wrong way, even harmless pregame pageantry can start to feel like another symbol of a team still searching for the right tone. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Let Another Winnable Game Slip And Saleh Didnt Soften It
The Titans had a chance to land an early-season statement at home in Week 2, but instead watched a close game against the Eagles slip away in a 24-20 loss. It was the kind of result that tends to linger, because Tennessee did enough to stay in position and still came away empty after leaving too many opportunities on the field.
Robert Saleh didnt try to dress it up afterward, making clear that close losses do not count for anything in the NFL. His message centered on execution, and on the frustration that comes with knowing a winnable game was there for the taking. For a Titans team trying to build momentum, the bigger concern now is not just the defeat itself, but how quickly it can turn those missed chances into something cleaner next time. [Read more 🡒]