The Titans have reached the point where every red-zone trip feels like a referendum on how much faith Brian Daboll really has in Cam Ward. That question was put under a spotlight in Week 4 against the Baltimore Ravens, when Tennessee came away empty on a goal-to-go chance that could have changed the whole feel of the game.
Down 14-7 in the second quarter, Tennessee had first and goal and never found a way through. Daboll handed the ball to Tony Pollard four straight times, the Titans were stopped at the goal line, and Baltimore answered on the other end before halftime. Tennessee did trim the margin to six by the final whistle, but that one sequence still stood out as the turning point.
This is the part of the season where the Titans have to decide what kind of offense they want to be. Pollard has value as a steady veteran who can help set the tone on early downs. But using him as a four-play hammer inside the 20 has already shown its limits.
Daboll said this week that he "felt good" about the looks for Pollard and did not sound interested in second-guessing the decision after the trip home. Still, the offense eventually did what it has to do if it wants to give Ward a real chance to grow: let the quarterback drive the action.
Tennessee’s comeback effort in Week 4 did include some promising work through the air. Ward found Wan'Dale Robinson for a passing score in the first quarter, then connected with Carnell Tate for a successful two-point conversion. Those plays mattered, and they also reinforced the larger pattern.
Three of the Titans’ four red-zone touchdowns this season have come by pass. That matters because if Tennessee is going to let Ward work through the rough edges of his season, the staff has to trust him when the field shrinks and the pressure rises.
That becomes even more important this week against the Texans. The matchup figures to create chances for both offenses, and the 0-4 Titans cannot afford to keep hoping the ground game bails them out near the goal line. If Tennessee wants to keep pace with a high-scoring Houston team, Daboll and the Titans need to build their red-zone plan around Ward and the weapons around him.
In Other News...
Titans Suddenly Have A New Concern In Their Passing Game
The Titans passing game picked up a new wrinkle this week when Carnell Tate landed on the injury report with a back issue ahead of Sundays game against the Houston Texans. Tate had been a full participant on Wednesday before being limited on Thursday, a shift that stands out on a roster already dealing with multiple players showing up on the report with assorted injuries.
For Tennessee, the timing matters because Tate has become a meaningful part of the offense as the team tries to keep its attack steady against Houston. The Titans have been monitoring several health questions this week, and Tates status now adds another layer of uncertainty to a passing game that could use as much stability as it can get heading into a divisional matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Carnell Tate Could Put Texans In A Tough Spot Again
Carnell Tates Week 4 breakout gave the Titans another layer to work with, and it came at the right time. The rookie wideout caught nine passes for 145 yards, flashing the kind of versatility that can make an offense harder to pin down when a defense starts keying on where a receiver lines up. Tennessee has already shown a willingness to move Tate around, using him on the boundary and also inside, which has helped expand how the passing game can attack different coverage looks.
That flexibility could matter again soon against Houston, where the Titans are likely to keep searching for favorable matchups by shifting Tate pre-snap and changing his alignment from play to play. If Tennessee can keep defenses guessing about where he will show up, it can force the Texans to sort through more decisions than they may want to make, especially after Tates emergence has given the Titans a young weapon worth building around. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Secondary Suddenly Has A Big Problem Before Texans Game
The Titans secondary took a hit heading into Sundays matchup with the Texans, with Amani Hooker unavailable after not clearing concussion protocol. Hooker has been a key part of Tennessees back end, so his absence changes the look of a group that already had to keep one eye on Houstons passing game this week.
Tony Adams is expected to step into Hookers role, while Isaiah Oliver is likely to be elevated from the practice squad to give the Titans more depth at safety. Cornerback Joshua Williams also returned to practice after being designated to come back from injured reserve, though his game status remains unsettled as Tennessee sorts through its defensive options. [Read more 🡒]