The Tennessee Titans were riding a modest wave of optimism after a hard-fought loss to Seattle in Week 12. It wasn’t a win, but it was a performance that showed flashes-particularly from the young core-that gave fans something to hang their hats on.
That momentum didn’t just stall in Week 13; it slammed into a wall. The Titans were thoroughly outclassed in a 25-3 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, a game that served as a sobering reminder of just how far this team has to go.
Let’s start with the offense, which took a dramatic step backward. After showing real promise last week, rookie quarterback Cam Ward came back down to earth.
His decision-making looked rushed, his timing was off, and the Jaguars' defense made him uncomfortable from the opening snap. That’s not entirely on Ward-he’s still learning the speed of the NFL game-but this was a clear regression from what we saw just one week ago.
And it wasn’t just the quarterback. Tennessee’s rookie wideouts, who had been bright spots in recent weeks, struggled to gain separation and couldn’t find a rhythm. The chemistry that seemed to be building between Ward and his young receivers vanished against a Jacksonville secondary that played with discipline and physicality.
Then there's the offensive line, which continues to be a major liability. Protection broke down far too often, leaving Ward under constant pressure and giving the run game no room to breathe.
Speaking of the ground attack-if you can even call it that-it looked completely lifeless. For a team that’s historically leaned on its ability to run the ball and control tempo, the current version of this rushing offense is a shadow of what Titans fans are used to.
But amid the offensive struggles, there was at least one silver lining. A rookie-who’s been making the most of his limited opportunities-once again showed he belongs.
While the rest of the offense sputtered, this young player brought a level of consistency and composure that stood out. He’s not lighting up the stat sheet just yet, but his ability to stay poised and productive in a chaotic situation is exactly the kind of foundational piece Tennessee needs as it rebuilds.
The Titans are clearly in a transitional phase, and games like this one are part of the growing pains. But if there’s any consolation, it’s that the team is starting to get a clearer picture of who’s ready to be part of the solution-and who isn’t.