Cam Ward found himself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons after the Tennessee Titans’ 24-18 road loss to the Baltimore Ravens, and it wasn’t just because of the box score.
Moments after the game, Ward went to the podium while reporters were still talking to his teammates in the locker room. He said he would leave if the wait lasted more than three minutes, and he even tapped his fingers on the podium while making the threat.
The reaction online came fast and loud.
“He is never gonna make it. You can't be that bad and then be that arrogant too. He won't even be a backup, his career will be over in 3 years max,” one guaranteed.
“You have done ....(you want to say it with me y'all) NOTHING! This is how you get benched,” another raged.
“This is a terrible look,” another shuddered.
“What a loser,” one sneered.
“Immature... He’s weak,” one jeered.
“Not a franchise QB, play- or attitude wise,” another insisted.
Ward did stay at the podium, though, and later addressed some of what went wrong in the game. His Titans are now 0-4 after the loss.
On the field, Ward completed 20 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown to Wan'Dale Robinson, then added a two-point conversion to Gunnar Helm. He also threw an interception to Trenton Simpson on the second play of the game. Carnell Tate was his top target, finishing with nine catches for 145 yards.
Baltimore got a clean outing from Lamar Jackson, who also finished with 222 passing yards on 15 completions. One of his touchdowns went to Zay Flowers, who led the Ravens with eight receptions for 118 yards.
Asked about the interception to Simpson, Ward said:
“I just think I can make it easier for (running back Tony Pollard). Me and Tony, we’ve hit on that play a lot of times last year… I know he wants that play back.
I want it back. But if I can put it on his chest and make it easier for him, then he’ll have a chance to get upfield.”
He also pointed to the bigger picture of what the Titans need to clean up.
“(We have to) be critical on the good plays, but we have to really hone in on the bad plays and how we can limit that. That’s what’s holding us back. ...
We have to limit the bad plays on both sides of the ball. But I think once we do that, we’ll put ourselves in good situations to win games.”
The Titans head back to Nashville for their next game, a matchup with the also-winless Houston Texans next Sunday. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. CT on CBS.
In Other News...
Virginia Tech Faces A Cal Problem That Could Decide This Road Test
As Virginia Tech turns its attention to Cal, James Franklin is treating this trip like the sort of road test where details can swing the whole afternoon. He said there are still uncertainties around how Cal will choose to attack on offense, but he singled out quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele as a player the Hokies have to account for while they sort through the matchup.
Franklin also spent time on Grunkemeyers recent performance, using it as part of a broader reminder about what Virginia Tech needs to clean up before leaving home. Ball security and forcing turnovers have been a point of emphasis in practice, and in a game with so many unknowns around Cals plan, those hidden-yardage moments may end up mattering as much as any pregame scouting report. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Tech's Next Two Games Will Test What Pitt Exposed
Virginia Tech gets back on the field Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET against Georgia Tech on the ACC Network, and the timing could not be much better for a team looking to steady itself after what Pitt was able to reveal. The Hokies have spent the past stretch sorting through recent performances, individual standouts and the kind of game-to-game inconsistency that makes every conference matchup feel like a referendum on where things really stand.
The next two weeks should say plenty about that. Virginia Techs schedule and travel are already set, and with Georgia Tech first up before another game on the horizon, the Hokies are entering a run that will test whether the issues Pitt exposed were a one-game problem or something more persistent. For a team still trying to define its ceiling, this is the part of the season where context starts turning into evidence. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Tech Faces A Huge Opening In Unsettled Cal Matchup
Virginia Tech heads to California Memorial Stadium with a chance to press an opening that is wider than usual, thanks to the uncertainty hanging over Cals quarterback situation. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele left the previous game with a head injury, leaving the Golden Bears in a far less settled spot than they would prefer as they prepare for another ACC matchup in their home building.
The Hokies are dealing with some volatility of their own, even after Ethan Grunkemeyer delivered a career-high 434 passing yards in his latest outing. The bigger challenge for Virginia Tech may be keeping the turnovers in check against a Cal defense that usually has a playmaker in the back end, though safety Kingston Lopa also exited the last game early with an injury after leading the FBS in interceptions. [Read more 🡒]