And now questions are growing about whether Cam Ward is the quarterback the Titans believe he is.
asserted
he → grow → ?
Ward threw his first interception this season at the worst possible time.
asserted
Ward → throw → time
The Titans had first-and-goal at the New York Giants 7 with 24 seconds left, turning a possible signature comeback win by the quarterback into a 12-7 loss.
asserted
Titans → have → loss
Coach Robert Saleh dismissed the idea of sitting Ward to watch veteran Mitchell Trubisky after the latest loss.
asserted
Saleh → dismiss → loss
Saleh made clear Monday that Ward has to be exposed to more of these opportunities to produce when it matters most.
asserted
it → make → opportunities
“This team’s going to learn how to win these football games,” Saleh said.
asserted
Saleh → go → games
“We’re right there.
asserted
We → ’re → ?
Unfortunately, it’s the NFL, we’re two plays from being 2-1, but we stand here 0-3.
asserted
we → ’ → ?
The No. 1 pick overall in the 2025 draft had to learn a new offensive with yet another coordinator in Brian Daboll going into his second season.
asserted
pick → have → season
Ward ranks 25th among qualifying quarterbacks with 504 yards passing, is tied with Baker Mayfield and Caleb Williams with two touchdown passes and ranks 21st with a 80.9 passer rating.
asserted
Ward → rank → rating
That’s better than four qualifying quarterbacks, including Daniel Jones with the Colts and Bo Nix of Denver.
asserted
That → ’ → Denver
Protection has improved with Ward sacked only five times through three games after 55 as a rookie.
asserted
Ward → improve → rookie
“It’s unfortunate that one of his critical mistakes came on the last play of the game,” Saleh said.
asserted
Saleh → ’ → game
What’s working
The defense.
asserted
working → work → ?
The Titans rank 11th in the NFL, allowing 315.3 yards per game and ninth in points allowed with opponents averaging 19.7 points a game.
asserted
opponents → rank → points
That’s with the Titans on the field more than any other defense with Tennessee last in time of possession.
asserted
Tennessee → ’ → possession
What needs help
The offense.
asserted
needs → need → help
The Titans have failed to gain more than 96 yards in any first half this season.
asserted
Titans → fail → half
Worse, they’ve been held to 55 and 54 yards by halftime of two games.
asserted
they → hold → games
Against the Giants, the 54 total yards for the first half was the franchise’s worst since managing 54 on Nov. 28, 2010, against Houston.
asserted
yards → manage → Houston
Against the Giants, the Titans went three-and-out on their first five drives.
asserted
Titans → go → drives
They managed only one first down for their fewest in a half since the first half of a Dec. 28, 2008, game against Indianapolis.
asserted
They → manage → Indianapolis
Only Miami and New England are scoring fewer points (12) per game than Tennessee (12.3).
asserted
Miami → score → Tennessee
Saleh called it an “abysmal” first half with the Titans and yes, needing Ward to throw better passes.
asserted
Ward → call → passes
“Obviously dropped balls have kind of hindered us in the beginning of the games in all three of our games,” Saleh said.
asserted
Saleh → drop → games
“I feel like we’re just, from an efficiency standpoint, not where we need to be.”
asserted
we → feel → standpoint
The All-Pro defensive tackle had 10 tackles with two for losses and a sack and playing 63 of the 64 defensive snaps against the Giants.
asserted
tackle → have → Giants
Simmons had seven tackles by halftime for a career best for any single half, and the seven also were the most by a defensive tackle in the league this season.
asserted
seven → have → league
Asked if how Simmons ranks among the linemen he has coached, Saleh said the Titans tackle is just “nuts.”
asserted
tackle → ask → linemen
“His stat numbers look like something out of Madden,” Saleh said.
asserted
Saleh → look → Madden
The veteran who took a pay cut to stick around was targeted once in the latest loss without a catch.
asserted
who → take → catch
Ridley has two catches for 35 yards through three games, and seven Titans have more receptions than the veteran.
asserted
Titans → have → veteran
The Titans are running tests on right guard Fernando Carmona Jr.‘s ankle.
asserted
Titans → run → ankle
Saleh said Carmona’s replacement Jackson Slater is being evaluated for a “pretty significant” foot injury, though Slater finished the game.
asserted
Slater → say → game
Next steps
The Titans finish a two-game road swing by visiting Baltimore (2-1), then home to host Houston (0-3) before a trip to Indianapolis (1-2).
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asserted
Titans → finish → Indianapolis
The Aporia
