Assessing Cam Ward and the Titans’ Start
Last season, the New England Patriots leveraged their significant cap space, an easy schedule, and a new head coach focused on defense, which contributed to their journey to Super Bowl LX. If you’re searching for a team this season with overlapping elements to replicate that success, look no further than the Tennessee Titans.
This offseason, the Titans brought in Robert Saleh as their new head coach. They kicked off the spring with a remarkable $94.8 million in cap space and faced a fourth-place schedule after finishing at the bottom of the AFC South last season, recording a dismal 3-14 record. With a second-year quarterback, Cam Ward, at the helm, the Titans have the potential to mirror what the Patriots experienced last year.
Tennessee did make some offseason acquisitions, enhancing both their offense and defense. Yet, the results thus far haven’t met the optimistic expectations of Titans fans. They fell to the New York Jets, another fourth-place team for 2025, with a score of 23-10, and their sole touchdown didn’t come until the fourth quarter, indicating the game was less competitive than the score suggests.
So, how did Ward perform in Week 1?
Ward’s debut with the Titans against the Jets was, well, pretty underwhelming. Completing 19 of 32 passes for 140 yards and one touchdown, he did manage to avoid interceptions. Still, if you dig into the stats, the advanced metrics tell a different story.
Tied to those metrics, Ward notched an Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt of only 4.2, which placed him 28th among the 32 qualifying quarterbacks in Week 1. His QBR score of 34.3 put him somewhat higher, at 26th overall. It’s a bit concerning, to say the least.
When examining Quarterback Efficiency through the lens of some advanced metrics, Ward’s performance was rather mediocre at best. The analysis looks at Completion Percentage Over Expectation and Expected Points Added per Play, and. . . well, let’s just say Ward wasn’t exactly at the top of that list.
There were glimpses of promise, however, particularly on plays like one where rookie wide receiver Carnell Tate made a solid reception in the first quarter. The Titans executed a two-level concept on the left side, with Tate running a deep out, while Wan’Dale Robinson attracted attention with a flat route. Ward’s throw was on-time and accurate, showcasing some quality quarterbacking.
Ward’s connection with Elic Ayomanor for a touchdown in the fourth quarter also deserves a mention. Here, he accurately read the man coverage and delivered a well-placed throw that minimized risk of a defensive hit.
Yet, one of the bigger challenges for Ward—and the Titans overall—was the pressure. According to Pro Football Focus, Ward faced pressure on a staggering 41% of his dropbacks, ranking 11th in the league for most under duress. During pressured plays, he completed only 5 of 10 passes, accumulating just 33 yards.
In some scenarios, he turned pressure into positive outcomes. For instance, he skillfully evaded an impending sack on a 3rd-and-3 and managed to gain a first down. On another play, he successfully navigated chaos and found Robinson for a nice nine-yard completion.
Despite these flashes of talent, the ongoing pressure eventually influences a quarterback’s decision-making and execution. There was a juicy moment on a 3rd-and-8 where Ward could have made a decisive throw but, perhaps feeling the heat, exited the pocket and ended up losing a yard instead.
Midway through the first half, Ward once again demonstrated promise in pocket management, but just missed a connection. It painted a picture of a developing quarterback who shows potential but still has a way to go. You might say his foundation is in place, yet unlocking his full potential is still the challenge at hand.
His head coach addressed this directly, noting that Ward has encountered seven different coordinators over the span of seven years, making it tough to find his footing. Stability is essential for his continued growth, which will require both time and consistency.
Still, for fans searching for optimistic signs, here’s a thought: the Titans can take solace in the fact that the 2025 Patriots also lost their opening game, against the Raiders, no less.
