Popular Post AussieTitanFan08 Posted September 7 Popular Post Report Share Posted September 7 (edited) Well guess its time to start the first game week thread of the season now we are under 7 days till kick off against the Jets. Being a week 1 game and the usual volatility of results that comes with that I wouldn't be surprised if either team won by 14pts. I'm not in the segment of media/fans who believe this is a must win game but I do believe they can save themselves some unneeded external noise/pressure should they win against the Jets. The National NFL media have made it pretty clear that as a group they have no patience or desire to give Cam Ward the benefit of the doubt like they did last year if he doesn't start looking like the #1 pick he is early in this upcoming season. It is unfair on Saleh/Daboll as this is their first regular season game in charge of the Titans but you also can't ignore this team has the worst record in the NFL over the last 3 seasons and there could be a here we go again feeling if they fall to the Jets. In terms of things I'm interested watching - The Titans defensive front due to JFM's injury issues in the preseason we never got to see Johnson/Simmons/JFM/Martin rush together. Whether it is Martin/Johnson/Faulk/Oladejo/Jones someone out of that EDGE group has to take advantage of the havoc Simmons and JFM hopefully create in the interior. - The OL/run game. Was the positive signs during the preseason real or just a mirage. This offense badly needs the run game to start well to take the pressure off Ward. - Finally Cam Ward what we need to see is an improvement in his ability to hit the layups and show he has learnt to use the appropriate velocity on these short passes and cut out the amount of times he has been throwing fast high piss missiles that the receiver has no real chance of catching. Edited September 7 by AussieTitanFan08 SleepingTitan, Starkiller, DecepticonShawn2, and 10 others 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NashvilleNinja Posted September 7 Report Share Posted September 7 I am about 70% sure the Titans will win, but how confident I am in a W is a very iffy state of mind. Even if we win, how is the win going to feel? Is it going to feel like we've made progress? This is a Geno Smith led team, after all. Is a W going to feel earned or lucked into? I have all the confidence in the world in Cam for the long-term. Although it's time to start pushing the franchise forward and upward, there's still a ton of kinks to get ironed out. There shouldn't be any shock if the team looks crusty against the Jets. Of course if they lose to the Jets I would advise not listening to any of the radio shows if you want to keep your blood pressure somewhat normal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsntLifeFunny Posted September 7 Report Share Posted September 7 I wouldn't call it a must win, but this is the easiest game on the schedule and we are at home. If the offense looks terrible and we lose something like 17-13 it's a really bad sign for how the first quarter of the season is going to look. DecepticonShawn2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bongo59 Posted September 7 Report Share Posted September 7 I'd call this a clear must win. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBukafax Posted September 7 Report Share Posted September 7 I am about 100 percent confident Breece Hall will have 150+ yards this game. Mythos27 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsntLifeFunny Posted September 7 Report Share Posted September 7 16 minutes ago, Bongo59 said: I'd call this a clear must win. Depends on how they lose. If the defense shots the bed and we lose 31-27 then it shows progress on offense. I have full faith in Saleh to figure out the defense. A low scoring loss and it's ugly heading into Philly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NashvilleNinja Posted September 7 Report Share Posted September 7 19 minutes ago, IsntLifeFunny said: Depends on how they lose. If the defense shots the bed and we lose 31-27 then it shows progress on offense. I have full faith in Saleh to figure out the defense. A low scoring loss and it's ugly heading into Philly. As long as it's not a sleep by number. Those needn't be harmed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AussieTitanFan08 Posted September 7 Author Report Share Posted September 7 27. Tennessee Titans Chances to make the playoffs: 9.6% Chances to win division: 4.6% Projected wins: 6.3 Strength of schedule: 12th easiest 2025 record: 3-14 Biggest strength: The front seven. Jeffery Simmons, the most impactful player on the team, leads the front and now has a legit running mate in John Franklin-Myers. Defensive end Jermaine Johnson II reunites with new head coach Robert Saleh, a few years removed from a career-high 7.5 sacks when they were last together with the Jets. Cedric Gray is a budding star at linebacker. First-round pick Keldric Faulk and second-round pick Anthony Hill Jr. will be contributors as well. -- Turron Davenport Biggest concern: The secondary. High-ticket free agent additions -- Alontae Taylor and Cor'Dale Flott -- have begun to rebound from rocky performances early in camp, and though Marcus Harris is a solid nickel, depth behind him is limited. A pectoral injury also landed veteran free agent Joshua Williams on injured reserve. Tennessee will have to figure it out, as quarterbacks who started preseason games against the Titans completed 89% of their passes. -- Davenport QB stat to know: Cam Ward struggled in his rookie season but showed signs of promise toward the end of the season. In his final five games, Ward led the Titans to two wins, while recording eight passing TDs, one rushing TD and just one interception. -- ESPN Research Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 9-8 Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 4-13 This season is a success if ... they can at least double their win total from last season. This would be a steppingstone to turn around a franchise that's trying to be a contender by the time it opens its new stadium in 2027. -- Davenport One key fantasy nugget: Don't sleep on slot receiver Wan'Dale Robinson. He has the foot speed to make himself available to the quarterback, and he can press the seams. Robinson averaged a career-best 13.6 fantasy points per game last season, producing two games of 28 or more points. -- Bowen Bold prediction for 2026: Taylor will allow at least 1.4 yards per coverage snap -- solidly worse than average for a starting corner. That would be a tough number considering the contract (a three-year, $60 million deal) the Titans gave him in free agency. -- Walder https://www.espn.com.au/nfl/story/_/id/49825684/nfl-team-previews-2026-predictions-fantasy-nuggets-rankings-depth-charts#ten Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinx81 Posted September 7 Report Share Posted September 7 They’re all must win games until a first round bye is achieved, but since that’s not going to happen I just want them to look competent. begooode 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgo Posted September 7 Report Share Posted September 7 I’d say out of all 17 games, this is the one we must win the most! If Saleh gets beat by T Sweat and Brownlee et al, it’s a bad look. Bongo59 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starkiller Posted September 7 Report Share Posted September 7 If the Titans can contain Garrett Wilson they should win Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamalisms Posted September 7 Report Share Posted September 7 20 minutes ago, Starkiller said: If the Titans can contain Garrett Wilson they should win Loss incoming Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NashvilleNinja Posted September 7 Report Share Posted September 7 1 hour ago, Starkiller said: If the Titans can contain Garrett Wilson they should win I'd be more worried about Breece Hall and Omar Cooper. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
XAEA12 Posted September 7 Report Share Posted September 7 Why is this a must win? What exactly is on the line if they lose? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
begooode Posted September 7 Report Share Posted September 7 I think people are confusing must win with must look competent, and hopefully competitive. It’s week 1, ffs oldschool, CreepingDeath, Mythos27, and 1 other 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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