Robert Saleh's first game as Titans head coach could hardly have gone worse, and the story lines up cruelly: his old team, the New York Jets, spoiled the party in Nashville with a 23-10 win. Anyone using Tennessee sports betting who banked on a feel-good debut got nothing of the sort. Tennessee opened as 1.5-point favorites at home, but the Titans never sniffed covering, let alone winning outright. The under (39.5) was the lone bright spot for bettors, as this offensive dud stayed well beneath the total from start to finish.
Revenge Game Never Takes Off
Saleh's first game as Titans head coach could hardly have gone worse, and the story lines up cruelly: his old team, the New York Jets, spoiled the party in Nashville with a 23-10 win. New York jumped ahead 7-0 within the first five minutes and never trailed. The Titans clawed within one score at halftime, down just 10-3, but the Jets seized control in the third quarter, tacking on 10 more points while Tennessee's offense continued to sputter.
Ward Struggles to Start Year 2
Cam Ward's first taste of Week 1 quarterbacking was rough. He finished 19 of 32 for only 140 yards and a single touchdown, adding four carries for 21 yards on the ground while absorbing three sacks behind an offensive line that struggled to hold up. The Titans managed just 11 first downs and 195 total yards, converting a mere 4 of 12 third downs. Tony Pollard was given limited touches, rushing seven times for 35 yards and catching one pass that lost a yard. Tyjae Spears fared no better, picking up just 12 yards on three carries. Rookie first-round pick Carnell Tate had a modest debut with four catches for 38 yards, while Wan'Dale Robinson paced the Titans with five receptions for 38 yards. Punter Tommy Townsend was a busy man all afternoon, booting seven punts as the offense repeatedly failed to sustain drives.
Jets' Offense Looks Modest
Geno Smith, meanwhile, looked sharp in his return to Nashville, completing 19 of 24 passes for 215 yards and directing the Jets with poise. Breece Hall gashed Tennessee's run defense all game, piling up 102 yards on 22 carries (4.6 yards per attempt) and finding the end zone once, exposing just how much work remains for the Titans up front. The secondary fared no better, letting Garrett Wilson go off for six catches on seven targets and 79 yards.
In the end, Tennessee looked eerily similar to the team that stumbled to a 3-14 record a season ago, and Saleh's homecoming against his former franchise ended in disappointment.
Week 2 Presents a New Challenge
People using Tennessee sports betting apps for next week won't find much relief either. The schedule gets tougher fast, as the Titans host the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2 and open as 5.5-point underdogs at home. Saleh will still be chasing his first win as Titans coach, and it will take a far better showing from Ward and this offense to make it happen. Another performance like the one against the Jets, marked by stalled drives, a shaky offensive line, and limited production from the run game, won't be nearly enough against a team of Philadelphia's caliber.
