Titans Fall Flat in Saleh's Debut, Lose 23-10 to Jets

NASHVILLE, TN - The Tennessee Titans opened the 2026 season with a familiar and frustrating result, falling 23-10 to the New York Jets on Sunday at Nissan Stadium in Robert Saleh’s regular-season debut as head coach.

The Jets controlled the game from the start, scoring on their opening drive and never trailing. Breece Hall rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown, while Geno Smith completed 19 of 24 passes for 215 yards. New York dominated time of possession nearly 39 minutes to 21 and outgained Tennessee 367-195. The Titans managed just 55 yards in the first half and did not score a touchdown until a late garbage-time drive.

Second-year quarterback Cam Ward, the 2025 No. 1 overall pick, completed 19 of 32 passes for 140 yards and one touchdown but was under constant pressure, taking three sacks. The Titans’ running game produced only 68 yards, and the defense struggled to stop the Jets’ ground attack.

Ward expressed clear disappointment afterward. “Those are some big plays that we could have had, but we still got a lot of things to clean up for sure,” he said. “I’m very disappointed. We’re better than what we showed offensively. We trained a lot this offseason. We had some hard days. It didn’t pay off for us today, but it’s going to pay off for us eventually, whether it’s next week or the week after, but we’re going to get it rolling, and it’s exciting.”

Saleh was blunt in his assessment. “It was not good in any facet and in any phase of the football game,” the coach said after reviewing the tape. “It has to be better.” He added that the team has “a long way to go” after significant offseason roster and staff changes.

Left guard Peter Skoronski noted the collective failure: “When you have a product like that, when you have a bad performance like that, it is hard to blame anybody.” Fans booed early and often on a steamy afternoon.

To improve, the Titans must address several clear issues. Protection for Ward needs urgent attention—the offensive line allowed consistent pressure that forced him into inaccurate throws and early exits from the pocket. Establishing a more consistent running game would help create balance and ease the burden on the young quarterback. Saleh and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll should prioritize scheme simplicity and repetitive fundamentals to give Ward the stability he has lacked after cycling through multiple coordinators.

Defensively, the unit must do a better job setting the edge and limiting yards after contact against the run, an area where the Jets repeatedly succeeded. Special teams and discipline also require tighter execution.

With the Philadelphia Eagles visiting next Sunday, Tennessee has little time to correct course. One game does not define a season, but the Titans showed they still have significant work ahead under their new regime.