The Tennessee Titans rolled into Week 1 with a new coach, new roster, new logo, and new uniforms, hyping a total rebrand. But all that ‘fresh start’ energy evaporated in a brutal 23-10 beatdown from the New York Jets, exposing familiar problems across every phase of the game. It was so bad, a fan on TV was actually caught screaming to “Bring back Whisenhunt”, as in Ken Whisenhunt, the guy who went 8-19 and is statistically the worst head coach in franchise history from 2014-15.
The ‘Fresh Start’ Flop
Sure, Week 1 can be a liar, but this 23-10 disaster to a New York team that has not registered a winning season in a decade? That’s an alarm bell. This wasn’t merely a bad game. This was the Titans’ last season opener in their current stadium, paying tribute to the Oilers of old, and they got steamrolled. The Jets, on the other hand, earned their first wire-to-wire victory and their largest win since 2024. That tells you everything you need to know about who showed up ready to play. It definitely felt like the Titans didn’t stand a chance.
Defensive Breakdown
This new-look defensive front was supposed to be the calling card for the Titans. They have Jeffery Simmons, the best defensive tackle in football, plus a defensive mind like Robert Saleh, who loaded up with Jermaine Johnson II, Solomon Thomas, John Franklin-Myers, Jordan Elliott, and first-round pick Keldric Faulk. So, how did they get pushed around by the Jets offensive line? Big time. There was a drive in the second quarter where the Jets rushed 14 times, gaining 74 yards on 19 plays, and ate up 11:48 of game time for a field goal. Breece Hall and Braelon Allen combined for 142 rushing yards and a touchdown, and Geno Smith wasn’t sacked once. Smith himself said, “I don’t think I got touched at all out there and that’s always a great sign.” Meanwhile, the secondary wasn’t much better, with Alontae Taylor not matching up against Garrett Wilson and Amani Hooker looking lost on multiple occasions. Rookie linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. looks like a stud, but what else?
Despite all the talk of a new era, this 23-10 loss exposed the same old issues in a shocking Week 1 meltdown. For a franchise touting a complete rebrand and a new head coach trying to shake past demons, this beatdown was a bitter pill. You want reasons to be optimistic after a Week 1 loss? Good luck finding them in Nashville, aside from that one rookie linebacker. This was a single game, but the Titans have to figure out how to stop the bleeding, and fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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