Tennessee Titans have two obvious problems they have to fix in 2026 and it all starts in Week 1 vs. the New York Jets
2026 is all about simply the Tennessee Titans showing credible signs of improvement and fixing these two issues from 2025 would go a long way in proving the franchise is on the right path under Robert Saleh.
NASHVILLE — A few numbers tell a damning story from the Tennessee Titans 2025 regular season. As the Tennessee Titans prepare to host the New York Jets in Week 1, two areas stand out that this year’s Tennessee team must improve on.
Doing so will mean a step in the right direction for team identity and for second-year quarterback Cam Ward’s development.
The Titans were the sixth-worst team in rushing offense success rate last season
37.7% was Tennessee’s 2025 rushing success rate, according to FTN Fantasy.
Only the Patriots, Saints, Texans, Browns, and Raiders were worse. The Titans were wildly inefficient as a rushing offense. When they couldn’t run the ball, which was often, they would give up on it entirely.
In terms of EPA per attempt on the ground, the Chargers, Patriots, Cardinals, Jets, Texans, Saints, and Raiders were all worse than the Titans. But Tennessee was not much better (-0.101).
It was a terrible season for the rushing game.
Running back Tony Pollard still surpassed all expectations by reaching his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season behind an offensive line that felt like it would betray him on a regular basis.
The penalties have to come down
Discipline is also a necessary area of improvement.
Per NFLPenalties.com, Titans right tackle JC Latham tied with New England Patriots cornerback Carlton Davis for the most individual penalties called against any player in football last season.
With 13 total (Latham technically had 14, but one was offsetting), Latham was a liability.
Davis’s 13 flags amounted to 187 yards. Latham’s cost Tennessee 87 fewer yards, but the damage was real: six false starts, five offensive holds, one illegal block above the waist, one illegal formation, and one ineligible downfield pass.
Seven of those penalties came before the snap.
That killed the Titans in third-and-manageable situations, forced the offense behind the chains, and compounded the problems of a passing game already struggling to find its footing around Ward. Latham has talked this offseason about the mental discipline he’s worked on.
It’s easier said than done, but that doesn’t change the fact the Titans have to fix these issues in 2026.
