The Tennessee Titans were defeated 24-18 by the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4. Cam Ward's late-game heroics weren't enough. The Titans fall to 0-4 and appear to be legitimate contenders for the No. 1 overall selection in the 2027 NFL Draft.
The Titans generated some explosive offensive plays throughout the first half, and again late in the fourth quarter. They also repeatedly hamstrung themselves. It was then a tale of two halves, as the offense's first-half productivity largely disappeared throughout the second half.
We compiled eight instant reactions to the Titans' defeat to the Ravens.
Instant takeaways to Titans' disappointing Week 4 loss to Ravens
Titans finally call a passing play to begin a game... and then disaster strikes.
Entering Week 4, the Titans had started every opening possession with a run. Tony Pollard's three carries gained a combined five yards. On Sunday, Brian Daboll finally called a passing play to begin a drive. It was a play-action pass to Chimere Dike for a 15-yard gain. Unfortunately, Pollard let an off-script Ward throw slip through his grasp on the next down, resulting in a Ravens interception.
Former Titans RB Derrick Henry quickly exacts his revenge
Following the interception, it didn't take Ravens running back Derrick Henry to score a touchdown versus his former team. Henry scored on 4th-and-1 from the Titans' 5-yard line, carrying a defender into the end zone. The Titans received the opening kickoff, but it was 7-0 Ravens before the 12 minute mark.
Offense in the first half... in this economy?!?
The Titans responded well to the opening-drive interception on their second possession. It was an 11-play, 65 yard scoring drive that concluded with a Pollard touchdown run on 3rd-and-goal. After picking up one first down the entire first half versus the Giants in Week 3, the Titans' first two possessions versus the Ravens yielded six first downs and a TD. Unfortunately, they could not sustain that momentum.
Special teams... still struggling
Dike returned the opening kickoff for 40 yards. Despite starting with a positive, a struggling special teams unit made several first-half mistakes. Dike had good yardage both with a kickoff and punt return wiped out for holding penalties. Those two possessions ended with a punt and turnover on downs.
Brian Daboll.. did WHAT?!?
Speaking of that turnover on downs, let's revisit the chain of events. Against the Giants in Week 3, Coach Daboll called an ill-advised wildcat run with Pollard near the goal line that went nowhere. It was unfathomable to think the Titans would call it again, but Daboll did. Facing a critical 4th-and-goal from the Ravens' 1-yard line midway through the second quarter, the Titans ran wildcat with Ward aligned out wide and Pollard was stuffed. The Ravens took over possession leading 14-7, and swiftly drove 99 yards to extend their lead to 21-7. Head-scratching.
Carnell Tate's costly fumble
The Titans' third critical error of the opening half (Ward-Pollard INT, 4th-down wildcat) occurred as they had an opportunity to make a game of this. Down 21-7 with under one minute remaining in the second quarter, Ward hit Carnell Tate for a huge 35-yard gain into Ravens territory. Star Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton forced a fumble recovered by his teammate. Tyler Loop converted the opportunity into a 64-yard field goal. Had the Titans scored and narrowed the advantage to 21-14, we'd have had an intriguing second half.
Lamar Jackson's exit didn't matter
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson began the third quarter on the sidelines, questionable to return with an ankle injury. He was replaced by Tyler "Snoop" Huntley. Had the Titans cashed in some of their first-half opportunities as opposed to trailing 24-7, perhaps Jackson's absence would have been notable. The Titans couldn't muster any offense in the second half. They outscored the Jackson-less Ravens 11-0.
Carnell Tate's breakout performance
Despite the costly fumble, it was still a career-best performance for Tate. Signs of his breakout were evident last weekend, and it arrived in Week 4. The fourth overall selection finished with nine receptions for 145 yards, and also drew several penalty flags from the secondary. Tate looks like a legitimate WR1.
Add us as a preferred source on Google