When the Tennessee Titans hired Robert Saleh as their new head coach back in February, not only were they giving him his second opportunity to lead a team, but it meant his debut would come against his former New York Jets team. Saleh’s tenure with the Jets was forgettable, but no one can deny he produced elite defensive results.
Several players from those defenses he had in New York are now in Tennessee, like Jermaine Johnson II and John Franklin-Myers, who are paired with Jeffery Simmons on the defensive line.
One of the biggest differences that Saleh has from his time in New York and now in Tennessee is that the offense should be in a much better spot. Brian Daboll is a fantastic offensive coordinator, and he has a young quarterback in Cam Ward who will look to take the next step in his career with a rookie wideout in Carnell Tate.
Everything the Titans did this offseason will now be displayed on the field when they welcome in Saleh's old team to Nissan Stadium, and Titans fans are hoping to start out 1-0. However, we know that for as much optimism that there is, things can also go wrong.
Robert Saleh cannot afford to let worst-case scenario happen vs. Jets
All Titans fans want the Saleh era to start off on a good note with a win. That isn't the case in a Week 1 projection from Lou Scataglia of NFL Spin Zone, who is predicting that the Jets will beat the Titans in a close 20-17 game.
"While the Titans are the better long-term play here in 2026, I would actually be more inclined to pick the Jets, as they probably have the better QB in this one and do have more talent overall, so while this team is in Tennessee, and while the Titans do have a more clear QB situation for the long-term, the Jets end up winning this game and starting out the year on the right foot, which is something this team also has not done in quite some time." said Scataglia.
Claiming the quarterback who led the NFL in interceptions is the better quarterback that made the most of a bad situation with limited help is definitely a bold statement. Let's not forget either, Saleh was never the issue in New York considering what Aaron Glenn's first year with the Jets last season was like.
On paper, this may not seem like the most exciting game to watch, but it really is because of the connections with both organizations. It's quite simple, Saleh got scapegoated by the Jets and now he will get his chance for some revenge against a much worse Jets team.
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