Gameweek has arrived! The Tennessee Titans will host the New York Jets in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season this Sunday. The Robert Saleh era will officially begin at Nissan Stadium versus his old team.
The Titans are attempting to field a more competitive squad after enduring consecutive 3-14 campaigns. Coach Saleh and his coordinators will have some clear priorities for their debut. Navigating the unknown surrounding Week 1 is always difficult.
Saleh will put together an effective gameplan for the Jets in Week 1. The Titans' must-do's are crystal clear. Saleh and the Titans should enter Sunday's debut contest with the following priorities.
The Tennessee Titans must have 3 priorities versus the New York Jets in Week 1
Offense: Establish the run
Offensive coordinator and play-caller Brian Daboll will install his gameplan for the Jets showdown. It should include a heavy dose of running backs Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears. We've consistently heard that Pollard and Spears will play big roles on offense.
Offenses are typically rusty in Week 1. The most impactful approach to navigate the challenges is to field an effective rushing attack. Pollard and Spears could take a significant amount of pressure off Daboll and Cam Ward.
Defense: Rattle Geno Smith's cage
Coach Saleh was given freedom to revamp the Titans' defensive line totally in his vision. He acquired a plethora of players who know his scheme, including John Franklin-Myers and Solomon Thomas. Pairing them with Jeffery Simmons, there has to be a payoff to Saleh's plan.
Jets starting quarterback Geno Smith is a hot-and-cold gunslinger. An aggressive thrower, Smith has led the NFL in interceptions across the previous two combined seasons. If the Titans rattle his cage, they could force him into a turnover or two.
Offense: Protect QB Cam Ward
Ward is undeniably excited to make his debut in Daboll's offense. The Titans have claimed they ran a vanilla offense in the preseason, holding their actual cards close to their chest. That needs to be obvious in Week 1, as the first-strong unit was pretty ineffective throughout their two exhibition appearances.
Ward was sacked on a league-high 55 occasions last season. The Titans made changes to the offensive line by signing Austin Schlottmann and making fifth-round rookie Fernando Carmona a starter after his impressive preseason. They weren't exactly high-priced investments, so the Titans will need to rely on better technique and toughness to upgrade Ward's protection unit this season.
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