Tennessee Titans fans hoped it would be different. After an offseason littered with turnover, the organization planned to place the utter stink of 2024-25 behind them. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.
The Titans were embarrassed 23-10 by the New York Jets. They were thoroughly outplayed by a team that matched their 3-14 record in 2025. A new coaching staff, multiple first-round rookies, and more than $300 million committed via free agency didn't immediately change the course of the 2026 Titans.
The "new" Titans looked like the old Titans. It was a truly dreadful performance. Until further notice, Tennessee appears destined to endure a repeat of the forgettable 2024-25 seasons.
2026 Tennessee Titans look just like the 2024-2025 Tennessee Titans
The Brian Daboll-coached offense didn't look better than the Brian Callahan or Mike McCoy iterations. The Saleh-coached defense definitely didn't look better than Dennard Wilson's. And the Titans sure didn't play like a team that made personnel-related upgrades.
The Jets outgained the Titans 367-195. Making it worse, 65 of the Titans' 195 yards came in garbage time when the Jets' defense finally let up, allowing Tennessee to score their lone touchdown. Otherwise, the last home opener at current Nissan Stadium surely would have concluded without a single touchdown scored.
The secondary that allowed backup quarterbacks to complete passes in the preseason continued to look clueless. Jets quarterback Geno Smith finished 19-of-24 in what looked like a no-contact scrimmage for him. Smith was not sacked and was often afforded enough time to order coffee in the pocket.
Coach Saleh was afforded freedom to remake Tennessee's defensive line this offseason. They traded for two of his ex players in Jermaine Johnson II and Solomon Thomas, signed three more in John Franklin-Myers, Jordan Elliott, and Jacob Martin in free agency, and drafted his prototype in Keldric Faulk.
The run defense was as invisible as the pass rush. The Jets accumulated 152 rushing yards, including an unfathomable 19-play drive in the second quarter that took up nearly 12 minutes of clock. Breece Hall rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown, and his backup Braelon Allen added another 40 yards via 10 carries.The Jets could line up under center every play, give the Titans defense the play call and still gain 5-7 yards.
Even the special teams unit they could hang their hat on last season disappointed. Kicker Joey Slye placed the opening kickoff out of bounds, giving the Jets offense a short field. Later, All-Pro returner Chimere Dike lost a fumble on a kickoff that led to three Jets points. There wasn't a single redeeming quality to be found.
The Titans have a new logo, color scheme, and branding. They debuted three new jerseys this offseason and are building a new state-of-the-art stadium next door. Everything off-field looks different than it did a year ago. Unfortunately, nothing about the on-field product followed suit in Week 1.
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