NASHVILLE – Titans coach Robert Saleh conducted a zoom conference call with reporters on Monday, one day after the team's 24-18 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
The Titans will return to action this Sunday vs the Houston Texans.
Here's a look at some of the hot topics from today's call:
-Saleh said he thought quarterback Cam Ward played the best game he's played this season. Ward completed 20-of-31 passes for 222 yards with one touchdown and one interception, while also rushing four times for 27 yards. "When you look at it as a whole," Saleh said of Ward, "he made a lot of plays with his feet, a lot of plays off schedule. Did a good job hanging in the pocket, threw a couple of big, big strikes down the field. … I thought did a lot of really nice things." Saleh made it clear Ward still has room for improvement, but said on two separate occasions "he's going to be a damn good quarterback."
-Jeffery Simmons was held to just one pressure on Sunday, his lowest total since Week 7 in 2025. Saleh said the Ravens focused on stopping Simmons, and others didn't do enough to help. "Baltimore did a really nice job – they said (Jeff) was not going to beat them," Saleh said. "The slides all went his way … and they were getting four hands on Jeff every snap they could, which means there were one-on-one opportunities for other guys, and that's where we have to be better. If they are going to deliberately take Jeff out of the football game, the other three have to win on those one-on-one situations, and we did not win."
-In the first half, the Titans ran the ball four times after getting a first-and-goal at the eight-yard line, including a direct snap to running back Tony Pollard on fourth-and-two. Saleh said the decision to run it – and not let Ward throw it – had nothing to do with a lack of trust in Ward. "We have the utmost confidence in Cam, we really do," Saleh said. "If you really watch the game as a whole, you'll see that there was a lot of faith put in Cam. … Lack of trust is the last thing that went into our red zone game plan."
-Linebacker Cedric Gray played just 30 of the game's 64 snaps, compared to all 64 for Anthony Hill and 53 for linebacker Cody Barton. When asked about Gray's workload, Saleh complimented all three backers while pointing out packages that are bringing the snap counts down for both Barton and Gray. He indicated the play counts trend would continue.
-The Titans were once again penalized multiple times on special teams on Sunday, and Saleh said "it's a big concern" because it's killing the team from a field position battle. "Penalties on special teams are backbreakers," Saleh said. "They are field position swinging penalties, and they're killing us."
-When asked if the Titans know how to win, Saleh said: "You have to learn how to stop losing first." Saleh said the team is doing things each week to hurt the cause, whether it's turnovers, penalties, or missed assignments. "But I do think we are getting better," Saleh said. "You have to learn how to not lose a football game before you can start winning."
-The Titans started Atonio Mafi at right guard, and Saleh said he thought he did a nice job. Saleh said the sack that was allowed was a miscommunication between Mafi and left guard JC Latham, "so that's not totally on him. Overall, I thought he did a really nice job, and he has come along."
-With the Titans trailing 24-10 in the third quarter, the Titans went three-and-out on three straight possessions in the third and fourth quarter. The Titans scored late in the game to make it close, and the wasted possessions during the middle portion of the game came back to haunt the team. Saleh credited Baltimore's defense while saying overall he thought the offense played well, had one of its better games. "But when you get inside the five-yard line," Saleh said, "you have to score."
-Saleh provided no new injury updates, only saying "we should be healthy and ready to roll for Houston."
