NASHVILLE – The Titans lost to the Rams by a score of 33-19 on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.
Here's a look at six things that stood out from the contest:
Cam's Second Act
We're just two games into quarterback Cam Ward's rookie season, and it's already evident he's a special talent who is capable of inspiring those around him. Ward made an incredible throw on Sunday for a touchdown, when he gave receiver Elic Ayomanor a quick signal while on the move, and then hurled the ball across the field so Ayomanor could run under it in the end zone for a score. It was a highlight-reel play, and it gave fans a reason to get, and be, excited. Ward made several nice throws in the game, including some darts to Calvin Ridley. But Ward also showed he's still a work in progress, as he lost a fumble for the second game in a row, and he missed some open receivers. The stat line showed Ward at 19 of 33 for 175 yards on the day, with a rating of 82.3. Against a lesser team – or on a day when the defense got more stops – it might've been a winning performance. But on this day, it wasn't good enough.
Oh My, Elic
When Ayomanor was listed as a starter on the team's depth chart to start the season, at least some were surprised. But the rookie receiver is proving he earned it with his play, one game at a time. Ayomanor made two great catches on Sunday, including the nine-yard touchdown pass when he improvised with his quarterback. How'd you like his Zombieland celebration? Just before that, Ayomanor needed just one hand to pin the football against his shoulder pads on a clutch, 23-yard sideline grab for a first down. Ayomanor had four catches for 56 yards in the contest. He's proving the game isn't too big for him, even as a rookie himself.
Too Many Penalties
Penalties continue to be a problem for this team. One week after racking up 13 penalties for 131 yards in Denver, the Titans committed 10 more penalties on Sunday against the Rams, for 62 yards. One of them – an illegal blindside block on linebacker Cedric Gray – wiped a punt return touchdown return from Chimere Dike off the board. The Titans committed penalties in every phase of the game – offense, defense and special teams. During the first two games of the season, the Titans now have 21 penalties for 142 yards. This team isn't good enough to overcome self-inflicted mistakes.
Special Teams
I feel like I should mention the Dike return – and more – again in here. Dike has brought some intrigue to the return game. If not for the penalty, he would've had the first punt return for a touchdown since Darius Reynaud did it back in 2012. Again, it didn't count. But Dike has shown he has it in him. Under special teams coordinator John Fassel, the Titans are clearly better on special teams, where Dike is a threat, kicker Joey Slye (4 of 4 on Sunday, 8 of 8 on the season) has been great, and punter Johnny Hekker has been solid himself (50.0-yard average Sunday, with a 47.2-yard net). The Titans even blocked an extra point on Sunday. Dike needs to field the ball cleaner, though, after mishandling two against the Rams, and the Titans need to clean up the penalties on special teams.
Defensive Letdown
After watching the Titans stand firm in Denver, I expected more from the defense on Sunday. I understand the team was playing against a Hall of Fame quarterback in Matthew Stafford, and yes, the defense deserves props for holding the Rams to field goals after they were in a pair of first and goal situations. Hey, I also know the defense is probably playing with a mindset like it needs to be perfect, because the Titans just aren't good enough on offense to bail them out much yet. Still, the Rams managed four touchdowns and 439 yards of offense on a day when the Titans sacked Stafford just once. Linebacker Cody Barton had a nice interception, but on this day, the Titans didn't make enough plays – and allowed too many.
Need a Bounce Back Win
Let's face it: Most folks expected the Titans to be 0-2 at this point. The Titans were 9½ underdogs in Denver, and 5½ dogs on Sunday against the Rams. The team let a winnable game slip away in Week One, and saw a better Rams team put some distance between them in the second half on Sunday. Fans want to see improvement – and more signs of life – from the Titans in 2025, and next Sunday's game against the Colts a big opportunity to prove it. Both of these franchises are trying to claw themselves back into contention. Listening to players in the locker room after the game, it's an important one in the first quarter of this season, and they know it.
The Tennessee Titans take on the Los Angeles in Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Camden Hall/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Camden Hall/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Camden Hall/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams compete at Nissan Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
