NASHVILLE – The Titans face the Ravens on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
Here's a look at six things to watch in the contest:
Cam Bounce Back?
It's been a tough week for Cam Ward, who has been roundly criticized for his last-second interception against the Giants. Now, the Titans quarterback is ready to play another game, and change the subject. Ward had a season low 74.0 passer rating against the Giants, and he's the only NFL QB to start all three games with fewer than 200 pass yards in 2026. Against the Ravens, he's going to have to be better. Through 20 games, Ward has provided some good moments, and some concerning ones. Ward's 17 career passing touchdowns (in 20 starts) are five fewer than any of the other 21 QBs to make at least 15 starts over the past two seasons. Yet in Ward's first 20 games, he has just eight interceptions on 628 passing attempts, making him one of four QBs in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) to have at least 600 attempts and eight or fewer interceptions through 20 games, joining Dak Prescott, CJ Stroud and Caleb Williams. The Titans need Ward to build on the positives against a Ravens defense that's ranked 14th in the NFL.
Facing King Henry
Now this is going to be different. I've written so much about Derrick Henry in this space over the years, and had the pleasure of watching him on so many Sundays as a member of the Titans. Henry, of course, ran for 9,502 yards and 90 touchdowns during his playing days in Tennessee, with 38 100-yard games. The Titans haven't been the same since he left. On Sunday, the Titans will now be faced with the task of slowing him down, while trying to avoid getting posterized with his heavy stiff-arm. When Henry faced his old Titans coach, Mike Vrabel, in Week 16 of 2025 he ran for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Can the Titans slow him down, and keep him from having a field day at their expense? Well, you can be sure guys like Jeffery Simmons will be doing everything he can to keep that from happening.
Containing Lamar
The Titans defense can't just focus on Henry, however, because the Ravens offense has a dynamic quarterback in Lamar Jackson, who leads the NFL's 4th-best scoring offense (30.7 ppg) in 2026. The Ravens average 398.7 yards per game, and Jackson had a season-high 136.7 passer rating in a Week 3 win against the Cowboys. The Titans need to tackle well, and the defense needs to contain Jackson, who has a dangerous target to throw to downfield in Zay Flowers. Linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. has been a tackling machine for the Titans, but it's going to take everybody in this one. Simmons has 15 QB pressures in three games, along with two sacks. He's going to need some company at the quarterback. A nugget: So far this season, the Titans are holding opponents to 8.4 fewer points per game than it did last season (28.1 to 19.7). It is the second-largest improvement in the NFL this season.
Titans O-Line
The Titans have allowed just five sacks through three games, after allowing 15 in the first three games a year ago. This week, Titans coach Robert Saleh said right tackle JC Latham has been playing at a Pro Bowl level. But the Titans lost their starting right guard (Fernando Carmona) last week in New York, and back-up Jackson Slater suffered an injury that resulted in him being placed on Injured Reserve as well. Saleh hasn't named the starter moving forward at right guard. We'll see if that happens later today. Atonio Mafi is listed first on the depth chart, but Garrett Dellinger was promoted to the active roster, Pat Coogan has experience at the position, and Drew Moss is available to be promoted from the practice squad as well. No matter who the Titans go with at right guard, the group needs to jell quickly will the newcomer.
Targeting Tate?
By now, probably everyone has seen the film of rookie receiver Carnell Tate running open through the Giants secondary last Sunday, wide open on many plays. Tate caught six passes for 58 yards in that game, but there's a growing feeling among Titans fans – and those that cover the team – that Tate is capable of doing a lot more if given the chance. Through three games, Tate has a team-high 20 targets, with 13 catches, 173 yards and no touchdowns. With three catches this week, Tate would become the first player in Titans history to have three or more receptions in each of their first four career games. So, will the Titans get their prized rookie more involved moving forward? Well, it could make a difference in the success of the offense, but it's going to take more, too. Who will step up vs the Ravens?
Importance of Week 4
OK, this is getting bleak way too early in the season. The Titans have lost five straight games dating back to last season, which is tied for the longest active streak. The team is looking to avoid starting 0-4 for the second consecutive season. Since 1990, teams that started 1-3 made the playoffs 14.3% of the time, won the division 7.7% of the time, and won the Super Bowl 0.4% of the time. The stats look even worse for teams starting 0-4 – those teams made the playoffs just 0.9% of the time, won the division 0.9% of the time and won the Super Bowl, well, 0.0% of the time. The Ravens, by the way, are 11.5-point favorites over the Titans, who are looking for the first win in the Robert Saleh era. Sunday's forecast for Baltimore calls for more rain, by the way.
