The Tennessee Titans (1-6) fell short again, losing a winnable game to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday as frustration continues to build.
This week, they return to the road to face another AFC North opponent, the Cincinnati Bengals, at Paycor Stadium. The Bengals will be hot off a dominating 35-13 win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 7 and will look to keep their winning streak alive.
After failing to stack wins with another disappointing loss, the Titans will look to get back on track against Joe Burrow and the Bengals.
Week 8 is just four days away, so let's take a look at the Titans' pulse around the NFL.
This one is on the defense
While the Titans offense wasn’t great against the Browns, they made enough plays to win; however, the defense that dominated the Indianapolis Colts the week before failed to show up against the Browns.
The pass rush that harassed Daniel Jones was nonexistent: Jeffery Simmons managed only four pressures, and Femi Oladejo recorded two pressures and the Titans' only sack. To make matters worse, they couldn’t slow the run either, and the Browns controlled the tempo and the game.
I like Robert Saleh a lot
— Sal From Jerrrssseeeyyy (@salmanfredi) October 25, 2026
His defense failed him today
We know it, he knows it
Idk if he will see the day this team turns it around
But I would like him to #Titans
The #Titans defense fell apart in the fourth quarter. There's really no better way to say it.
— Titans Roundtable (@TitansRTB) October 25, 2026
Robert Saleh's thoughts on how the defense played in the final 15 minutes down below ⬇️
More:https://t.co/i6EXIxMGHYpic.twitter.com/VTJTOMsMt9
If you blaming this loss on Cam, you clearly didnt watch the game. The defense lost us this game plain and simple.
— Section240 (@Section_240) October 25, 2026
I mean the Brown set multiple season highs against the defense.
The #Titans Defense against the Browns: pic.twitter.com/ZwxDXDulbo
— Titans of Rohan (@TitansofRohan) October 26, 2026
Is Cam Ward taking too much heat?
Once again, Ward didn’t set the world on fire against the Browns, but his numbers and performance were better than many would give him credit for. Yes, he missed a wide-open Daniel Bellinger for what would have been a touchdown, but he turned the page and hit Elic Ayomanor on a critical fourth-down play. Even on his lone interception, he threw the ball before the break, and Ayomanor ran a poor route.
Sure, the numbers aren't staggering, but he enters Week 8 as the 20th-ranked quarterback, ahead of Matthew Stafford, Aaron Rodgers, and Justin Herbert. And while the stats aren’t there, Tennessee is second behind the Green Bay Packers with the league's second-most drops.
Cam hasn’t been great, but it hasn’t all been on him.
That’s the thing that bugs me. People will see all the drops, the failed goal line drive, the defense give up 500 yards, the refs blow the false start call, and be like “yea but it’s actually all Cam’s fault” https://t.co/e98aqnVsWM
— the last of the titans fans (@dimmustastyfeet) October 25, 2026
Here is an organized breakdown of every #Titans offensive drive in week 6, along with a percentage of credit/blame for how each of them ended.
— RosterGrids Titans (@RosterGrids_TEN) October 20, 2026
-
Of the 9 total offensive drives, Cam Ward holds direct, sole responsibility for TWO of them ending prematurely. One was an INT where… pic.twitter.com/emD8VzQSqZ
Here is an organized breakdown of every #Titans offensive drive in week 6, along with a percentage of credit/blame for how each of them ended.
— RosterGrids Titans (@RosterGrids_TEN) October 20, 2026
-
Of the 9 total offensive drives, Cam Ward holds direct, sole responsibility for TWO of them ending prematurely. One was an INT where… pic.twitter.com/emD8VzQSqZ
Late night thoughts:
— Sal From Jerrrssseeeyyy (@salmanfredi) October 26, 2026
Regardless of if Cam Ward is gunna be here long term or not
And he may very well be a bad NFL QB
But he has been much worse with Daboll than he was with Callahan and Hardigree
To me that is unfathomable
And more importantly, unacceptable #Titans
Alontae Taylor moving to slot
After being a surprise inactive against the Indianapolis Colts, it was confirmed that Taylor would take reps at slot cornerback and play a hybrid inside-out corner role. He was active against the Browns, but didn’t take any snaps as he works his way into the new role.
This whole situation with Alontae Taylor is just silly to me. You mean to tell me they can't find him a few snaps on Defense?
— Titans Rossi! (@TitansRossi) October 26, 2026
How much money are you paying him and you didn't know?
This is ridiculous and so Titans... https://t.co/4OyZiPeXFM
Alontae Taylor situation is so stupid. Brought in a guy that was best in the slot and moved him outside and then after 5 games realized what we already knew which was that he was best in the slot and now a highly paid CB is standing on the sideline.
— Two Tone Talk (@twotone_podcast) October 26, 2026
Just dumb Titans stuff.
#Titans CB Alontae Taylor was active Sunday vs. the Browns after being a healthy inactive last week—but did not play a snap.
— Dan Schneeder (@NFLNewsBeat) October 26, 2026
The plan to use him at outside CB has not worked thus far, and moving him back to nickel is not so simple in Tennessee's defensive scheme. pic.twitter.com/rnxpifYaXf
Can Brian Daboll stop calling screens?
Running back Michael Carter stepped into the third-down back role for the injured Tyjae Spears, but it didn’t matter; production from that role stayed flat. Daboll called multiple screen passes (five, maybe six) for a whopping seven yards.
The Titans have struggled all season to get the screen game going, and it keeps flailing, derailing drives that initially show promise. Beyond the conservative, predictable play calling, the screen game kills drives.
Why Tf Are We Throwing WR Screen Plays In The Redzone 😒😒😓 DaBoll Is A Terrible Play Caller @titans
— Untold Riches💸🛩️🚶🏾♂️ (@A1Quiss) October 25, 2026
The Titans screen game has been cheeks since whenever the last time Derrick Henry successfully did a screen as a Titan. And even then screens were bad more often than not. https://t.co/erKToP69d9
— Weston Demonbreun (@OnDemonbreunSt) October 25, 2026
Our Titans and screen passes go together like peaches and pine tar.
— London Titan (@LondonTitan) October 26, 2026
#Titans screen game is BEYOND pathetic. PATHETIC!!!
— MJ (@TheMJTake) October 25, 2026
Can the NFL do something with the officiating?
The more fans dig into this game, the more questionable calls come to light, and while the officials didn’t cost the Titans the game, they left their fingerprints on the outcome with either missed or questionable calls throughout. Unfortunately, this isn't an isolated issue; the Titans vs. Browns was just another in a string of games where officials' questionable decisions affected outcomes every week across the league.
How was this not at least reviewed https://t.co/18IWdYUsdopic.twitter.com/OxrZYpw1QB
— the metten burger (@themettenburger) October 25, 2026
Controversial officiating in the #Titans-Browns game has fans questioning the NFL's consistency on missed calls. https://t.co/ENLfp8gZ8S
— Mark A. Mihalko (@scarletcircus) October 26, 2026
The refs called #Titans Tony Pollard short, this would’ve been his third touchdown of the day.
— BenJarmin Munguia (@JustJarmin) October 25, 2026
Was this the correct call? pic.twitter.com/UKN7WSh8Jw
A BS call accelerated the #Titans loss. #NFL#Nashville. pic.twitter.com/D7W0SSsoXo
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) October 26, 2026
The NFL has an officiating issue, and the sooner the Commissioner realizes it and speaks up, the better. The longer these questionable calls go unaddressed, the more it will look like the league is trying to influence game outcomes.
THE #NFL REFS AND COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL IN MICKEY MOUSE’S CLUBHOUSE.
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) October 27, 2026
💀💀💀
TEARS. pic.twitter.com/32WZweL8uj
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans pulse: What are analysts and fans talking about in Week 8?