Tennessee Titans CAN WIN GAMES in Final Stretch of 2025 & Cam Ward’s 2nd Half Expectations

Tennessee Titans CAN WIN GAMES in Final Stretch of 2025 & Cam Ward’s 2nd Half Expectations

I know the Tennessee Titans need the best draft pick possible, but I think they win a couple of games down the stretch, and I’m not going to be mad about it. I’ll explain why on today’s edition of Locked on Titans. You are Locked On Titans, your daily Tennessee Titans podcast, part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. Welcome to the Locked on Titans podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, the number one sports podcast network. I am your host, Tyler Roland. Titans fans. Today’s edition of the Locked on Titans podcast is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now, new customers can bet just $5, and if your bet wins, you’ll get $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. On today’s show, I’m going to get you guys ready for the second half of the season. We’re going to go through the Tennessee Titans schedule. I’m going to tell you about all the opportunities I think the Titans have to win games. The games I do think that the Tennessee Titans are going to win and why I don’t think that it’s a bad thing that the Titans win some games down the stretch. Also, I’m going to give you my expectations for Cam Ward and the rest of the offense and talk about what I want to see from the defense with the second half of the season ready to go. Before we dive into all of it, do want to thank you for making Locked on Titans your first listen each and every day. Remember, Monday through Friday, Tennessee Titans content all year round, always for free. Make sure you get subscribed, stay subscribed. It’s your team every day here on the Locked on Titans podcast. Speaking of everyday, shout out to my everydayers out there tuning in Monday through Friday. Couldn’t do it without you guys. If you aren’t an everydayer, you need to be one. But with that being said, again, the Tennessee Titans have eight games remaining here. They sit at 1 and8. And quite honestly, not trying to give myself credit because I wish that I were wrong, but if you go back and you look at my preseason predictions and going game by game through the schedule, I thought the Titans would be 1 and8 going into their buy. This is exactly where I thought the Tennessee Titans would be. Now, if you also go back to that, I said I thought that the Tennessee Titans would end the season strong, that they would be a competitive football team down the stretch of the year. They would find a way to win some football games. They would play better football and get us excited for 2026. I don’t know that that’s going to happen now. I don’t think this team has that in them. I don’t think they’re capable of that. They’re not capable of getting four wins to get the five wins on the season in their final eight games. I just don’t see that as possible. But here’s what I will tell you. I think the Tennessee Titans win a couple of games. I think at least five of their remaining eight games, they have at least a shot to win them. I’ll explain why, but I just want to say this. I know that the Tennessee Titans need the best draft pick possible. I know getting the number one pick in the draft could result in a trade down for the Titans with multiple first round picks. It could set the Titans up. I get all that and I want to see that happen. I want that to happen. I want the Titans to get the number one pick. I want them to get a trade down that sets up the franchise’s rebuild for years to come. I’m on board for all of that. However, if the Titans win some games, that means that Cam Ward played well. That means that the young players on this team that are going to get more opportunities that we’re going to talk about throughout the episode, that means that they played well. And I think that while it’s very, very important for the Titans to get draft capital opportunity this year. That is absolutely important. I think what’s actually more important is the development of Cam Ward. I think that’s what’s most important at this point. Now, last year we and the year before that to me were different circumstances. Different situations. 2022 as well. Different circumstances. Different situations. The Titans weren’t trying to build up at that point in time as well. And we knew halfway through the season that Will Levves was not the quarterback of the future, was not going to be the starting quarterback next year. So, it’s not about Will Le’s development. we already knew the answer by pretty much this time last year, right around this time last year where Levis really started falling off in that Bengals game and that Commanders game. But nonetheless, I think that with the amount of young players on this team who are actually building blocks for the future that will be contributing out there that we’re going to discuss like Cam Ward, like the young receivers, like the young guys on defense, I think if the Titans win one, two games, play a little bit better football down the backstretch of the season, a little bit more competitive in their games, I think that is a good thing going forward. And here’s the crux of it. I personally don’t think that the Titans winning a game or two will actually prevent them from getting the number one overall pick. They’re already a game ahead of everybody. So, if the Saints win a game, if the Browns beat the Titans, for example, the Titans play the Saints as well. Like, I just think that there are going to be opportunities for other teams to win games. And I think the Titans win two games in their final eight. And that doesn’t prevent them from getting the number one overall pick. They went three and 14 last year and got the number one overall pick. Odds are that three wins is going to get you the number one pick. And some of these teams that are also in the running for the number one pick like the Browns, like the Jets, like the Saints potentially depending on how Tyler Shuck plays at the end of the season. even, you know, team down there like the Miami Dolphins, the Los Well, not the Rams, but they have the Falcons pick, you know what I mean? And the Falcons have three wins right now. So many of these teams need quarterbacks that if the Titans get the second pick or the third pick or whatever, third pick is a little more risky, I admit. But the odds are still high that they can get a trade down for a quarterback even if they get the second pick. So, I think that while I want the Titans to have the number one draft pick, Cam Ward, like what if Cam Ward comes out and throws 300 yards, four touchdowns, has a breakout performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars in a couple of weeks. Like, you can’t sit here and tell me that that’s a bad thing for the Titans future. We have to weigh the draft picks, but we also against that have to weigh the growth of the young players. And in previous seasons, I didn’t think that the growth of the young players was as vital as it is this year, which is why my thoughts on tanking and they have to lose and blah blah. It’s just a little bit different. And quite honestly, the Titans don’t have to tank at this point. They’re just a terrible football team and will probably lose anyway. But they play the Texans at home this week. And I don’t think the Titans are going to win the game. But the Texans will probably have Davis Mills out there. Maybe that’ll give the Titans a chance. All right. And the Titans are coming off a buy. They’ve played Houston before. Houston just got done playing in some physical games. Maybe the Titans can pull it off. They have at least a chance to win this week. All right. They have no chance to beat Seattle the week after that. Even at home, I don’t care. Seattle was a juggernaut. They are going to dominate the Titans. No chance there. But then they play another home game, their third home game in a row against Jacksonville. I know that Jacksonville is better than the Titans. Absolutely. Jacksonville is better, but you’re telling me the Titans can’t beat the Jags. I don’t care how good or bad a Titans or Jags team is. When those two teams play, anybody can win. The Titans can absolutely win that game. So, out of the next three games, all three at home, I think two of them, the Titans have a chance to win. Then they’re on the road against the Cleveland Browns. That’s going to be a tough matchup because Miles Garrett might just have 10 sacks by himself in that game. But the Titans could beat the Browns whether they have Dylan Gabriel or Shadur Sanders in that don’t matter to me. The Titans could win that game conceivably. Then they’re on the road at the 49ers. They’re not winning that. They’re home for the Kansas City Chiefs. They’re not winning that. But again, what if the Titans were competitive in the Chiefs game? I think that would be exciting. I think that would be optimistic going forward. Then the Titans have the Saints at home. Now, depending on what the records are going into that game, I understand people are screaming, but Cam Ward could win that game. The Titans could beat the Saints at home. I don’t think that that’s insane. And then they play the Jags on the road in week 18. And again, I told you anytime the Titans and Jags play, any team can win because those two teams are just constantly down in the mud with each other. They’re ugly cousins. All right, so I think the Titans have five winnable games. I think they’ll win two of those games. And again, I’m not going to be mad about it cuz I think this year more than any of the previous years, the growth and confidence of the rookies is very important to what the Titans do going forward in the future. Let me know how many games you think the Titans win. Let me know if you totally disagree with me on wanting to win a couple of games down the stretch. But with that being said, let’s zoom in a little bit and talk about what my expectations are for Cam Ward and the offense in the second half of the season. do want to let you guys know that today’s episode is brought to you by Better Help. As the days get shorter and the nights come earlier, it can start to feel a little heavier, especially when life is already packed with work, family, and everything else. This season, it’s so important to reach out and check in with friends, family, and even yourself. 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That’s betterhelph.com/lockedon because taking the step towards support might just leave you wondering why didn’t I do this sooner Titans fans. Let’s continue today’s edition of the Locked on Titans podcast, taking a look at where I think the Titans go from here with the rest of their schedule. And now I want to dive into some expectations for the offense, for the defense, individual players as well. Before we do, thanks again for making Locked on Titans your first listen. And thank you again for making the Locked On Network the number one sports podcast network. But obviously, I just want to take a broad look at the offense. And if you checked out the Titans squad show that I do with Julian and and Titans legend Brad Hopkins, if you guys aren’t checking that out, you absolutely should. It’s in your feeds. It’s on YouTube. You watch it all the same, just like you do this. I talked about some things I need to see from the offense. And number one, number one for me is more first down passing. And when I say that, I don’t mean that the Titans need to be super exotic, and I don’t mean that the Titans need to line up and five wide, and the Titans need to being shotgun non-stop. No, I actually think the opposite. I think what the Tennessee Titans need to do is they need to go to a heavy approach with multiple tight ends. Cam Ward under center, but they need to play action pass more on first down. Right out of the gate, they need to play action more on first down. They must out of heavy personnel. I would go way more under center. And look, it’s not just play action on first down for passing. Let’s do some quick timing passing, but from under center, not from shotgun. Let’s do it out of heavy personnel like 12 personnel, 13 personnel, 21 personnel, 22 personnel. Let’s do it with two tight ends, two running backs, three tight ends. Let’s do it in those scenarios. Get more base defenses on the field, more linebackers on the field. that Chica Conqueror Helm can take advantage of for easy sitdown opportunities. The Titans need to be more heavy in their personnel, in their formations, but they need to throw on early downs more. They are not throwing on early downs enough. And they are running too much on second and 10. You can’t be so predictable. They have to be better on third downs. That is actually the key going forward. The Titans have had so many third and long situations that it makes it nearly impossible to convert when you have the issues that the Titans have. And that’s why they have a 28% third down conversion rate, which is the worst in the NFL. It’s because all their third downs are longer. But I would say start sooner. We look at the third down percentage and we say, “Oh, the Titans are terrible on third down.” But the reality is the Titans are terrible on first and second down before they’re terrible on third down. And that’s why third downs are so hard. It’s not the end, it’s the beginning. I need more production on early downs. And the Titans have to buck some of their statistical trends like their run rate on first down, their run rate on second and long, the use of shotgun 13 or 11 personnel with three wide receivers out there. The Titans have to buck some of these trends. And if you look deeper at NFL trends, teams that are under center, teams that shotgun rate is low, teams that first down run rate is low because they pass on early downs and they’re not in shotgun a ton. Those are the teams most consistently that are having success in the NFL on offense right now. Six of the seven top seven offenses are not in the top 12 and shotgun rate and early down run rate. which tells you that the good offenses in the NFL, the top offenses in the NFL are not doing a ton of shotgun and they’re not running the ball a ton on first down. There you have it. The Titans are one of the bad teams in that conversation. The Titans are one of the teams that are dumb, that don’t get it, that are doing too much shotgun, that are running too often in obvious run situations, especially when the Titans don’t have the personnel. And I talked about again, I talked about this on the squad show, but every single week when you watch the tape, it looks like the Titans are being outsmarted. The defense makes adjustments, makes alignment changes, make shifts and motions on defense that are clearly showing that they know what’s coming from the Titans and it makes it easy to stop their run game. And when you can’t run the ball, you get third and longs. It’s that simple. So, the Titans need to take some of the dumb trends that they are a part of and flip them and do what the smart teams are doing. Now, for Cam Ward specifically, ball control. We can’t have And it’s not just the turnovers. It’s not just not fumbling in the pocket and not just dropping the ball on the ground for me with Cam Ward. It’s also about getting off your passes. Not There have been three or four, maybe five passes where Cam Ward has thrown it and he’s just bobbled the ball in his hand while he’s throwing it and the pass comes out wonky and it’s five, 10 yards short of the receiver. It’s happened multiple times. I want to see Cam Ward hold the football better. Control the ball better. I literally mean that in the sense of control the ball better in your hands. Literally, that is the number one thing for me because that is a thing right there. The ball control issues. That’s something that will sink Cam Ward’s career. We can get over taking sacks. We can get better at being more consistent in your reads. We can do all that. for Cam Ward. But the ball control issue, if he has stupid turnovers and just can’t handle the football, that will kill his career. That will kill his career. So, I need that to be better and more consistent the rest of the way. I want to say this too. Can I have a big game? Like I mentioned in the previous, can we get a 300 yard three touchdown? Cam Ward was cooking out there. where the Titans scored 20 plus points on offense. Even if they lose, like imagine if the Titans lost to the Chiefs 31 to2, but Cam Ward looked better than Pat Mahomes in the game. Can we just get one of those? We haven’t had one yet. It’s been half a season and we haven’t had a Cam Ward breakout game where we can be like that game is what it should look like. We’ve had moments, we’ve had flashes, we’ve had drives, we’ve had individual throws, but we have yet to have the Cam Ward game. And I need it, man. This isn’t me as talking about the foot. This is me as a Titans fan. Be honest. We need it. We haven’t had it and we need it. So, I want that. Now, let me say this. A lot of people say Cam needs to run more. I tried to tell you guys before he was drafted. I continue to say it. I hear it all the time. Cam needs to run more. Cam is not a runner. You don’t look at CJ Strad and say he needs to run more. You don’t look at Joe Burrow and say he needs to run more. You don’t look at, you know, Baker Mayfield and say he needs to run more. Like that’s just not He if you think Cam Ward is a runner, he’s slow. He’s not going to outrun defenders. It’s not that big of an advantage for him to actually run the ball. And like I’ve had people say they need to do design runs for him. You guys, that’s not who Cam Ward is as a player. What are we talking about here? So that’s my expectations for Cam Ward going forward. That’s what I’m looking for. Let me know what you’re looking for. I do want to also mention this. Obviously, the rookie wide receivers, the rookie weapons, Helm, DK, IO, want to see them continue to progress. That’s key. But I really want to see Lloyd Cushenberry and JC Laam on the offensive line play better. That’s what I want to see. They need to play better or I’m gonna be worried about the offensive line as we get into the offseason. I know people are like, I’m already worried about the offensive line. I think the offensive line can gel and play better down the back half. But that means that Kush and Laam must play better than they did in the first half of the season. And at running back, Call Mullings, the rookie running back out of Michigan, seventh round pick, has been on IR all all year. He was activated to practice this week and I think he’s going to return. We need to see whether Kal Mullings can actually be a factor for the Titans at running back for next year’s team because like I told you before the season, like I told you during the season, like I’m telling you now, Tony Pard will not be on this team next year. So, do they have something Kell Mullings? Can he actually take short yardage carries? Can he actually be that guy with Taj Spears? Or are they going to need, you know, to focus more heavily on running back than I’m certain they’re hoping to? I want to see Kell Mullings and Taj Spears work together in the back field and see what they’re capable of. But with that being said, we move to the defensive side of the ball. Let me know what you’re looking for on offense in the second half of the season down below or hit me up on Twitter, Tic Tac Titans. Today’s episode is brought to you by Supply House. When the opening whistle blows on a new repair, get your crew moving with Supply House. Order today and see parts on your doorstep tomorrow with over 280,000 plumbing, HVAC, and electrical items from the most trusted brands in the business. Their real-time inventory and honest lead times keep you from punting projects while their industryleading customer service always has your blind side covered. Need parts fast for a project? Supply House has next day delivery. Talk about a game changer. The Partfinder tool and 3D schematics can save you hours on the job where every detail matters. Join the free Trademaster program today and score some serious perks like priority shipping, lower prices, and a dedicated support line. Visit supplyhouse.com to sign up for free and use the promo code NFL 5 for 5% off your first order. That’s supply.com. Real people, real service. Today’s episode is also brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook. The NBA is back and there’s no better place to get in on the action than FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Even if you miss the start of the game, you want to ride the hot hand, FanDuel has live bets on everything from who’s going to score next to fourth quarter comebacks. Plus, you could even combine your live bets into a same game parlay for a shot at a bigger payout. It keeps every game even more exciting, especially when your team is making that late push. Right now, FanDuel is giving new customers $300 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins. Once again, FanDuel is giving new customers $300 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins. So, head to fanduel.com to sign up and play your game with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Titans fans, let’s continue and cap off today’s edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. Getting you ready to go for the second half of the season. We went through the Titans schedule, talked about their wins, why I’m okay with some wins, talked about my expectations, and what I’m looking for on the offensive side of the ball. Now, we got to move to the defensive side of the ball. But I do want to thank you for making Locked on Titans your first listen. And thank you for making the Locked On Network the number one sports podcast network. We can’t thank you enough quite honestly. But with that being said, on defense, I want to see Tandre Sweat and Big Jeff finally back together. We got it last year at times, but Sweat was a rookie. Jeff missed a couple of games. Now we get into the second season. Devandre Sweat misses a bunch of time in the offseason, misses a bunch of time in training camp, then gets back, then immediately gets hurt. Jeffrey Simmons is tearing it up without him, and then as soon as Sweat is about ready to come back, Jeffrey Simmons immediately gets hurt. Unbelievable. Since Sweat was drafted, we have talked about the potential of these two wrecking balls in the middle of the defense. And we wanted to see them grow together. We wanted to see them play together. And with Devandre Sweat having an okay season and Jeffrey Simmons having a great season, is it too much to ask to want to see those guys on the field together? And Jeffrey Simmons had an Instagram post. Crazy world that we’re living in, but it’s news. Where he said he’s ready to get back out on the field. He posted a picture of him, blah blah blah, ready to get back out on the field. Haven’t played in three weeks. He sounded like the post sounded like Big Jeff was going to come back this week, was going to return and play this week. I need it like blood. And I need to see what Jeff and Sweat will look like together. And not only that, but I want to see what Cedric Gray looks like behind both those guys. Cedric Gray is third, fourth in the NFL in tackles right now. He’s got like 90. I I want to see Cedric Gray continue to blossom in the second half of the season, continue to attack downhill with ferocity. I want to see Cedric Gray, but I want to see him behind those two mountains. That’s when he’s going to be at his best. That’s when it’s going to be easiest for him to fly around and make plays and be all over the field is when he doesn’t have to have blocks on top of him because the double teams can’t get off because they’re too busy dealing with Jeff and Sweat. That is the combination that I want to see. So, I want to see Cedric Gray, but I want to see him behind Devandre Sweat and Jeffrey Simmons and see what that duo can finally do when they’re both healthy and they’re both playing well. That’s what I’m looking forward to on the defensive side of the ball and quite honestly staying in the front seven. I want to get Femi back on the field. Like I want to get Feiola Dejo back on the field. And I know that you know if it’s a it’s a broken leg so everybody is like oh you know going on IR he probably won’t be back. All right. And he went on IR before the game against the Patriots. So quick math, four weeks, week 11, he is eligible to come back and like at this point with what the Titans have on the edge or what I should say what the Titans don’t have on the edge, Draymond Jones is gone. Is Ardent Key going to be back healthy? Who knows? You have Jad Ward, but they’ve been playing Jaylen Harold. I want to see Fei back on the field to get those snaps because I know a lot of you guys have already given up on Feiola Dejo, but I haven’t and he needs to develop and he needs reps and he needs opportunities and if you recall and if you recall Fam Dejo had his best game of the season when he got hurt like he was playing well. the game needed to slow down for him so he could use his gifts and use his athleticism and use his strength. And it felt like it had finally started to slow down just a little bit. So I really, really, really, really, really need Feio to get back out on the field. No doubt about it. That’s one thing that I’m looking for. Um and my expectation is that he does come back and play some snaps. Finally, in the back end, it’s going to be Kevin Winston time, folks. He’s gotten opportunities here in recent weeks. Now that Quandre Diggs has gone defensive back at slot quarterback, I need to see more from him as well. So, those two guys in the defensive back field, those are going to be two dudes that we need to know what the expectations for them should be next year. So, we set that baseline now. That’s what I’m looking for. And then, of course, let’s keep seeing Chim DK return. Like I think I think DK is going to return another kick this year. I think he’s got another return in to solidify himself as the all pro returner in the NFL as a rookie. Bones Fossil, Titan special teams coordinator even said I didn’t think he was this good based on what I saw on the tape from Florida, but he is he has blossomed. So let’s see some more Chim DK. But that’s going to do it for me today, folks. Crossover Thursday tomorrow with my guy John Hickman from Locked on Texans. Make sure that you guys tune in for that. I am your host Tyler Rowan and this Heat. Heat. N.

The Tennessee Titans exit the bye week needing desperately to turn things around in the second half of the season and they should have multiple opportunities to do that with five out of eight at home and some beatable opponents on the ticket. However, you could question whether winning would be what is best for the Titans considering the draft position, but the Titans young players need to feel some wins and play better football. A lot of that will be on Cam Ward and Ward must play better football in the second half. He doesn’t have much help, but it would be nice to see Ward have one breakout performance at some point. Finally, on the defensive side of the ball, we may finally get a long stretch of Jeffery Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat on the field together and determining the future of that pairing will be critical to the offseason.

Tennessee Titans CAN WIN GAMES in Final Stretch of 2025 & Cam Ward’s 2nd Half Expectations
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