Cam Ward’s Arrival Won’t Patch Titans’ Cracks
The Tennessee Titans found themselves at the bottom of the NFL in passing offense following the conclusion of all Week 1 games, with 62 yards passing. Cam Ward finished his NFL debut with 112 yards on 12-28 passing, a 7.4 QBR, and was sacked six times for a loss of 50 yards against a stingy Denver Broncos defense.
However, the rookie quarterback showed flashes of why he was taken first in the 2025 NFL Draft, specifically his completion to running back Tony Pollard on the game's opening drive. On his first career pass attempt on 3rd & 10, he escaped pressure and avoided a sack when he noticed Pollard at his check down point at the last second for a 29-yard gain.
Unfortunately, that was his longest completion of the game as Ward was failed by those around him. He had some rookie blunders too, like taking unnecessary sacks in scoring situations, but his opening game will be remembered by the lack of plays made by the wide receiver group.
Titans pass catchers need to maximize their opportunities
Pollard led the Titans in receiving on Sunday via that third-down play on the opening drive. The usually reliable Calvin Ridley had a forgettable day with 27 yards on four receptions, including three dropped passes. The Titans' rookies showed glimpses of potential, but Elic Ayomanor was robbed of an additional 20 yards after Brian Callahan failed to challenge an incomplete catch that appeared to be completed by Ayomanor.
Also, rookie tight end Gunnar Helm slightly bobbled his first target while stepping out of bounds on Tennessee's opening possession, which would've given him an additional 17 yards. The Titans have ranked in the bottom half of the NFL in passing yards each of the last four seasons, and are already trending to be in the same position again this season.
There is a lot of blame to go around following their Week 1 performance, which has plenty of fans salty about the outcome. The pass-catching room has to be at the top of the list after having a day full of missed opportunities to secure a winnable game for a franchise trying to reverse its losing ways of the last three seasons.
Their schedule doesn't get easier with the Los Angeles Rams coming to Nashville this Sunday after limiting the Houston Texans to 151 yards passing, including two sacks and an interception. If the Titans want to become a winning franchise again, they must figure out their passing game issues.
Cowboys $240 Million QB Dak Prescott Receives Shocking Week 1 Grade
The first week of the NFL regular season was an absolute movie for Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott — one that began with “Spitgate” and ended with a thrilling, 24-20 loss to the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
In between all of that, Prescott played his position just about as well as anyone in the NFL.
That’s why Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski made Prescott one of just 6 quarterbacks to receive an “A” grade or higher in Week 1 — and the only one who earned the grade despite a loss.
The Cowboys very well could have come out with the win if not for a trio of uncharacteristic drops from NFL All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb in the second half.
Prescott, who missed 9 games in 2024 with a hamstring injury, finished 21-of-34 passing for 188 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions but was also brilliant in the pocket against one of the NFL’s top defense and didn’t take a single sack.
“All of the hullabaloo aside … quarterback Dak Prescott played as well as anyone could have expected in the Dallas Cowboys’ season opener,” Sobleski wrote on September 9. “However, his teammates didn’t help as much as they should have. CeeDee Lamb is one of the league’s best wide receivers. But three official drops, not including a fourth where he could have made a diving grab, all but sealed Dallas’ defeat at the hands of the rival Eagles … Prescott just needs to keep playing the same way he did in Week 1 and good things should start to happen for the Cowboys.”
Preseason Overshadowed By Parsons Soap Opera
Prescott and every other player on the Cowboys roster faded into the background during the preseason thanks to the epic soap opera drama between former edge rusher Micah Parsons and owner Jerry Jones.
There may have been an unseen benefit for Prescott. Were the Parsons drama not to have played out like it did, there’s a world in which the entire preseason’s top storyline would have been how Prescott, the NFL’s highest paid player at $60 million per year, has continued to fail to bring his team to the next level.
By the time Parsons was traded to the Green Bay Packers on August 28, the regular season was all but upon us and all Prescott had left to do was play.
Not Considered NFL Top 10 Quarterback
If you want to know the esteem in which Prescott was held in the eyes of NFL executives, coaches and scouts headed into 2025, just take one look at ESPN’s annual preseason position rankings.
Prescott, who was NFL Most Valuable Player runner-up and an NFL All-Pro in 2023, wasn’t just completely left out of the Top 10. He was also left off one of the 2 honorable mention slots and relegated to the “others receiving votes” category.
Within his own division, Prescott is no longer even looked at as elite. Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2024 — the same award Prescott won in 2016.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts capped his year by being named Super Bowl MVP after a 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.
