EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll has probably enjoyed better homecomings.
Because the only thing grayer than the windy, wet weather that greeted the former New York Giants coach on Sept. 27 at MetLife Stadium was his Titans offense.
Tennessee quarterback Cam Ward mounted a too-little, too-late touchdown drive, but threw an interception in the end zone with 14 seconds left in the fourth quarter as the Giants held on for a 12-7 victory over Titans in Week 3 of the NFL season.
The Titans (0-3) fell to 6-31 in their last 37 games. Tennessee coach Robert Saleh missed a prime opportunity to get his first win with the team, as the Giants (2-1) were missing starting quarterback Jaxson Dart (knee) and a slew of
others due to injuries.
For New York, it was largely a field-goal fest in tough conditions, but Giants backup QB Jameis Winston managed drives well and Tennessee's offense took too long to wake up.
Ward woke the offense up when he led a 13-play, 91-yard scoring drive that ended with his touchdown pass to Wan'Dale Robinson with 5:35 remaining in the fourth quarter, bringing the Titans within 12-7.
The Titans got the ball back with 3:10 and marched the other way, only to fall in gutting fashion.
Ward finished 23-of-36 passing for 181 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
The Titans were 0-of-6 on third downs at halftime before improving to 5-of-13 for the game
Titans fall in matchup between both teams' former head coaches
The game wasn't just Daboll's reunion with the team that fired him midway through last season.
The Titans had a chance to see how recent staff changes held up against its previous coaches. Brian Callahan, the coach the Titans fired midway through last season, is Giants passing game coordinator. The Titans also faced their former defensive coordinator, Dennard Wilson, now the Giants defensive coordinator.
The result wasn't good.
Tennessee’s 54 yards at halftime were the lowest of any team in the league so far in 2026.
The Titans narrowly avoided becoming the first team since the 2018 Buffalo Bills to not gain a first down in the first half. They had one, thanks to Ward’s 16-yard pass to former Giants receiver Wan’Dale Robinson.
Titans spoil chance to seize momentum in third quarter
The Giants added their fourth field goal to make it 12-0 midway through the third quarter. On paper, it was a manageable deficit.
But the Titans had no answers at the time.
A promising 12-play, 68-yard drive that could have shifted momentum in the third quarter ultimately hit a wall. Ward seemed to be in a rhythm with rookie receiver Carnell Tate, with the pair hooking up for two first downs. But on third-and-5 from the Giants 7-yard line, Ward missed Tate wide-open in the end zone.
Ward’s fourth-down pass sailed through the back of the end zone and another opportunity slipped away.
Titans’ bad opening lingers into halftime
Minus a few defensive stands, it was a brutal Titans start.
Tennessee gave away the opening kickoff. Returner Chimere Dike couldn’t hold onto the ball when the Giants’ Zaire Barnes punched at the ball on Dike’s way down to the turf.
Moments later, Amani Hooker had his hands on a would-be interception but couldn't hold on. Winston capitalized with a 30-yard completion to running back Cam Skattebo on third-and-7 and a Giants field goal made it 3-0.
It was a hodge-podge of tough developments for the Titans.
Right guard Fernando Carmona Jr. — who played through a shoulder injury scare last week — left the game with an ankle injury. And on the Titans’ final drive of the first quarter, they wound up punting after Ward failed to see a motioning Dike wide-open on the far side of the field. Tyler Palmateer covers the Tennessee Titans for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Titans' offense stalls in loss to New York Giants in Week 3
