Week 8 Should Give you Confidence in Cam Ward
Sitting at 1-7 and in-line for the 2nd overall pick, the Titans are having a disastrous 2026-27 season.
Despite the Cam Ward Index (CWI) at an all-time-low, I believe there is reason for optimism. He is coming off his first 300 year yard game in the NFL and led the team to a narrow 36-43 overtime loss against the 5-2 Bengals.
Ward is dealing with the 2nd most WR drops at 15 (compared to Burrow's 4) and has not been surrounded by a lot of playmaking thus far. The playcalling has left much to be desired and has felt overly conservative at times.
While Ward has had intermittent accuracy issues and a few costly errors, his struggles have spanned beyond his own play.
On Sunday, the team produced 440 yards of total offense, their highest total in 22 months, dating back to their December 2024 loss against the Colts.
Ward threw the ball 40 times and engineered multiple impressive drives without his top target, Carnell Tate. It finally felt that the playcalling allowed him to play freely.
He evaded pressure, made accurate throws down-field, and showed improved decision making and execution in the red zone. He also rushed for an impressive and athletic 2 point conversion. In Week 8, he showed many glimpses that we have not seen yet this season.
With an array of expectations heading into this season, the majority of NFL fans are out on Ward. I feel that what we just watched in Cincinnati was his decidedly best performance as a Titan and one in which he had great poise, pocket awareness, and accuracy.
The offense featured Gunnar Helm and Chimere Dike in the passing game, two playmakers who have seen limited volume so far this season. With Tate out, this is exactly how a good offense would pivot. Not to say Brian Daboll has turned everything around in one week, but Sunday's scheme suited the situation well.
An undeniable contributor, Tony Pollard has been incredible on the ground. After scoring 1 rushing touchdown in the first 6 weeks, he has now put up his 2 best performances as a Titan, scoring 5 touchdowns and totaling 246 rushing yards in the last two weeks.
A key factor, According to Pro Football Focus, Ward produced 3 turnover-worthy plays in Week 3's loss to the Giants. In contrast, he has produced three in the 4 games since. The truth is, the offense is getting tangibly better.
With improved playcalling, confident decision making, and a stout rushing attack, the Titans may not sit abottom the league's total offense category for long.
If not for a head-scratching playcall from the team's own 3 yard line which led to a safety, the Titans could have won that game. Still, they drove the ball down the field and converted the two point conversion. This is now the team's 5th loss by 6 or fewer points.
I expect the season to be split into two parts. Not that the team will win their way to the top of the AFC South, but Cam Ward and the post-Bengals Titans will be notably improved.
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