The Tennessee Titans lost their sixth consecutive game with Sunday’s 30-24 defeat to Seattle,falling to 1-10 on the season.
Yet, the sad song that has been Tennessee's 2025 campaign finally found a positive beat in Week 12.
Yes, the Titans got down big before staging a comeback that fell short, but the franchise's most important player took a noticeable step forward. Cam Ward authored his best overall game as a pro on Sunday, flashing a big arm, avoiding big mistakes and making several jaw-dropping plays to keep drives alive.
"It's taking that next step, and that's what he's done," interim coach Mike McCoy said Monday, via The Associated Press. "We've been saying it from day one, the way he competes, the way he works every day. When we first came in in the offseason program, the early mornings, staying late, things like that, it's starting to pay off."
Ward finished 28-of-42 passing for 256 yards with a touchdown and zero interceptions for a 91.0 passer rating. He generated a +4.4 EPA, his first positive EPA performance of the season, per Next Gen Stats.
Behind a still-struggling offensive line, Ward did take four sacks (for an NFL-high 45 on the season), but he also was able to navigate a muddy pocket often and make plays despite getting pressured on 42.0% of his passes. Ward generated a +11.0 completion percentage over expected when pressured, per NGS.
The best news: Ward put up his third consecutive game without an interception and avoided fumbles that have plagued his rookie season.
Mind you, Ward put up a season-best performance against a Mike Macdonald defense that has made far more seasoned quarterbacks look foolish. Just the week prior, the Seahawks held MVP favorite Matthew Stafford to 130 yards and a 53.6 percent completion rate.
The station-to-station situations from the rookie still need work, but the splash plays are there. On Sunday, Ward made an electric off-balance, on-the-move heave across the field to practice-squad rookie Xavier Restrepo to keep a drive alive. He splashed in a no-look dart and scrambled when needed, rushing six times for 37 yards and his first career rushing touchdown.
Tennessee entered the game averaging an NFL-low 12.3 points per game on offense. They scored 17 against a Seahawks defense ranked sixth in points allowed. It's not blow-the-doors-open, plan-a-parade-down-Broadway level, but it's a notable step for Ward and the offense.
The quarterback's development is the key to the rest of the season in Tennessee. The rest of it is just noise. If Ward continues to take incremental steps as we head into 2026, it will be a boon for the future.
In addition to the No. 1 pick's positive development, the Titans are getting more production from their rookies. Fourth-round tight end Gunnar Helm led Tennessee with six catches for 51 yards on Sunday. Fourth-round wideout Chimere Dike -- who should be on pace to make the Pro Bowl as a punt returner -- took a punt 90 yards for a score and added five catches for 44 yards and a second TD. On defense, third-round safety Kevin Winston Jr. had a team-high 10 tackles.
"That gives a lot of hope," Ward said of the production of the rookie class.
Ward desperately needs more help in the offseason -- from blocking aid to playmaking at receiver -- but if the quarterback continues to improve, the biggest question in Tennessee is answered.
