Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh challenged his young quarterback to be better Sunday after making a critical mistake late against the New York Giants.
The Titans were right on the doorstep of a game-winning touchdown with under 30 seconds left inside MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Cam Ward and the Tennessee offense were eight yards out of the end zone with a fresh set of downs trailing 12-7.
Facing 1st-and-goal, Ward was flushed out of the pocket and got picked off by safety Jevon Holland, who made a leaping interception in the end zone.
CAM WARD PICKED OFF IN THE ENDZONE 😳
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 27, 2026
GIANTS WIN
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/2dEmOq5fRY
Saleh was asked if Ward would have been better off trying to beat Giants linebacker Arvell Reese with his legs. The veteran coach implored his young QB to make better decisions based on the situation.
“Just be smarter with the football,” Saleh said. “We’ve got two timeouts left. It’s 1st-and-goal at the 8. We’re going to score. You don’t need to force it in that situation, and unfortunately, it happened.”
Despite his blunt assessment, Saleh stood by Ward as the Titans’ starting QB going forward.
Ward went 23/36 for 181 yards, a touchdown, and the interception that cost the Titans their first win of the season. Tennessee fell to 0-3 as a result.
Saleh has not been afraid to be critical of Ward in their first year together. After the Titans’ Week 1 loss to the New York Jets, Saleh stated that Ward was “at the floor of what it takes to be an NFL quarterback.”
Ward responded with his words back then, but has yet to prove his coach wrong with his play on the field.
