Titans have longest active streak of not scoring 30 points

After doing so regularly from 2019-21, the Titans haven’t scored 30 or more points in a game in two full seasons.

In what is a telling stat of just how much the Tennessee Titans have struggled on the offensive side of the ball in recent years, the team currently has the longest active streak of not scoring 30 points in a game.

As Ian Hartitz of Fantasy Life recently pointed out, the Titans have not scored 30 points in 36 straight contests, which is more than two season’s worth of games.

The next closest team is the New England Patriots, who haven’t scored that many points in 28 straight games. The top five is rounded out by the Atlanta Falcons (17), Denver Broncos (13) and, believe it or not, the Kansas City Chiefs (10).

The last time the Titans scored 30 points in a game came all the way back in 2021, when they beat the Miami Dolphins 34-3 in Week 17 of that season.

The Titans’ offense has been a far cry from where it was in 2019 and 2020, when Tennessee sported one of the better offenses in the NFL in that span.

Over the course of those two seasons, the Titans tallied 30 points or more 16 times, including six in 2019 and 10 in 2020. And, during the aforementioned 2021 campaign, the Titans scored 30 points or more five times.

Terrible play-calling and offensive line play and a lack of talent overall have been the biggest factors in Tennessee’s struggles on offense the past two years.

But there is hope for 2024, as the Titans have a promising young signal-caller in Will Levis and a new head coach in Brian Callahan, who is expected to bring a more modern, pass-heavy approach to the offense.

Adding to that, general manager Ran Carthon has done a good job trying to beef up the unit around Levis, although there is still more work to be done, especially at left tackle.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Robert Kraft reveals why Calvin Ridley didn’t want to play for Pats

Patriots owner Robert Kraft said Calvin Ridley’s girlfriend was not a fan of going to the northeast.

Before the Tennessee Titans swooped in and signed him to a four-year, $92 million deal, the Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots seemed to be finalists for wide receiver Calvin Ridley.

However, it appears the Patriots were never really a serious threat to sign him, even after they were ready to match Tennessee’s offer.

According to Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Ridley didn’t want to play for New England because he and his girlfriend preferred to stay in the south.

“It was made clear his girlfriend wanted to be in the south,” Kraft said, per the Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan. “He didn’t want to be in the northeast.”

Kraft also acknowledged that the team’s uncertainty at quarterback may have played a role in Ridley’s lack of desire to go to Foxborough. Talk about a reversal of fortunes for a team that sported Tom Brady for two decades.

The Jaguars, on the other hand, were a real threat to keep Ridley, as the wide receiver said he wanted to go back. However, he admitted the team made him feel “uncomfortable at times” and “it wasn’t working out” before he ultimately landed with the Titans.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Titans GM Ran Carthon was in attendance at LSU Pro Day

Titans GM Ran Carthon was in attendance at the LSU Pro Day on Wednesday.

LSU’s Pro Day is always well-attended. In fact, all 32 NFL teams had representatives on hand Wednesday to take in the crop of draft prospects ahead of next month’s NFL draft.

According to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe, Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon was among the front-office staff from around the NFL present at the Charles McClendon Practice Facility.

The Titans general manager was likely keeping especially close tabs on wide receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr., and defensive tackle Maason Smith. Quarterback Jayden Daniels performed for those in attendance, also, but Tennessee isn’t in the market for a quarterback with Will Levis in tow.

With the seventh overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, Nabers, who met with the Titans ahead of LSU’s Pro Day, is a possibility for Tennessee, especially if Notre Dame left tackle Joe Alt is off the board.

While the offensive line may be a more pressing position of need at No. 7 overall, wide receivers like Nabers do not come along very often.

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 188 pounds, the All-American wideout led the SEC in receptions (89) and receiving yards (1,569) and finished second in receiving touchdowns (14) behind only his LSU teammate, Thomas Jr., in 2023.

Nabers ran a blazing 4.35 40-yard dash and recorded a broad jump of 10-foot-9 and a vertical jump of 42 inches after not taking part in drills at the NFL Combine. He also measured at 6-foot and weighed in at 199 pounds.

Thomas Jr., who did not take part in drills after wowing at the NFL Combine, has seen his draft stock rise significantly over the last few months. According to PFF, he is a projected mid- to late-first-round selection.

The Titans, who are on the clock again at the 38th overall pick in the second round, would likely need to move up to grab Thomas Jr., or he could be an option if Tennessee trades back from No. 7.

After hauling in 31 receptions for 361 yards in 2022, the wide receiver posted big numbers as a junior. Thomas Jr. amassed the fourth-most receptions (68) and receiving yards (1,177) and, as noted before, led the conference with 17 receiving touchdowns.

Despite adding Calvin Ridley to a wide receivers room that already included Treylon Burks and DeAndre Hopkins, the Titans are wise to do their due diligence on the LSU receivers.

After all, Hopkins is under contract for only one more season and Burks has yet to live up to the hype of a No. 18 overall pick.

Without a significant addition, Tennessee may find itself in the same boat it was in entering this offseason when the team had a glaring need. On top of that, the Titans are one injury away from being dangerously thin in 2024.

As for Maason Smith, the defensive lineman primarily lined up in the “B” gap for the Tigers last season and offers flexibility to play both at defensive end and tackle in new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson’s system.

The Houma, Louisiana native’s draft stock is back on the rise after an injury-plagued 2022 campaign saw him play in just eight snaps before tearing his ACL. Smith suited up in 12 games for LSU in 2023, recording 28 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and two pass deflections.

In terms of the fit, Denico Autry’s departure in free agency left a huge hole at the defensive end position and the Titans need another starter, even after the signing of Sebastian Joseph.

Smith would give Tennessee another rotational piece with starting potential. We’ve seen projections that have him going anywhere from Day 2 to early Day 3.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Former Ravens LB Jadeveon Clowney shares his reason for signing with Panthers

Baltimore Ravens OLB Jadeveon Clowney gave his reasoning for signing with the Carolina Panthers

The Baltimore Ravens have a glaring need for a pass rusher, and this need became even more significant after Jadeveon Clowney signed with the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday. Baltimore has only young, unproven talent in its pass-rushing room, which must be addressed.

Many wondered why Clowney would leave a great situation with the Ravens to go to an uncertain one in Carolina. According to Josina Anderson of CBS Sports, Clowney liked his time in Baltimore and spoke with them but wanted to be closer to home.

Odafe Oweh, David Ojabo, Tavius Robinson, and Malik Hamm are next up for the Ravens in their edge room. While it’s not an inspiring group of names, the team could still add Kyle Van Noy back to the equation or draft a rookie who could contribute immediately.

Compensation for Jadeveon Clowney’s 2-year deal with Panthers revealed

The compensation for former Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney was revealed after signing with the Carolina Panthers

The Baltimore Ravens saw another one of their 2024 free agents depart for another team on Wednesday. Pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney headed south and signed with the Carolina Panthers on a two-year deal, ending his time in Baltimore after just one season.

Clowney signed with the Ravens for less than $5M last season but turned a successful 2023 into a massive 2024 payday. His two-year contract with the Panthers is reportedly for $20 million and can go as high as $24 million.

Clowney was a late free agent signing for the Ravens in 2023 and faced many questions about his fit with the team. However, he contributed 9.5 sacks and bought into the Baltimore culture, and he’s a significant loss for a team that’s already endured so many other departures.

John Harbaugh breaks down how RB Derrick Henry could change the Ravens offense

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh discussed how running back Derrick Henry could change the team’s offense

The Baltimore Ravens signed running back Derrick Henry to a two-year deal worth $16 million free agency on the second day of 2024. He will slot in as the team’s No. 1 back and should give opposing defenses plenty of nightmares lining up in the same backfield as quarterback Lamar Jackson.

During Henry’s introductory press conference, Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh talked about how Henry could change the team’s offense. Harbaugh said that it’s essential to try to build the offense around the players that a team has, but Henry’s versatility makes it easy to run out of a bevy of different formations.

“I think you always try to build the offense around the players that you have. What Derrick [Henry] does really exceptionally well is going to be where we’re going to move towards, but we’re versatile. We can go in a lot of different directions. That’s what Lamar [Jackson] makes us, is versatile, and I also think what we’ve been doing along those lines fit this guy [Henry] really well. It’s not just his specific talents, because he can run out of any kind of backfield. He can be in the pistol [formation]. We can be under [center]. We can be in the [shot] gun. He can move around. That’s all things that [make] him a versatile player. More than that, I just think the person [and] the guy that loves football – that fits us really well, too. He’s a tough, physical guy. You play at the high school he played at. You play at the college he played at, [and] where he’s been with [the] Tennessee [Titans] and the kind of leader he’s been. Everybody you talk to talks about him in terms of a guy who just loves football, is about football and wants to compete, wants to do his best, wants to do everything he can to help the team win. That’s what it’s all about here, and I’m most excited probably about that.”

Despite being 30 years old, Henry still has plenty left in the tank to contribute to the Ravens on the field. He should slot in seamlessly to what Baltimore wants to do, as they already excel at running the football at a high level, much like their new addition in Henry.

Bengals talk Paycor Stadium upgrades, impact on lease

The Bengals have some big changes coming to Paycor Stadium.

The Cincinnati Bengals have big upgrades planned for Paycor Stadium.

Those include upgraded seats and concessions stands, upgrades to the locker room as well as the big-ticket item — a new turf playing surface.

Speaking with reporters this week, Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn said some of the renovations (of course) have to do with the desire to get a new lease done with Hamilton County.

Blackburn noted the following, too, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com: “Because the stadium is 25 years old and we want to keep it in the great condition that it has been in, we have been focused on how we keep maintaining it so we can hopefully make it last a little bit longer into the future. We’re very happy with our stadium, but it does require things to be done over time to keep it up to standards, so we’ve been working hard trying to make sure we do that, rather than getting too far behind.”

The current upgrades to Paycor Stadium are part of a $39 million renovation plan approved by Hamilton County. That lease technically expires in June of 2026.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Bengals bracing for international game soon

Bengals brass speak on the possibility of going overseas soon.

The Cincinnati Bengals could play an international game as early as the 2024 season, and the team seems ready for the possibility.

While the Bengals won’t find out until the official schedule release in May, they are a candidate to play in Munich, Germany, against the Carolina Panthers.

Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn said the team is ready with possible 2025 and 2027 dates looming, too.

“We have not applied for an international market yet, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t been looking at things,” Blackburn said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “I think we’ve been tracking what others have been doing and trying to figure out what, if anything, would be a good fit and what would be a good approach when we do decide to do it. We’ll see when that might be, but to date we have yet to apply for a market. We’ll see where we end up in the future.”

That would be a Bengals home game heading overseas in 2025 and 2027, too, so it makes sense the team is exploring options as far as partnerships.

Given the team’s rise to prominence with Joe Burrow under center, the Bengals going overseas in 2024 wouldn’t be all that shocking, though.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Titans’ Brian Callahan on RB roles: ‘We’ll find out’

Titans head coach Brian Callahan is unsure of how the workload will be distributed in the team’s 2024 backfield.

For the first time since 2016, the Tennessee Titans will be without Derrick Henry in their backfield. The 30-year-old signed a two-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens.

The Titans were quick to sign running back Tony Pollard to a three-year contract after he had spent his first five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, and the signing officially signaled the end of the Henry era in Nashville.

Tennessee has long been a franchise that has leaned on its running game. Without Henry as the presumed lead back, there are undoubtedly questions surrounding the running backs room and how the touches will be shared.

Along with Pollard, the Titans will work in Tyjae Spears. The former third-round pick orchestrated a solid rookie season considering the circumstances, accounting for 453 rushing yards on 100 carries. Spears was heavily utilized in the passing game, as well, collecting 385 yards on 52 catches.

Going into the 2024 season, the running back competition between Pollard and Spears will be one of the more interesting storylines. How can the two co-exist? Could competition bring out the best in both players?

“We’ll find out,” Titans head coach Brian Callahan said of the backs, via Jim Wyatt. “As I see them right now, they are both pretty interchangeable. But I do think there will be some definition of role as we get going, and we put the pads on and start playing, those guys will probably separate themselves in some role or another that they’ll sort of sink their teeth into. But as of right now, I see them pretty interchangeable. We’ll find out more as we go.”

In addition to Pollard and Spears, the Titans have Hassan Haskins and Julius Chestnut looking to carve out roles.

Haskins, drafted in the fourth round in 2022, rushed for 93 yards on 25 carries in his rookie campaign. However, he missed all of last season after suffering an injury in training camp.

As a result, Chestnut, who had a tremendous preseason showing, made the initial roster and played mostly on special teams before suffering a season-ending injury.

It’s fair to expect both guys to be hungry to prove themselves in 2024, especially with uncertainty about how the Titans plan to integrate their running backs.

However, given his contract and his emergence in the league over the last two seasons, Pollard figures to receive the lion’s share of the carries in 2024.

The former Memphis Tiger developed in a similar role to Henry when he came up with the Cowboys. Pollard played behind Ezekiel Elliott until he outrushed his teammate in 2022, despite seeing fewer carries.

With Dallas moving on from Elliott after the 2022 season, Pollard became the featured back. At 26 years of age, he played in all 17 games and rushed for 1,005 yards on 252 carries. Additionally, Pollard was a threat in the passing game, hauling in 55 catches on 67 targets for 311 yards.

Serving primarily as a backup until last year has helped Pollard become a weapon for the Titans because he still has relatively low miles on him.

Now, Tennessee can unleash their free-agent splash this year.

“I think our best version of Tony is probably coming,” Callahan said of Pollard, who came back from a fractured fibula last season after suffering the injury during the 2022 playoffs. “Tony’s explosiveness, his ability to be productive in the passing game, he has real receiver skills, and then be able to pass protect — he sort of has all three things you look for in a running back. (He’s) a very three-down player, and one we can pair up with Tyjae Spears and I think have a pretty formidable 1-2 punch.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Derrick Henry gives insight into how he viewed Baltimore from an outside perspective

Ravens running back Derrick Henry revealed how he viewed Baltimore from an outside perspective

The Baltimore Ravens have had plenty of perceptions around them throughout their franchise history. Both inside and out, the team has a reputation for many things, and those can change depending on your experience and status with the franchise.

Running back Derrick Henry signed a two-year deal with Baltimore on the second day of 2024 NFL free agency. He came over from the Tennessee Titans and revealed his outside view of the Ravens, preaching physicality as a main trait.

“Buckle your chinstrap. Get ready for a 60-minute fight and know that you’re going to take some licks [and] you’re going to have to give some licks. Every time we played [the Ravens], it was physical. We had to have a great game plan to prepare for these guys, especially on defense because they give you so many different looks. Then, our defense getting ready for Lamar [Jackson and] how you’re going to game-plan against him. I’m definitely glad to go on the other side now.”

Baltimore has so many different elements to them, but what they’ve been known for since coming into the NFL in 1996 is their defense. While their offense has taken off with quarterback Lamar Jackson at the helm, it all comes back to their defense whenever someone thinks of the Ravens.