Nick Folk

Titans vs. Vikings: 3 reasons for optimism in Week 11

The Tennessee Titans square off in a Sunday afternoon battle against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 11. Here are three reasons for concern.

The Tennessee Titans are coming off another loss — this time it was against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Will Levis returned from his shoulder injury and was solid, but the Chargers were more physically and technically sound in every facet of the game. This week, the 2-7 Titans will take on the 7-2 Minnesota Vikings in a game that features two strong defenses and quarterbacks that are turnover-prone. Unfortunately, for Titans fans, the Vikings are a better team.

Still, for Titans fans, there are some reasons for optimism in Week 11, and here are three of them.

Darnolds’ turnovers

Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold started the season on fire and looked like a new player. What a difference a few weeks make. Darnold has reverted back to his erratic ways and was a major reason why the Vikings were almost upset on the road in Jacksonville. He threw three interceptions against the Jags and five in the past two games. The Titans have a better defense than the Jaguars and could cause problems for Darnold.

Kicking game

If there is one area where the Titans’ special teams are not a disaster, and they have a clear advantage in this game, it is at kicker. Nick Folk did see his perfect season come to an end, but he is still 12-of-13 on field goals with a long of 53 yards and 17-of-17 on extra points. This contrasts sharply with Vikings kicker John Parker Romo, who will be kicking in only his second game. He did go 4-of-4 against Jacksonville, but if the game is on the line, my money would be on Folk.

Schedule

The Vikings are traveling to Nashville a week after traveling to Jacksonville and a week before returning home to take on their division rivals: the Chicago Bears. With the Bears in a tailspin, the Vikings could be looking past the Titans toward an opportunity to kick the Bears when they’re down. It’s not much, but the Vikings squeaked by the Jaguars a week ago and the Titans are a more balanced team.

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Titans vs. Bills: 3 reasons for optimism in Week 7

The Tennessee Titans take on the Buffalo Bills this Sunday afternoon in Week 7 and here are three reasons for optimism.

After a tumultuous week, the Tennessee Titans (1-4) are set to travel to Orchard Park to take on the Buffalo Bills (4-2) at Highmark Stadium in Week 7 action.

There is no secret that the Titans are struggling to get going in 2024. Their offense has been anemic behind turnover-prone Will Levis and the defense tends to fade late in ballgames. Heading into a game against the high-powered Bills offense and a ball-hawking secondary, this could spell disaster.

Yet, for Titans fans, there are some reasons for optimism, and here are three of them.

Titans rushing attack

The Titans will likely be without Tyjae Spears this week as he recovers from his hamstring injury. But, that will mean a bigger dose of Tony Pollard. Pollard has been the one constant for the struggling offense leading the team with 339 yards rushing and three touchdowns. He appears fully recovered from past injuries and has shown flashes of being the dynamic back of the past.

The Bills defense is tough against the pass but sits near the bottom of the NFL against the run. The Titans should employ another conservative run-oriented game plan to take advantage of this and protect Will Levis from the Bills secondary.

Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Improved offensive line play

This by no way means that the offensive line is complete or close to the top of their game, but with the insertion of Leroy Watson at right tackle the unit showed improvement coming off the bye against the Indianapolis Colts. Not only did Levis have time to throw, they did not allow a sack for the first time in three seasons. The Bills will be without their top pass rusher Von Miller, who is serving a four-game suspension and the line could again take a step forward.

If there is one area where the Titans have a clear advantage in the game it is at kicker. Nick Folk has been perfect on the season, going 8-for-8 on field goals, with a long of 53 yards, and 10-for-10 on extra points. This is in sharp contrast to Bills kicker Tyler Bass, who has only connected on 75 percent of his attempts in 2024. Buffalo is so concerned about their erratic kicking situation that they added kicker Lucas Havrisik to the practice squad this week to compete with Bass. This may be a small advantage for the Titans, but it could be a critical one.

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Titans’ Nick Folk named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week

Tennessee Titans kicker Nick Folk was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his Week 4 performance against the Miami Dolphins.

The Tennessee Titans are having a good week.

After continuing their Monday night dominance over the Miami Dolphins with their 31-12 win, they saw one of their own take home league honors on Wednesday.

Kicker Nick Folk was named Special Teams Player of the Week.

No surprise here…

Nick Folk is the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week! pic.twitter.com/BX6j9iPeSM

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) October 2, 2024

In this must-win contest, Folk connected on all five of his field goal attempts for the Titans in their win.

One of the elder statesmen in the league, the 39-year-old Folk became the oldest player in NFL history to connect on three field goals over 50 yards. In all, he hit from 53, 52, 47, 51, and 29 yards on his kicks against the Dolphins.

For the 17-year veteran, this is the seventh time he has connected on five field goals in a game and the 11th time Folk has received the award.

With the Titans in their bye week, Folk won’t have a chance to go for a 12th award until their Week 6 match-up against the Indianapolis Colts.

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Titans vs. Packers: 3 reasons for optimism in Week 3

The Tennessee Titans take on the Green Bay Packers in Week 3 and here are three reasons for optimism in Nashville.

The Tennessee Titans are preparing to face the Green Bay Packers in Week 3 action on Sunday at Nissan Stadium. The Titans (0-2) again failed to get over the hump and fell to the Jets in a competitive game that they could have easily won.

The Packers (1-1) rallied around backup quarterback Malik Willis and got their first win against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2.

There is a lot on the line and this should be an interesting game the Titans have three reasons to be optimistic that they can finally get into the win column.

The defense is better than advertised

The Titans’ defense again answered the bell and did a good job holding the Jets in check. It wasn’t quite the dominant performance from Week 1, but the Jets have a better offense than the Chicago Bears. The Titans’ defense is ranked first in total defense after Week 2 and should present a challenge to the Packers, regardless of who takes the snaps. The Packers do have a strong running game, but they haven’t faced a tandem like Jeffery Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat in 2024.

Green Bay’s quarterback situation

With starter Jordan Love battling a knee injury, the Packers may again turn to Willis. For the Titans, that shouldn’t matter. If Love plays, he will be limited from a mobility perspective, which could impact play-calling. If Willis is the man, the former Titans quarterback has only been in the system for a few weeks and will face a defense that understands his tendencies. Yes, he does add a mobility element that Love doesn’t have at the moment, but he is nowhere near as accomplished as a passer. This has to favor the Titans.

The kicking game

Not the punting unit, that’s a whole other topic, but Nick Folk vs. Brayden Narveson. Narveson, who was also in training camp for the Titans, is young and inexperienced and a return to Tennessee should add a little tension during his attempts. In a game that is likely going to be a low-scoring affair, a missed field goal or extra point could change the entire complexion of the game. Folk may not have the biggest leg, but his experience could pay dividends in this match-up.

The Titans have many reasons to be optimistic, but we will have to wait until Sunday to find out if that optimism was warranted.

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Could the Titans sneak kicker Brayden Narveson onto the practice squad?

The Titans would love to keep Brayden Narveson, but it could be difficult.

The Tennessee Titans must make some difficult decisions before Tuesday’s deadline to reduce their roster to 53 players.

Will the Titans keep three quarterbacks? If not, that means 2022 third-round pick Malik Willis is likely on his way out.

However, one of Tennessee’s more intriguing decisions is at kicker. Head coach Brian Callahan has indicated that veteran Nick Folk, who turns 40 in November, will be the Titans’ kicker.

In last weekend’s preseason win over the Seahawks, undrafted rookie Brayden Narveson attempted to make Tennessee’s decision a bit more difficult. Not only did Narveson crush a 59-yarder with room to spare in the fourth quarter, but he also kicked the game-winner. With multiple NFL teams looking for a kicker, Narveson could be in demand if the Titans waive him on Tuesday.

What should the Titans do?

Folk should win the job if we go by preseason and training camp. Jim Wyatt of Titans Online tracked the kicking numbers throughout camp, and they favor Folk:

Nick Folk: 31-of-33 (93.9%)

Brayden Narveson: 21-of-28 (75%)

Tennessee is not expected to be a contender in 2024. Could the Titans be a surprise team? Sure. So, if you’re a team in the first year of a new regime, do you keep a reliable soon-to-be-40-year-old kicker or go with the rookie, who may not be as consistent right now but has more upside?

Folk made 29 of his 30 field goal attempts in his first season with the Titans last year. That type of consistency is hard to pass up. With Folk, you worry about his range. With Narveson, there are no concerns there.

With only 53 roster spots, keeping two kickers is difficult. Narveson would be an ideal candidate for the practice squad, but there’s a good chance another team claims him.

The Titans could also look to trade Folk. A contending team with questions about the kicker would be a good fit for Folk.

Narveson will get one more chance to attempt to change Tennessee’s mind when the Titans face the Saints in Sunday’s preseason finale.

Titans’ Nick Folk talks re-signing, making adjustments as he gets older

Nick Folk never had any doubts about his desire to stay with the Titans.

Earlier this offseason, it looked like the Tennessee Titans might lose kicker Nick Folk in free agency, which would have been a significant blow considering how consistent the veteran kicker was in 2023.

Thankfully, Folk ended up re-signing to keep the Titans’ elite specialists group intact. And, despite a report that he wanted to test the free-agent market, Folk always wanted to come back.

“For me, it’s always been a patient game,” Folk said, according to Jim Wyatt. “I kind of understand the game, and I understand the business side of it. I was patient with it, and I knew I wanted to play. I told that to Ran (Carthon) at the end of the season, that I wanted to keep playing, that I loved it here. I wanted to come back, and I’m excited to be back. Now it’s about getting ready for another season.”

Speaking of getting ready, Folk, who is set to turn 40 in November and is entering his 17th season in the NFL, admits he’s changed his approach a bit as he gets older.

“A lot of it has to do with how I’ve trained, the timing of training, the timing of kicking,” Folk said. “When I was younger, I used to be able to kick a lot, go multiple days in a row, kick a lot more balls. Now I am very rep conscious, if you will. I’ve always kind of been quality over quantity and I know there’s going to be days when I need the quantity, but I still want to make it quality.

“You could maybe look at my technique and say not much has changed, but there are little nuances,” he added. “And I think a lot of that changes as your body changes. When you get older, maybe you’re not as flexible, the leg is not as lively, so you’re going to have to change some things technically to continue going. So, it is just small, little things… to try to find ways to continue to improve.”

Not only has Folk given the Titans much-needed stability at kicker, he’s proven to be one of the very best at the position in the NFL. Hopefully that continues in 2024.

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Titans agree to terms with K Nick Folk

The Titans and K Nick Folk have reportedly agreed to terms on a one-year deal.

After it looked like Tennessee Titans kicker Nick Folk might be leaving the team in 2024, it turns out he isn’t going anywhere.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Titans are re-signing Folk on a one-year deal worth $3.755 million and a max value of $4.13 million with incentives.

Prior to the start of free agency, it was reported that Folk was going to test the open market, which led us to believe he wouldn’t come back. However, Tennessee clearly wasn’t ready to let that happen.

And for good reason — Folk was sensational for the Titans overall in 2023, with the veteran making 29-of-30 field goales (including 5-of-6 from 50-plus) and 28-of-30 extra points.

Considering the impressive year he had last season, the 39-year-old’s deal, which ranks 16th among kickers in terms of annual average, per Over the Cap, is a good one for the Titans.

With Folk secured, the Titans sport one of the very best specialists trios in the NFL, a group that also includes punter Ryan Stonehouse and long snapper Morgan Cox.

Titans pending FA Nick Folk expected to test free-agent market

Titans pending free-agent kicker Nick Folk is reportedly expected to test the free-agent market.

The Tennessee Titans bringing back pending free agent and kicker Nick Folk is a no-brainer, but they may not have a choice in the matter.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Folk, who was acquired in a trade before the 2023 campaign, is expected to test the free-agent market this offseason.

Folk was outstanding for Tennessee last season, with the veteran kicker making 29-of-30 field goal attempts, including 5-of-6 from 50-plus yards, and all but two of his extra point tries.

His success from 50 yards out was a huge boost following the tenure of Randy Bullock, who Tennessee couldn’t trust to make kicks that long.

Losing Folk would be a big blow for a Titans team that has seen no shortage of struggles at the position since longtime kicker Ryan Succop hit absolute rock bottom in 2019.

I would guess Folk’s desire to test the market is about him wanting to join a contender at this stage of his career (he turns 40 in November) rather than a money issue, as the Titans have no shortage of cap space to afford him.

The Titans already have two-thirds of their 2023 specialists secured, as both punter Ryan Stonehouse and long snapper Morgan Cox are under contract.

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Titans offseason preview for specialists: Pending free agents, biggest needs

In our final offseason preview for the Titans, we take a look at the team’s specialists.

While a lot went wrong for the Tennessee Titans in 2023, one area where the team thrived was with its specialists, although that group did not make it through the campaign unscathed.

Kicker Nick Folk did miss some big kicks but was stellar overall, making 29 of 30 field goal attempts and 28 of 30 extra points. His 96.7 percent success rate with field goals was tops in the NFL.

Punter Ryan Stonehouse was on pace for another record-breaking season before he fell victim to atrocious special teams play. His replacement and fellow punter Ty Zentner was solid in Stonehouse’s absence.

Last but not least, long snapper Morgan Cox was once again quiet, which is exactly what you want from the position. He remains one of the very best in the business.

In what is our final offseason preview for the Titans, we take a look at the specialists who are under contract, pending free agents, and the team’s biggest needs.

What Titans should do with pending free-agent specialists

The Titans have two specialists set to hit the open market this offseason. We take a look at if Tennessee should keep them or let them go.

One of the few bright spots for the Tennessee Titans in 2023, the team’s specialists all performed at a high level.

Kicker Nick Folk, who was acquired via trade right before the start of the season, was great in his role and stabilized what has been a problematic position for the Titans in recent years.

Punter Ryan Stonehouse was on pace for yet another record-breaking season and Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods before suffering a season-ending injury against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 13.

His replacement, Ty Zentner, was about as good as the Titans could have hoped for in relief of one of the best punters in the game.

Last but not least, long snapper Morgan Cox was his usual elite self.

Of the four aforementioned players, two of them will be free agents, but the Titans will also have to make a decision on one of the others who are under contract.

Let’s play some keep or let go with the trio, shall we?