The Tennessee Titans never expected to be in this situation, and now they are trying to recover from a 1-6 start, which is the worst for the franchise since 2015.
The Titans invested heavily in free agency and the draft to support first-year coach Brian Callahan. On Monday, Callahan acknowledged that the Titans have no proof of their efforts so far. He didn’t ask for trust and mentioned there’s no “sugar-coating” with controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk.
“It’s a production-based business and a results-based business. We’re 1-6, and that is what it is,” Callahan said. “But I do have faith in where we’re headed, and I do have faith in how we go about our business here and what that’s going to bring for us.”
The poor start in 2015 led to Ken Whisenhunt losing his job after just 23 games. The Titans’ main issue now is that Strunk has a general manager in his second season and a first-year coach in Callahan, yet there are no results to show for the significant investment.
The Titans have been outscored 86-24 in their last two road losses combined, including a 52-14 defeat in Detroit, which ranks as the fourth-worst loss by margin since the franchise became the Titans in 1999.
Even worse, any signs of improvement are being overshadowed by turnovers, penalties, and other mistakes.
Only Carolina (1-7) has a worse record, thanks to the Titans having their bye on October 6. Tennessee is also nearing elimination from playoff contention, with only a 2% chance of making it— the lowest in the AFC.