The Tennessee Titans face a new challenge in Week 7 as they host the Cleveland Browns at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, their first win in back-to-back games in over two seasons.
The Titans relied on a strong defense, some special-teams splash, and just enough offense to beat Indianapolis in Week 6, and now face a surging Browns team coming off a huge win over the Baltimore Ravens.
This should be a good one and a perfect test to see where the Titans are in their rebuild, and here are five storylines in the Titans-Colts Week 6 matchup.
Can the Titans stack wins?
It’s hard to believe, but the Titans haven't stacked wins since beating the Denver Broncos 17-10 at home on November 13, 2022, then beating the Green Bay Packers 27-17 on the road on November 17, 2022.
That's insane, 2022, and it is definitely something Robert Saleh and his staff have to change if the Titans want to crawl back into contention.
The Jordan Elliot situation
By now, everyone has heard some of the details behind the Titans' decision to release the veteran defensive tackle. Elliott crossed a line with the organization and his teammates and now has to face the consequences.
The league will likely fine and suspend him for violating multiple rules, but that means little if his calls for help go unanswered. Personal issues can take their toll on players, and too much tragedy has happened.
From the sound of it, Saleh and the organization may have released him, but they aren't turning their backs on him and are actively working to get him whatever help he needs.
John Franklin-Myers earned his contract
It hasn’t really been pointed out much, but whatever Franklin-Myers did to diffuse the situation with Jordan Elliott cannot be overlooked. When Tennessee signed him as a free agent, they banked on his talent and system understanding to help jumpstart the defense, but his off-field actions may mean more to the organization than any sack.
Will Alontae play?
After being a surprise inactive on Sunday against the Colts, many wondered why, with some connecting it to the Elliot situation, but that wasn’t the case. Taylor was sat to reset after his continued struggles as an outside cornerback over the first five weeks.
The Titans invested heavily in Taylor during the offseason and would like nothing more than to see him return to the lineup and become the playmaker they envisioned when they signed him in free agency. But when that happens is an unknown heading into Sunday.
Joshua Williams stepped in and had a solid outing, giving both Taylor and the team a chance to work out the issues. Whether or not that happens this week is something to monitor.
Will the first-half offense ever improve?
The Titans’ offense has been horrible in the first half all season. In fact, "horrible" may be a compliment for the product on tape.
Watching the tape, it is impossible to pinpoint the issue, though some areas do pop off. Brian Daboll’s playcalling has been conservative and predictable, and that is a significant factor. While other factors, like a lack of identity, a struggling rushing attack, and Cam Ward’s occasional inaccuracy, matter, the playcalling in that half seems to hold the unit back most.
Fans don’t care what the issue is; they just want to see it fixed. Will that happen this week against the Browns? Who knows.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans vs. Cleveland Browns: 5 storylines to watch in Week 7