Lost in the fallout from Sunday’s Motor City Massacre, the Tennessee Titans (1-6) are quietly preparing for their Week 9 battle with the 2-6 New England Patriots, a game that could have lasting effects on draft positioning.
All was not lost in the 52-14 debacle against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, as wide receiver Calvin Ridley broke out in a big way in the loss. Most of his 10 receptions for 143 yards came before the game was completely out of reach and he finally looked like the explosive playmaker the Titans were hoping for.
His performance not only passed the eye test and filled the stat sheet, but he was also one of the best at the position, according to PFF, which named Ridley to its Week 8 Team of the Week.
Hey look a #Titans https://t.co/kRFebE0NAk
— MaximusTitanFan (@MaximusTitanFan) October 29, 2024
For Ridley and the Titans, this was a huge progression in the wake of the team trading away DeAndre Hopkins to the Kansas City Chiefs while Ridley was on the shelf battling a foot injury last week. With Ridley stretching the field and making plays, the Titans appeared to have a competent offense until the wheels fell off and Mason Rudolph and the special teams imploded.
This week against the equally bad Patriots, Ridley will have every chance to stack performances if he is healthy. The only real question is who will be behind center, with Will Levis potentially being back after missing the past two games with a shoulder injury. The Titans’ first official injury report will be released on Wednesday.