The Tennessee Titans open the 2026 season on Sunday, September 3, at 12:00 p.m. CST. They’ll host the New York Jets at Nissan Stadium, where head coach Robert Saleh faces off against his former team.
Both the Titans and the Jets are coming off a difficult 2025 season. The Jets had the second overall pick in the draft, indicating that they were the second-worst team in the NFL. The Titans weren’t much better, with the No. 4 overall pick. Both teams made offseason moves that changed the look of their respective rosters, and both have reason to be somewhat hopeful for the upcoming season.
Given the similarities between the two teams and the adjustments each made, there is plenty of intrigue around this game. Not everyone agrees, though, and a recent CBS Sports article lists this Week 1 matchup as among the worst.
Neither the New York Jets nor the Tennessee Titans should be expected to compete at the top of their divisions. Both have reasons to believe they will climb their respective ladders, however. A host of defensive moves in New York and the signing of Geno Smith raised the floor for Aaron Glenn as he navigates the hot seat. A new coaching staff, revamped defense and another year of development for Cam Ward give the Titans some optimism. The side that loses this one will be feeling down on themselves, as both should view this as one of the handful of truly winnable games on their schedules.
Absolutely, both of these teams should view this as a winnable game, which is why it’s going to be an interesting game to watch. T’Vondre Sweat faces his former team. Jermaine Johnson and Robert Saleh face their former team. Both teams have high hopes for the 2026 season, and both will come out swinging.
When two teams with something to prove face each other, you typically end up with a knock-down, drag-out brawl that is exciting and keeps you engaged. There are times when that isn’t the case, but this is a Week 1 matchup. Neither team has a reason to be disgruntled yet. Neither team has a reason not to believe in themselves yet.
Just because teams are considered “bottom feeders” doesn’t mean the game is less exciting. It actually adds more meaning to the game, and this particular game could set the tone for both teams’ entire season. It’s definitely worth watching.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Titans-Jets ranked among NFL’s worst Week 1 games