- Oct 16, 2026
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SportsMafia Wire graphic. Team logos and player headshots via ESPN.
The Tennessee Titans rank near the bottom of the NFL in explosive passing plays, a concern as they prepare to face the AFC North-leading Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
The Titans (1-5) have recorded just 10 passing plays of 20 or more yards, second-fewest in the league. They have only one completion of 40-plus yards; only the Arizona Cardinals, with zero, have fewer. Of their 363 offensive snaps this season, 200 have come from shotgun and 163 from under center. The shotgun alignment has produced seven explosive pass completions, compared with three from under center.
Tennessee has generated 10 explosive runs of 10 or more yards, all resulting in first downs, with eight of those coming from under center. Second-year quarterback Ward noted one of his two explosive rushing plays from shotgun was a scramble rather than a designed run. Elic Ayomanor recorded the team's longest play of the season, a 41-yard catch on a play-action pass from under center.
In last week's 26-20 victory over the Colts, the Titans faced third-and-long (7 or more yards) six times, all from shotgun.
The Browns (4-2), who visit Nissan Stadium at 1 p.m. ET on CBS, rank seventh in points allowed per game (20.1) and eighth in passing yards allowed (205.2). Ward said of one approach, "I think it really simplifies what we want to get out of the defense."
Source: ESPN - Fri Oct 23, 6:00 AM ET
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).