The Tennessee Titans came out strong in the first quarter of their Week 7 matchup with the New England Patriots and looked much improved. Unfortunately, they were unable to sustain that performance, and were dominated by the Patriots in a 31-13 loss.
Cam Ward continues to struggle with turnovers, although he looked better against the Patriots. In this game, it was the undermanned defense that had no answer for Drake Maye, allowing the young signal caller to have a career afternoon.
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Tennessee played hard and did show some improvement, but it was nowhere near enough to offset the mistakes and get them back in the win column. Now, it will be back to the drawing board in preparation for a rematch with the Indianapolis Colts in Week 8.
As is the case every week, there were both good and bad performances within the disappointing loss. Here’s a look at the players who are rising or falling in the Week 7 stock report.
Stock up: WR Chimere Dike
Dike has been explosive as a return man all season, but came out and looked the part of a difference maker at wide receiver early in the game. With Calvin Ridley sidelined due to a hamstring injury, Dike looked dynamic when called upon early in the contest. Unfortunately, like much of the offense, he disappeared the longer the game wore on, but it was still a step forward.
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Stock down: CB L’Jarius Sneed
Before being shelved with a quad injury, Sneed struggled mightily in coverage and was a big play magnet. The Patriots targeted Sneed any time they needed a play, and he had no answer for what they had dialed up. Sneed has been a bust since joining the Titans via trade in 2024, and is proving to be a liability in the secondary.
Stock up: TE Gunnar Helm
Overall, it was a good day for the rookies, and Helm had one of his best games of the season. While his four receptions for 36 yards may not look incredible, he was steady and came up with a big catch when called upon, plus he clearly outplayed Chig Okonkwo, who was invisible.
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Stock down: TE Chig Okonkwo
Okonkwo brought nothing to the table and was completely invisible in the contest. With Tennessee needing someone to step up and help offset the loss of Calvin Ridley, he did not answer the call and was a complete non-factor. His biggest play was tipping a ball in the second half that led directly to Ward’s lone interception.
Stock up: S Kevin Winston Jr.
Tennessee has been cautious with the rookie and his ACL recovery and have been slowly working him into the defense, but he made some plays. While his stat line is not overwhelming, the fact that he is starting to move into more critical reps is a positive for both his future and the Titans’ defense.
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Stock down: DT Jeffery Simmons
Simmons is in the midst of a dominating season and on the field continued to lead the charge, but Simmons left the game with a hamstring injury in the first half and spent the second half of the game on the sideline in street clothes. This injury will likely impact him moving forward, and will have a negative impact on the Titans’ defense.
Stock up: OLB Jihad Ward
Ward played hard for the Titans’ defense and led the charge for their injury-decimated edge unit. Ward had four total tackles (three solo) and one sack on the afternoon, and helped steady a unit that completely lacks depth. Ward has proven to be a solid offseason pickup, and could be even more effective if the unit is healthy.
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Stock down: RB Tony Pollard
Pollard had another rough outing and continues to struggle to work free. His six carries for 18 yards was a season low, and he could never get things going on the ground. Even with the offensive line struggling, the Titans need more from the running game with a rookie quarterback under center.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Stock up, down after Tennessee Titans’ Week 7 loss to Patriots
