What happened: The Tennessee Titans host the New York Jets on Sept. 13 in Week 1. Geno Smith leads New York's offense.

Why it matters: Ward's passing performance will offer an early measure of Tennessee's offensive progress, though one game cannot settle his long-term outlook. Pressure on Smith could help the Titans create turnovers and shorter scoring drives.

What to watch: Watch how Bailey affects Ward's time to throw and how Ponds handles Tennessee's receivers when the teams begin the [2026 regular season](https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/game-preview-titans-host-jets-in-season-opener-chris-johnson-enters-ring-of-honor).