Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Tennessee Titans Week 5 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 5 roundup for the Tennessee Titans in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 21

Biggest issue on defense: Explosive pass plays

The Titans' defense has given up 12 explosive passing plays (20-plus yards) this season. Those 12 plays account for 372 of the 692 passing yards the Titans have allowed through four games. Miscommunication and poor execution have been the root causes of the long passing plays Tennessee has allowed. The defensive front consistently gets after the quarterback. But the back end has to hold up its end of the bargain in order for the Titans' defense to excel. The defense showed how dominant it can be in its best performance of the season this past Sunday, when the Titans didn't allow a single explosive play while holding the Bengals to three points and 211 total yards in a 27-3 win. -- Turron Davenport

NFL.com -- Rank: 16

An improved defensive performance and a resurgent Derrick Henry were exactly what the Titans needed to pull to .500 in a statement victory over the Bengals. It helped that Joe Burrow limped into the game and Tee Higgins left early, but the Titans overwhelmed Cincinnati on both lines of scrimmage and thoroughly dominated. Tennessee got away with three fumbles (recovering all of them) and a meaningless late pick from Ryan Tannehill, and there were a few miscues in pass protection, so there's plenty to work on. But the Henry-Tyjae Spears backfield looks very promising again, and the AFC South remains wide open. Mike Vrabel can win with this group.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 15

They dominated the Bengals in grand fashion Sunday, which was a vintage Mike Vrabel type of day. He always gets his team to respond when it's needed.

USA Today -- Rank: 21

Half of RB Derrick Henry's eight career completions have produced touchdowns. Maybe he should be Tennessee's quarterback.

The Athletic -- Rank: 20

There's nothing particularly chaotic about the Titans; they're just average. So this is going to be a Derrick Henry Appreciation section. Henry passed Houston Oilers great Earl Campbell in the franchise history books by getting to 8,583 rushing yards, which trails only Eddie George. He also completed his seventh career pass (on eight attempts) and fourth career passing touchdown.

FOX -- Rank: 21

I'm done trying to figure out the Titans. Every time I try to bury them, they rise up and make a statement. It's one thing to beat the banged-up Bengals, but they crushed them from beginning to end. It's rare that Cincinnati has looked so overmatched since Joe Burrow got to town, but they had no answers. Now, can Tennessee build on this big win or will they continue to frustrate and confuse us?

Yahoo! -- Rank: 20

Back on the Titans roller coaster. They've alternated miserable performances with good ones for the first four weeks of the season. The same goes for Ryan Tannehill. Week 5 brings an interesting game at the Colts, and maybe we'll start to figure out if the Titans are good or not.

PFT -- Rank: 21

They went from losing 27-3 to winning 27-3. One way or the other, they need consistency.

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