Saints visit Tennessee Titans for inter-conference contest

Andrew Lang

The New Orleans Saints visit the Tennessee Titans at noon on Dec. 28 with the broadcast on CBS. New Orleans will be seeking to win its first road game against the Titans since 2019, with Tennessee winning the Nov. 14, 2021 matchup by two points.

Let's take a deeper look at the Saints'Week 17opponent, the Tennessee Titans:

2025 NFL WEEK 17: NEW ORLEANS SAINTS at TENNESSEE TITANS

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Meet your Saints opponent: Tennessee Titans

Coach:Brian Callahan

Quarterback:Cameron Ward

2024 record:3-14, fourth in AFC South

Most recent regular season matchup:Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023 - Saints 16, Titans 15

Titans-Saints series record:Titans lead 9-7-1

Tennessee Titans 2024 season recap:

The Titans started the season with three straight losses before securing a win over the Miami Dolphins to head into their bye in Week 5 at 1-3. A 2-5 stretch in their next seven games would drop the team to 3-8. The Titans finished the season on a six-game losing streak to end up 3-14, fourth in the AFC South, missing the postseason for third consecutive season. They would receive the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft due to tiebreakers over the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns.

Deep Dive: Tennessee Titan roster review

1. Cameron Ward making a new legacy at No. 1

The Titans entrusted the team to a new signal caller by drafting Miami quarterback Cameron Ward with the first overall pick. They took it a step further by unretiring Hall of Famer Warren Moon's jersey number so Ward could wear No. 1 like he did in college. Ward is coming of record-setting season after breaking the school's single season passing yards and touchdown record with 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns, but has big shoes to fill to catch Moon, the franchise leader with 33,685 passing yards and 196 touchdowns.

"I'm trying to get up to his level one day,"Ward said. "He's a Hall of Famer and for me to be in that same number is an honor."

2. Veteran wide receiver added in Tyler Lockett

The Titans looked to make their new quarterback's life a little easier by bringing in veteran wide receiver Tyler Lockett. Locket finished 2024 with 49 receptions for 600 yards and two touchdowns. The 10-year pro racked up 661 receptions for 8,594 yards and 61 touchdowns in his career with the Seahawks, second in franchise history in those categories trailing only Hall of Famer Steve Largent. The 33-year-old is confident he still has more good football left in him.

"Coming here, I know that I can still play,"Lockett said. "I don't think I need to prove that to anybody. I just need to continue to build in a healthy way and not try to waste my time trying to do all this proving people wrong, because sometimes it works out for you, and sometimes it just adds extra stress."

3. Building up the offensive line

Two of the Titans biggest additions in free agency were on the offensive line. The team added former Pro Bowl guard and 13-year veteran Kevin Zeitler. They also brought in a new bookend at left tackle in Dan Moore with 66 career starts with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Titans tied for the fifth most sacks allowed in the NFL in 2024 with 52.

"Moore is a younger guy, he's 26,"Titans General Manager Mike Borgonzi said. "He started all four years in Pittsburgh, is durable. And he has played against some really good pass rushers in that division for years. We like the make-up of the person, liked him coming out of college. So, he'll bring not only the talent, but I think he'll bring some of the culture things you need, too, the person, the leadership. And all that was important to us. And, Zeitler has done it for such a long time. It's amazing he's 35 years old and he is still one of the best guards in football. And he brings an element of dependability, toughness and strength inside the pocket."