The notion that only a few tweaks here and there can fix the Tennessee Titans has been thoroughly disproven this season. After Sunday’s latest home disaster to the Jacksonville Jaguars, it’s pretty clear that a major overhaul is needed to even make this team competitive, let alone return it to the playoffs.
Another double digit loss season is now a certainty after the 10-6 loss that was also the lowest scoring game this season in the entire NFL. That the Titans twice decided to go for touchdowns on fourth down rather than get chip shot field goals backfired when it turns out the additional six points could have turned things in their favor. The defeat also eliminated the Titans from any playoff chances, not that anyone was thinking they were going to make a late-season rally in that direction.
For much of the season’s first half, the defense was playing well. They even led the league for a few weeks in terms of yardage allowed. But as the season has progressed they’ve also been unable to make key plays late in games. Jacksonville got a pair of lengthy fourth quarter drives that resulted in 10 points.
This was the fifth game this year where the defense has faded in the final 15 minutes and allowed double digit points. The defense did get two turnovers, one from cornerback Cidobe Awuzie, who was back after being on injured reserve since September. But it would be unfair to blame a unit that only allowed 10 points, and kept the Jaguars off the scoreboard much of the game.
The Titans continue to lead the NFL in penalties, with the offensive line’s problems still far from resolved. However they played better against Jacksonville, with running back Tony Pollard having his third 100- yard rushing game of the season. But there continue to be problems with procedure penalties, and the Titans got a particularly big penalty when they were trying to mount a last minute drive, with a fourth and 10 becoming a fourth and 15 thanks to early line movement.
Considering all their other problems, the Titans will probably not look to get a QB in the draft. Will Levis had a decent day, completing 19 of 32 for 168 yards, but was unable to get the Titans in the end zone when they were inside the red zone. There was also a critical mental mistake by receiver Calvin Ridley, who ran out of bounds rather than forward on a critical reception that turned what could have been a first down into a fourth and three instead. Good teams simply don’t make those types of mistakes under pressure. Ridley’s emerged as a reliable weapon, and he still had a solid game, but that play was inexplicable. Levis may also have re-injured his shoulder, as he was slammed to the turf at the end of the
first half.
The Titans offense left the field at the end of the game with boos raining down from those fans who’d bothered to stay till the finish. They have two more home games remaining, the next one Sunday against an even more disappointing team this season, the Cincinnati Bengals. Considering that despite a woeful record the Bengals Joe Burrow leads the NFL in touchdown passes and overall yardage, that’s not exactly a comforting thought that they’re the next team on the horizon.
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