Earlier this week, Titans HC Mike Vrabel was asked about the Titans success in one score games in his first 5 seasons versus this season. The Titans have lost 7 games this year by one score. It is alarming, and I feel like some fans are taking it the wrong way. In the NFL, teams don’t get brownie points for their margin of victories or in the Titans case, margin of losses. It’s a very black and white league when it comes to that. Outside of divisional and inner conference play, wins are wins and losses are losses. Please do not get it twisted, all of the Titans’ losses have been bad, and each loss is a reflection of the current state of the Titans.
I feel like I need to refresh a lot of people’s memories on how these games were lost. It seems like some fans and even Mike Vrabel his self believe that the Titans are very close to being legitimate contenders. I’m sorry to break it to you all, but THE TITANS HAVE MAJOR HOLES THAT WON’T BE CORRECTED IN ONE OFFSEASON. Here’s a recap of how the Titans lost each one of those 7 one score games.
Week 1 Saints 16 Titans 15
This was a very winnable game. The Titans sacked Derek 4 times, forced an interception, and a fumble on the opening kickoff. That’s a recipe for success, but the Titans found a way to turn that into a loss. The Titans could not find the endzone which resulted in 5 successful field goals. Ryan Tannehill also threw 3 INTs and missed multiple plays that more than likely would’ve resulted in a touchdown. The Saints scored the only touchdown in this game.
Week 5 Colts 23 Titans 16
Here goes another winnable game. The Titans came into this game on a 5-game win streak over the Colts. The Colts lost their rookie QB Anthony Richardson early in the game. The Titans gain an advantage, right? It seemed like it, but that was not the case. Garner Minshew for whatever reason is the Titans kryptonite. Minshew only threw for 155 yards, but the completions he made keep the Colts alive. Minshew’s ability to paper cut the Titans to death mixed with Zack Moss having a career day of 23 rushing attempts for 165 yards in which 56 of those yards came on a touchdown run ended the Titans 5-game win streak over the Colts. The Titans only scored 1 touchdown despite making multiple trips to the red zone. DeAndre Hopkins also had 8 catches for 140 yards, but Derrick Henry only rushed for 43 yards.
Week 6 Ravens 24 Titans 16
This was a weird home game for the Titans because it was a home game in London. If you know anything about the Titans and Ravens rivalry, you know that the away team usually wins. This was a typical Titans vs. Ravens game where the away team won. Both the Ravens and Titans scored 1 touchdown in this game. The Ravens made 6 field goals, and the Titans made 3. Kyle Philips muffed a punt return, and Ryan Tannehill threw for 76 yards and an INT before being knocked out of the game. Malik Willis came in and added 76 yards in which 48 yards of it came on a screen pass to Tyjae Spears late in the game. Willis was also sacked 4 times adding to an abysmal performance from the Titans offensive line which allowed 6 sacks total. Derrick Henry scored the Titans only touchdown. He rushed for 97 yards on 12 attempts including a 63-yard run.
Week 9 Steelers 20 Titans 16
Coming off of a historic rookie debut from QB Will Levis, the Titans seemed to have new life. Life took a sudden turn back to reality for Tennessee on the road against the Steelers. The Steelers came into this game looking very much like the Titans. Offensively, they struggled to move the ball and score points. Although they gave up a ton of yards defensively, the Steelers thrived on turnovers and an elite pass rush. The Steelers didn’t have a problem scoring a touchdown on their first possession of the game. The Titans would go on to score a field goal on their first possession after multiple penalties from rookie CB Joey Porter Jr. helped get them within field goal range. Will Levis took a beating this game as he was blitzed 15 times, hit 7 times, and sacked 4 times. The Titans only touchdown came from a 2-yard run by Derrick Henry in the 2nd quarter. The Steelers rushing attack came alive throughout the rest of the game as RBs Jaylen Warren (11 att 88 yds) and Najae Harris (16 att 69 1 TD) rushed for 157 yds total and 1 TD. FGs would keep the Titans in the game. Going into the 4th quarter, the Titans were up 16-13. Diontae Johnson scored a TD on a 3-yard pass from Kenny Pickett with 4:02 left in the game. The Titans got the ball back and went 3 and out but would force a 3 and out on defense to give them a chance to go on a game winning drive. Will Levis took the Titans down the field connecting on multiple passes which included a 29-yard reception from WR Chris Moore. Levis threw a deep middle pass to TE Josh Whyle but was intercepted in the endzone by LB Kwon Alexander. The game ended on a Kenny Pickett kneel down.
Week 13 Colts 31 Titans 28
After a 17-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers, the Titans faced the Colts at home as they not only looked to avenge their week 5 loss but to string together consecutive wins to keep what little playoff hopes they had alive. The Titans came out hot as Will Levis connected with TE Chigoziem Okonkwo on a 39-yard pass. Shortly after, Derrick Henry scored on a 22- yard touchdown run. The Colts also scored a touchdown on their first possession as QB Gardner Minshew connected on a 36-yard touchdown pass to WR Alec Pierce. Nick Folk made a field goal that gave the Titans a 10-3 lead going into the 2nd quarter. The Titans took a 17-7 after 5-yard Derrick Henry touchdown run, but the Colts went on to make 3 field goals which kept them in the game. Things took a turn for the worst after the Colts blocked a pair of punts one of which resulted in a touchdown. Punter Ryan Stonehouse was injured on the 2nd blocked punt which ended his season. The Titans scored with 5:26 left in the 4th quarter after a 3-yard pass from Will Levis to DeAndre Hopkins but kicker Nick Folk missed the extra point which left the game tied at 25. The Titans would find themselves in OT for the 2nd time this season. The Titans won the coin toss and took possession of the football to start OT but had to settle for a field goal giving them a 28-25 lead. The Colts took possession and Gardner Minshew led them down the field to score the game winning touchdown after he found WR Michael Pittman on a 4-yard pass into the endzone. This was a very wild and poorly officiated game which resulted in not only the Colts sweeping the Titans and ending the Titans home winning streak on the year, but they also lost Ryan Stonehouse and Jeffrey Simmons for the remainder of the season. Derrick Henry was knocked out of the game as well in the 4th quarter.
Week 15 Texans 19 Oilers16
This is the part where I get very blunt. The Oilers/Titans had no business losing to the JV Texans. This was one of the most embarrassing losses in Oilers/Titans history. The Texans had multiple key players out which included QB CJ Stroud, WR Tank Dell, WR Nico Collins, and EDGE Will Anderson. I knew shit was going to go left when Nick Folk missed his 2nd extra point of the year after Will Levis’ touchdown run. Even with S/CB Elijah Molden scoring on a 44-yard interception from QB Case Keenum, I felt like shit was far from sweet. Derrick Henry only ran for 9 yards on 16 attempts. Will Levis was sacked 7 times, and the Titans defense allowed another no name ass RB by the name of Devin Singletary to have one of his best games of his career. The Titans were officially eliminated from playoff contention. I’m pissed all over again!!!!
Week 16 Seahawks 20 Titans 17
At this point, I’m numb to the foolishness. The Titans literally had nothing to play for outside of pride and a higher draft pick. If you are one of those tanking fans, this game was a win for you. The Titans actually had a lead throughout 3 quarters of the game. We probably saw Derrick Henry’s last touchdown pass in Nissan Stadium also. This was his longest touchdown pass as he connected on a 12-yard pass to TE Chigoziem Okonkwo. Derrick Henry scored on a 2-yard run in the 4th quarter after the Seahawks scored their first TD of the game. The Seahawks would go on to score another TD which ended up being the game winner. Ryan Tannehill was sacked 6 times in which 3 of them were due to him holding on to the football too long. I was done with Tannehill after the London game, but I’M DONE DONE WITH HIM NOW. I DON’T EVER WANT TO SEE RYAN TANNEHILL UNDER CENTER FOR THE TITANS AGAIN. I appreciate everything he has done while here, but he should seriously consider retirement!!!
If you are still here, I appreciate you very much. I hope nothing but great things come your way. This season has been a joke. Do not let these 7 one score losses convince you that the Titans are close to anything outside of a top 3-5 draft pick. I’m not going to lie, we need that mutha fucka. We need 3 new offensive linemen starting with a left tackle, we need to get younger faster wide receivers that are dependable, and we need to get younger faster and taller players in the secondary that are dependable and can cover. Oh yea, and we need new coaches. I wouldn’t shed a single tear if Mike Vrabel were to get fired in a couple of weeks!!!
#TitanUp
