Analysis: Despite The Win, The Titans Still Have Work To Do Ahead Of Bye Week

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Ryan Tannehill vs. the New York Giants on Sept. 11. Photo: Courtesy of the Tennessee Titans

The Titans are getting a much needed break this week with a bye after just barely beating the last place Washington Commanders 21-17 on Sunday (Oct. 9).

This marked Tennessee’s third straight win, but they are still struggling to muster up any offense in the second half. In each of the last three wins, the Titans have scored just two touchdowns in the second half, tallying no points against the Raiders, and seven against the Colts and Commanders. Their victory over the Colts on Oct 2 was the only win of the season so far where the team had at least a one score lead.

These issues need to be flattened out if they want a chance to be at the top of the AFC South.

“[These players] have a responsibility to the football team that when they can’t perform and do their job, they stay here and get treatment,” said head coach Mike Vrabel in his Oct. 10 press conference. “I don’t think they are going to have much of a vacation outside of [the training facility].”

Injuries continue to plague the team with inactives this past weekend, including Ugo Amadi, Amani Hooker, Bud Dupree and Nate Davis. Davis is just another member of the offensive line to be sidelined for injury as questions regarding the line continue to grow bigger and bigger. Coming into the season, the O-line was one of the biggest concerns about the Titans and, so far, it has been their biggest obstacle.

Second-year O-lineman Dillon Radunz had to replace Davis on short notice and did enough to help the Titans win, which was recognized by Vrabel who celebrated Randuz’s last minute performance.

“I thought that Dillon had some good plays going against a very good front, interior rushers and active linebackers,” Vrabel explained. “I thought he went in there and played well enough for us to win.”

Earlier this season, veteran tackle Taylor Lewan announced a season-ending surgery. With the lack of experience from Randunz and rookie Nicholas Petit-Frere, the Titans have a lot of work to do to get these guys up to par for the remainder of the season, pending any future injuries.

Another injury that’s raising concerns is first round draft pick Treylon Burks who was hurt in the Titans win against the Colts and placed on the Injured Reserve list ahead of the Commanders game. The Titans are lucky his injury came right before the Bye Week as he’ll have time to rest up and get ready for the remainder of the season.

So far, Burks has shown some glimpses of talent, but has yet to make a real mark on the team. In the four games he’s played in, he’s had a high of five catches and a high of 55 yards–which came in Week 1–with no touchdowns. Reworking him as a valuable scorer will need to be one of the priorities for Vrabel and offensive coordinator Todd Downing.

“We’ll use the time to the best of our advantage to try and get guys healthy and give some guys some rest that have played a lot of football for us,” Vrabel noted. “We’ll find ways to improve.”

One of the more positive notes for the season thus far is how well the defense is playing despite the injuries and poor performances by Caleb Farley.

Outside of the Monday Night Football disaster against the Buffalo Bills, the Titans defense has only given up 76 points. In the past two games, Tennessee has only given up four touchdowns. They had one interception and three forced fumbles against both the Colts and Commanders, and the interception against the Commanders was an extremely clutch game-ender by David Long Jr.

This Bye Week is also a great opportunity to get the defense healthy ahead of its matchup against the Colts at Nissan Stadium. The Titans defense can be the team’s saving grace if the offense continues to struggle throughout the season. Members of the defense who are on the injured reserve include, Amdi, Hooker, Dupree, Joe Jones, Zach Cunningham and Ola Adeniyi.

In the end, the Titans still have a lot of work to do, and it probably won’t be finished by the Bye Week.

Taking advantage of the rest of the AFC South’s weaknesses will be key if the Titans can’t pull their head above water. They just need to win the division and, for how bad the rest of the field is, they have a very good shot if they can get healthy and stay healthy.

Steven Boero
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