TSC Temp Check: Titans Approaching ‘Do-Or-Die’ After Three-Game Skid

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Sunday is going to be a major feat for the Titans as they head to Los Angeles to face the LA Chargers in an attempt to snap a three-game losing streak.

Tennessee still sits in first place with a 7-6 record but their loss to division rivals Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Dec. 11 wasn’t just a blow to their division lead but was also a huge blow to morale.

The Titans loss to the Jaguars was one of the franchises worst losses of the season, losing to their division rival at home for the first time since 2013. With just four games left, two against the Dallas Cowboys and Chargers and two against the Texans and Jags, they can find a way to clinch the division but a lot needs to be tweaked if they want to bounce back after last weekend’s disaster.

After a week where ownership announced the firing of general manager Jon Robinson and back-to-back losses, the Titans had an opportunity to come back, show how united they were and beat up on a struggling rival. The opposite happened.

Against the Jaguars, the Titans showed confidence and excitement in the first quarter, scoring in their opening drive with great work by Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry. But it didn’t take long for the Jags to figure out the team. All they needed was a quarter and a half of play and they completely flipped the script.

Ryan Tannehill. Photo: Courtesy of the Tennessee Titans

It also didn’t help that the Titans had four turnovers in the game, including two in the first half which lead to back-to-back scores from Jacksonville. The first came off a sack fumble which occurred when the Jaguars defensive line blew up the left side of the Titans offensive line and Tannehill’s blindside. Another example of how the offensive lien has truly held back the Titans this season.

Later in the second quarter when the Titans led 14-7, they were marching down the field and Tannehill was looking great, making passes and finding receivers like Robert Woods. But a poor Tannehill interception on a miscommunicated play gave the Jags the ball right back.

The Jaguars would kick a field goal to make it 14-10 and would take control of the game from here on out. Trevor Lawrence showed up big time and would go on to destroy the Titans secondary. It looked like all Jacksonville needed was a quarter to figure out the Titans before taking command and never looking back.

Tennessee’s third quarter was horrendous as they failed to produce anything on offense as their defense continued to be crushed. As Henry looked great in the first half, he was nowhere to be seen in the second. His performance in the final 30 minutes was in the complete opposite direction.

The team has relied on Henry’s production so many times and it has paid off, but this time, the lack of creativity on offense truly stifled any momentum the Titans could build.

Photo: Courtesy of the Tennessee Titans

So what needs to happen in the Titans next game against a scrappy Chargers team who are fighting for a play off spot?

First off, the Titans need to allow Tannehill to continue to hit his receivers to build confidence in the passing game. Without a true No. 1 guy, the passing game has been quite flat this season. In the game against the Jaguars, Tannehill found Chig Okonkwo and Woods multiple times. Tennessee needs to build off of this positive take and try to create some energy around Tannehill.

Secondly, their defense needs to shutdown Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert early and force them to play catch-up. If the Titans were able to do that in the first half more often, the Jaguars would’ve had a steeper hill to climb. But all of this also relies on the coaching staff.

Mike Vrabel needs to make tough and dire decisions with moves on the offensive line and in special teams to help prevent disasters we’ve already seen this season. And offensive coordinator Todd Downing has to coach a game with some sort of creativity as his job may be on the line if the Titans offense fails to produce and Tennessee loses a fourth-straight.

A few weeks ago, Vrabel said the team was at a ‘crossroads’ and they went on to lose to the Jaguars at home. Talk is cheap now and they have to make moves in the right direction and show real progress that can lift the team to the playoffs and beyond.

Steven Boero
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