4. Tennessee Titans (2-3)
Week 5 AFC South ranking: No. 4
Recap: The Tennessee Titans were involved in a defensive battle against the Buffalo Bills in Week 5 and lost that battle. Buffalo’s defensive front abused Tennessee’s offensive line, particularly in the first half, and quarterback Marcus Mariota was unable to get anything going through the air. It also didn’t help that the Titans missed all four of their field goal attempts in the 14-7 loss.
Pros: The Titans defense remains elite and had another strong showing on Sunday. The most frustrating part about the Titans is that if their offense can be semi-competent, they have the defense to win most games.
Cons: Tennessee’s offensive line remains an issue, even with the return of left tackle Taylor Lewan. The thing is, Mariota isn’t even playing that badly, it’s just that he can’t get enough time to throw the football and make plays. At this point, I’d be surprised if he makes it through the season healthy with the way this group upfront is consistently letting him down.
Outlook: Who knows where the Titans go from here based on the incredible inconsistency they’ve shown through five games. While a matchup with a 1-4 Denver Broncos team seems promising, it is on the road and we have no idea which Titans team will show up.