Tennessee Titans: 5 takeaways from Week 9 loss to Panthers
![CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 03: Head coach Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans talks to his players in the first quarter during their game at Bank of America Stadium on November 03, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 03: Head coach Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans talks to his players in the first quarter during their game at Bank of America Stadium on November 03, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Ftitansized-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2016-2F04-2F1185282470-850x560-307e1ba6fab6bb1a19f5770bf7f03dd28bdc5e0a0cf438568b560ebebb616d3d.jpg)
2. Fire. Arthur. Smith.
Remember at the beginning of the season when we were all bright-eyed believers in Arthur Smith, who we all thought could turn things around as the offensive coordinator? Yeah, those days are long gone.
It’s not like we didn’t already know that coming into the Week 9 game against the Panthers, but the loss did once again instill that Smith has no clue what he’s doing.
Smith called a pass-heavy game in the first half against one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. Adding insult to injury, Dion Lewis was given more carries in the first two quarters than Derrick Henry, and he ended up fumbling away one of those carries.
Corey Davis had one target until late in the fourth quarter, and the Titans’ fifth receiver, Kalif Raymond, saw two targets down the stretch with the Titans trailing by two scores. One of his targets was picked off, partly because he ran a poor route.
We can also point to Smith calling for a screen pass late in the fourth quarter with the Titans trailing, which was followed up by a sweep to Lewis on third-and-1 that ultimately failed miserably.
It doesn’t matter who is behind center because as long as Arthur Smith is running this offense, there is no hope that things will get better much better.
He. Must. Go.