3. Don’t leave points on the field
Much of the conversation of late has been in regards to head coach Mike Vrabel‘s decision-making. You’ll find the argument on both sides of the fence to be valid as neither stance is particularly right or wrong. That’s why it’s called strategy. Vrabel wants to put the final nail in the coffin as early as the opportunity presents itself.
The problem with this is that the Titans have nearly lost games by leaving points on the field. What if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—down 27-23—rallied in Week 8 and scored a late touchdown to defeat the Titans at home?
This would be an entirely different conversation, and we’d be demanding the head of whoever left three points on the field. That’s the position Vrabel put them in when he denied K Cody Parkey (who was having a good day) an opportunity to extend the lead to seven. And that’s just the most recent example.
There have been “player miscues” as well, as the Titans fell to the Buffalo Bills in Week 5 when former K Cairo Santos missed four field goals—a 12 point swing.
So, whether it’s a split-second decision from Vrabel, a dropped TD pass, or a missed field goal, the Titans have to avoid making the crucial mistake in this game. There is no room for error, not when facing a team like the Carolina Panthers who, by the way, were just embarrassed by the San Francisco 49ers in Week 8 (51-13) and are undoubtedly hungry for revenge.