The Tennessee Titans earned their best overall PFF grade of the season Sunday. They also scored a season-low seven points and fell to 0-3 after a 12-7 loss to the New York Giants.
Those two facts do not seem like they should belong in the same game. But unfortunately, they do.
According to PFF, the Titans improved from a 54.6 overall grade in Week 1 to 62.4 in Week 2 and 64.5 against the Giants. The biggest change came on defense, which climbed from 51.1 to 60.8 and then 74.4.
The offense did very little with that help. Its first five possessions were three-and-outs. Tennessee finished the first half with 54 yards, no points and a missed 59-yard field goal in miserable conditions.
The Titans moved the ball in Week 3, but it didn't matter
The defense kept the game within reach. It erased Chimere Dike’s fumble on the opening kickoff by forcing a punt after five plays and minus-one yard. The Giants finished with 238 yards and never reached the end zone, although playing Jameis Winston in the rain instead of injured starter Jaxson Dart certainly helped.
The offense finally woke up after halftime. The Titans gained 208 yards over three possessions, and each drive lasted at least 12 plays and reached inside the Giants’ 10-yard line.
Those three drives produced seven points.
The first one showed exactly where the game slipped away. Tony Pollard carried six times for 38 yards, including gains of 12 and five yards that moved the ball to the Giants’ 7. Tennessee then threw three straight incompletions and turned it over on downs.
The Titans returned to the Giants' seven-yard line on their final possession. With the game on the line, they threw again, and Ward’s pass intended for Elic Ayomanor was intercepted in the end zone with 24 seconds remaining. Across those two trips to the 7, the Titans called four pass plays, completed none and never gave Pollard a single opportunity.
The Titans have not committed to the running game consistently enough. They rushed for 68 yards in Week 1, climbed to 122 in Week 2 and fell back to 81 against the Giants. Their only game above 100 rushing yards was also their highest-scoring game. With Pollard moving the ball Sunday, going away from him inside the 10 was even harder to understand.
The Titans did some things better, but the ending felt painfully familiar. The defense did enough. The protection gave Ward time. The offense put together three long second-half drives, then failed to finish when the game was there to be won.
But better grades will not change an 0-3 record. Against the Baltimore Ravens next week, the Titans cannot waste an entire half and expect another chance from the 7-yard line to save them.
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