Titans rookie JC Latham had an abysmal game in Week 12, but it doesn't matter

Tennessee Titans rookie offensive tackle JC Latham has been outstanding this season. After initially struggling in Week 1, Latham would go on to allow just six quarterback pressures in the next four games. Heading into Sunday's Week 12 showdown versus the Houston Texans, the blindside protector had allowed eight pressures in Tennessee's most recent four contests.

That's precisely why Sunday's lackluster showing against the Texans was a blip on the radar. Titans starting quarterback Will Levis was sacked on eight occasions, some of which were his fault due to poor pocket presence and movement. When Levis wasn't to blame, there's a decent chance that Latham was at the center of the struggles in pass protection.

Latham earned arguably his most difficult assignment of the season in Texans pass rusher Danielle Hunter. The four-time Pro Bowler recorded three sacks and was routinely matched up with Latham. Fellow Texans EDGE Will Anderson Jr. also beat his fellow Alabama alumni for a quarterback takedown.

Pro Football Focus officially credited Latham with allowing two sacks and five total pressures. It tied season-high marks in both categories for Latham. He was last blamed for allowing two sacks against the Buffalo Bills in Week 7, and hadn't allowed five pressures in a single-game performance since the aforementioned debut game against the Chicago Bears in Week 1.

Latham's pass-blocking score of 29.2 was by far his worst mark of the campaign to date. The ex-Crimson Tide performer fared significantly better as a run blocker. Latham was assigned a run blocking score of 69.5. Ironically enough, it was his second-highest score of the campaign, with his best occurring versus the Bears in Week 1 (82.6). Tony Pollard rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown via 24 carries, routinely punishing the Texans via an effective ground-game.

Latham has addressed a major need for the Titans this season. Between Dennis Daley and Andre Dillard, the team arguably fielded the two worst left tackles in the league consecutively in 2022 and 2023. Lackluster showings like Sunday's will occasionally occur when the pass rushers on the opposite side are as talented as Anderson Jr. and Hunter are.

Latham has been one of the more consistent rookies and offensive tackles in the league this season. General manager Ran Carthon and head coach Brian Callahan should be extremely pleased with his outputs through the first 11 games of his professional career. Consider Sunday an anomaly, not the norm for Latham.