What went right, what went wrong for the Titans vs. Commanders in Week 13

It was a rough outing for Brian Callahan’s team on Sunday. The Tennessee Titans were coming off their most impressive victory of the season, stunning the first-place Texans at Houston. However, before you could say “fight for old D.C.,” Callahan’s squad was down big to the Washington Commanders in the first quarter.

The troubling 42-19 defeat dropped Tennessee’s record to 3-9, ensuring the fact that the franchise would be finishing with a third consecutive losing campaign.

A lot went wrong vs. the Commanders on Sunday

What went wrong: Forgettable first quarter

Where to begin? The Titans’ first offensive snap resulted in a false start by rookie left tackle J.C. Latham. Running back Tony Pollard gained one yard. Second-and-14 would then become 2nd-and-19 when right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere was called for a false start. Quarterback Will Levis connected with Pollard on a short pass that resulted in a three-yard loss. An incompletion to Calvin Ridley on third down meant that Callahan’s club was punting on 4th-and 22.

Washington took over on their own 41, and Brian Robinson Jr. ran 50 yards for a score on the team’s third play from scrimmage. The Commanders would score a second touchdown on an 80-yard drive, then a third TD set up by a Pollard fumble. Jha’Quan Jackson fumbled the ensuing kickoff. After one quarter, Washington led, 21-0, and outgained the Titans, 170-24, in total yards.

What went wrong: What ground game?

That aforementioned Jackson fumble would set up a fourth Commanders’ touchdown, and Callahan’s team trailed 28-0 with 10:59 remaining before halftime. In the first quarter, Pollard totaled five carries for 21 yards. That meant that for the remainder of the afternoon, Tennessee totaled a mere six running plays for 14 yards. The 11 running plays tied a season-low for the club, and the 35 yards on the ground were the second-fewest by the team in 2024.

The numbers were very similar to the club’s 30-14 home loss to the Packers, when Callahan’s squad finished with 11 attempts for 33 yards. With that much time remaining in the game on Sunday, it appeared to be much too early for the Titans to abandon their ground game. Keep in mind that Washington entered Week 13 allowing the fourth-most rushing yards in the NFL per contest.

What went right: Sudden surge

With only 23 seconds left before intermission, Levis culminated a nine-play, 64-yard drive with a 27-yard scoring strike to (who else?) wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. The Titans were still down by 21 points, but hoped to carry that little bit of momentum into the second half. The defense rose up early in the third quarter and stymied the Commanders on their first possession. Tennessee got the ball, drove 40 yards in nine plays, and Nick Folk’s 41-yard field goal made it a 28-10 game.

Washington’s next possession resulted in a Jayden Daniels’ interception courtesy of Titans’ safety Amani Hooker (his 4th of the season), Folk added a 44-yard field goal, and suddenly Callahan’s club was down just 28-13 with 3:40 left in the third quarter. However, Washington responded with a 72-yard TD drive, and it was 35-13 with 14:15 remaining.

What went wrong: Defensive disaster

The Washington Commanders entered Sunday’s game losers of three in a row. The Titans were coming off a thrilling 32-27 road upset of the Texans. After 12 weeks of action, Dennard Wilson’s defense was giving up just 276.4 yards per game—second-best in the NFL—and the Titans were ranked first in the NFL in fewest passing yards per outing.

There was none of that in Landover, Maryland, on Sunday. Tennessee faced a season-high 77 offensive plays and surrendered a whopping 463 total yards. One week earlier vs. the Texans, Wilson’s unit allowed a mere 260 total yards. Washington’s offensive unit score a half-dozen touchdowns, the most since that humbling 52-14 loss at Detroit (6) in Week 8. Finally, Tennessee’s eight-ranked run defense was stomped to the tune of 267 yards. The Commanders made it look far too easy.

What went wrong: Pushed around by the NFC…again

The good news for Callahan and the Titans is that their final five games (in no particular order) include a pair with the Jaguars, a trip to Indianapolis, a rematch with the Texans, and a clash with the Bengals. Yes, that means the club is done facing opposition from the National Football Conference for the season.

Just like rival Jacksonville, Tennessee finished 0-5 vs. interconference competition (0-4 vs. the NFC North) this season. Those setbacks were by a combined 171-77 score, and Callahan’s club failed to reach the 20-point mark in any of those defeats. The Titans have committed 23 turnovers in 12 games this season, 13 in their five losses to the NFC. To be accurate, the AFC has had a rough year overall vs. the other conference—prevailing in 39 of the 67 match-ups to date. Of course, that’s very little solace for Callahan and company.