Things have gone from bad to worse for Brian Callahan’s team. For the second time this season, the Tennessee Titans have lost three consecutive games. The basement dwellers in the AFC South have made a steady habit of turning over the ball, as well as allowing their opponents to close out the game in resounding fashion.
The latest example was a lopsided 52-14 loss to the red-hot Lions at Detroit. Many of the final numbers favored the Titans, with the important exception of the final score. Callahan’s team continues to come out of the gate fairly strong for the most part, but the Titans have lacked staying power.
All told, the club’s 1-6 start is their worst since an identical seven-game mark in 2015.
The Titans own the worst record in the AFC
What went right: The talented Mr. Ridley
The team’s high-priced offseason acquisition easily had his best game of his brief tenure with the franchise. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley entered Sunday’s game with very disappointing numbers. In six outings, the one-time first-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons had seen 36 throws his way, but he had totaled only a dozen catches for 183 yards and one TD, although he had also rushed for one touchdown.
On Sunday against the Lions’ shaky pass defense, Ridley seized the moment. He was targeted 15 times and pulled down 10 passes for 143 yards. The next-highest targeted player was veteran Tyler Boyd (6).
Not all the news was good. Ridley lost a fumble in the third quarter, the first turnover by a non-Titans quarterback this season. However, this performance could be a sign of better things to come.
What went right: Early first-half stalemate
Seven days after jumping out to a 10-0 lead at Buffalo, in an eventual 34-10 loss, the Titans once again got off to a good start in their first appearance at Ford Field since 2016. Callahan’s team was far from perfect as starting quarterback Mason Rudolph was picked off on the club’s first possession. That led to a TD run by Detroit’s David Montgomery, and Tennessee was down, 7-0, less than five minutes into the game.
To their credit, the underdog Titans kept their heads, and battled the NFC North leader tooth and nail. Rudolph’s 11-yard touchdown run and subsequent PAT tied the score. Ten seconds later, Jahmyr Gibbs ran 70 yards for a score and Dan Campbell’s team reclaimed the lead, however Tennessee countered with a touchdown and the game was even at 14-all early in the second quarter. It was all downhill from there.
What went wrong: Turnover streak continues
For the record, the Titans have now played nine straight games in which the team has committed at least one turnover. Of course, that includes all seven outings this season. Only the Las Vegas Raiders (17) have given up the ball more times than Callahan’s club (16), and the Silver and Black has played in one more contest this season. This time around, more than just the Titans’ quarterbacks were guilty of the miscues.
While Rudolph threw a pair of first-half interceptions, there was not only the aforementioned lost fumble by Ridley, but tight end Chig Okonkwo coughed up the football on the fourth play of the fourth quarter. It added up to a season-high four turnovers for the club. Callahan’s quarterbacks have teamed for 10 picks, and the club owns a minus-13 turnover differential, both marks tied for the worst in the NFL.
What went wrong: Squandered defensive opportunities
The Tennessee Titans remain the league’s top-ranked defensive unit in terms of fewest yards and passing yards allowed per game. That’s almost hard to believe considering the team was tagged for 52 points and six offensive touchdowns. However, keep in mind that Lions were limited to a season-low 225 total yards. Detroit had gained at least 360-plus yards in each of their first six outings of the season.
While Campbell’s club did run for 164 yards and two scores, 127 of those yards and one TD by Gibbs, the Tennessee defense kept Lions’ quarterback Jared Goff in check. Granted, he did complete 12-of-15 passes and threw three touchdowns, but the Titans sacked him four times and he fumbled twice. What’s the point? That heat translated into zero takeaways. Tennessee has forced a league-low three turnovers.
What went wrong: Kick coverage less than special
How on Earth do you give up 133 total yards in the first half and still surrender 35 points? How do you limit one of the top offenses in the league to 225 total yards and allow six offensive TDs and a whopping 52 points? How do you finish the afternoon with 416 yards of offense, out-gain your opponent by 191 yards, and lose a game by 31 points? There’s a third aspect to football, and it’s been a Titans’ sore spot.
This season, Ryan Stonehouse has had two punts blocked, one for a score in the Week 1 loss to the Bears. Tennessee’s kick coverage has been erratic, and was abysmal on Sunday. Lions’ wideout Kalif Raymond took five punts for a total of 190 yards, including a 90-yard score. Khalil Dorsey returned back a second-quarter kickoff 72 yards. That’s a combined 262 yards, more than the Lions’ offense managed on Sunday.