There’s no other way to describe it. The Tennessee Titans got their asses handed to them in yesterday’s 38-10 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. It was just the third definitive game they’ve played this season, which is to say that we still don’t know a whole hell of a lot about who and what this Titans team really is. They definitively lost to the Baltimore Ravens, destroyed the New England Patriots, and then definitively lost to the Colts.
We are 10 games into the season. Time is running out. When they play well, they play like one of the best teams in the NFL, but when they don’t, they seem to completely cave in on themselves. I can’t recall seeing a team with such dramatic ups and downs.
Perhaps nothing is more indicative of this than the last two weeks. Dominating the Pats and looking like a Super Bowl team vs. having the Colts bend them over the barrel and show them the 50 states, if you know what I mean. It’s the full spectrum of what they’re capable of – from competing for championships to competing for the first overall draft pick.
The thing is – this team has a lot of talent. But, the issues that are plaguing the Titans right now – the inconsistency, the discipline – those would seem to suggest the underlying problem comes down to effort and to “buying in.” This team can’t handle success, plain and simple. It’s been demonstrated twice now this season now.
First, they defeat the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles (who, it turns out, aren’t actually very good) to jump out to a 3-1 start. Taylor Lewan was demanding more respect from the national media, but what happened? The Titans lost a close one to the Buffalo Bills, who are now 3-7. They followed that up by getting completely shut down by the Ravens, and losing to the Los Angeles Chargers by a point after they failed on a two-point conversion attempt in London. If you’re going to demand respect, you better on performances worth respecting.
Then, the bye week came, and after the team defeated the Dallas Cowboys soundly on Monday Night Football, they rocked the Pats. It was an absolutely dominant performance. People were calling it the “signature win” for the franchise and saying that that game marked the Titans offense turning the corner with Matt LaFleur. Suddenly, we’re all looking at the schedule and saying, “hey, they have an opportunity to really stockpile some wins here.”
But, they respond to that by coming out completely flat against the Colts. Andrew Luck is now 10-0 against the Titans, and at no point did the Titans even make it hard for the guy. That game was all Colts from the jump.
I understand that this is probably one of the worst things you can say about a football team, but when the Colts raced out to a 24-3 lead, it just felt like the Titans rolled over.
T.Y. Hilton beat Adoree Jackson pretty badly on a touchdown reception, but that wasn’t as bad as Jackson failing to complete the tackle that led to Hilton’s second score. Malcolm Butler couldn’t hang with Zach Pascal, and missed a couple of tackles on his own. Butler was later beat on a touchdown to Dontrelle Inman, then got called for unnecessary roughness. I don’t recall who it was, but someone was called for unsportsmanlike conduct. Don’t get me wrong, either – Butler and Jackson weren’t the only guilty parties. People were missing tackles left and right. Hell, Jordan Wilkins hit the end zone completely untouched. The offensive line played like hot garbage.
Guys just looked lost, and like they didn’t want to play out there.
Then, there’s the injury concern over Marcus Mariota. I don’t envy the position that Jon Robinson and the coaching staff are in right now. Looks like the elbow issue may have reared its ugly head again. What do you do with this guy? Feels like they’re in a no-win situation right now. Mariota can’t stay healthy, but there aren’t any better options out there. Nonetheless, Blaine Gabbert started the second half and made one of the worst interceptions I’ve ever seen.
For a long time, people didn’t want to talk about it. But, now even the most loyal of Titans fans are voicing their displeasure with this team’s effort. Rightfully so, because it’s been pretty difficult to stomach losses like yesterday’s.
I’ve made the joke every week – “we’re __ games into the season and we know nothing about the Titans.” It seems that I keep recycling that line, but in all seriousness, there are very few truths about this team that they’ve proven. What are they?
- It’s a young team with a rookie head coach and that shows.
- They are in a tough spot at quarterback.
- Malcolm Butler is not who the Titans paid him to be.
- The offensive line has regressed.
That’s what they’ve shown us, so that’s what they are. “You are what your record says you are.” The 2018 Titans are anything but a contender.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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