I don’t think any of us expected this Tennessee Titans team to go very far in the playoffs this year, given what a liability this team’s defense was all season. But, a first round exit to the Baltimore Ravens does sting quite a bit. And, that disappointment is compounded by the fact that the defense actually played its best game of the season. They held the Ravens to 20 points. If you had told me that before the game on Sunday, I’m over the moon thinking this is a lock for the Titans!
But, all due respect to the Ravens, the Titans did plenty to shoot themselves in the foot yesterday. Quarterback Lamar Jackson had a great game rushing, going for 136 yards, including 48-yard back-breaking touchdown run. The Ravens defense was effective in stopping Derrick Henry – clogging up gaps, and hitting him before he could get going. Henry was held to just 40 yards on 18 carries. The Ravens made key adjustments at the half where the Titans didn’t. And, yet – the Titans still had a chance to go win this game in the 4th quarter. As it often does this time of year, the swing in favor of the Ravens boiled down to a few critical lapses.
The one that has Titans Twitter in a fit, calling for Mike Vrabel‘s job, is punting on 4th & 2 from the Baltimore 40. Folks, your guess is as good as mine. Vrabel said he was trying to play the field position game and felt like his defense was doing a good enough job to hold serve. But, for a guy who has been aggressive his entire career as a head coach, this felt like an odd spot to dial the aggression back.
But, let’s not just be hard on Vrabel here – that whole series was mind-boggling. Arthur Smith didn’t have the best day calling plays, but this stretch of four plays feels like the worst of it. On 1st & 10, Henry runs left for eight yards, setting up 2nd & 2. From there, Ryan Tannehill threw two incompletions before the Titans ultimately decided to punt on 4th & 2. I know it wasn’t Henry’s best day – but you’re telling me you don’t think he could pick up two yards in three tries? This seems like a good example of those times we say “Smith overthinks things on occasion.” That was a dumb series capped off by an uncharacteristic instance of cowardice from the top dog, and it cost the Titans greatly.
Then, there’s that interception that Tannehill threw to Marcus Peters. What a catastrophic play on several levels. First of all, it could’ve easily been pass interference as Peters clearly bumps Kalif Raymond before he hits the ground. I was surprised that there was a flag for Willie Snead barely setting a pick, but not for that. Then, you have to ask…did Peters really hit Raymond hard enough for him to hit the deck like that? I mean…it looked like he just fell down. WTF is going on here, guys?
But, then – you watch the play back, and it just twists the knife when you see AJ Brown, who was one of the few Titans to have a stellar game yesterday, streaking downfield wide open. No idea why Tannehill was dead set on Raymond on that play – he didn’t even look Brown’s way, which seems like a really bad decision in hindsight…
The sad part?
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 10, 2021
Ryan Tannehill had AJ Brown open for a deep touchdown.pic.twitter.com/iht7wvgbP1
What could’ve been…
These are the two that everyone seems to be talking about this morning, but there’s a third. That opening drive in the second half was the big body blow that loosened everything up. I watched the first half wondering why the Ravens weren’t doing more pre-snap motions and the misdirections in the run game, and then BAM – they came out SWINGIN’ in the second half.
It was their second of three 10+-play, 5+-minute drives, and it was the tone-setter. Greg Roman got into a rhythm calling plays, they used a lot more of the smoke and mirrors we’ve seen from the Ravens all season, and they made a statement that they were imposing their will on the Titans. They used fullback/defensive tackle/big thicc boi Patrick Ricard as a battering ram, and ran the ball with force with Jackson and JK Dobbins. They put points on the board on that drive, AND they chewed up enough clock that the Titans ran out of time in the 4th quarter. A stop there and maybe the complexion of that second half changes.
It’s a disappointing way for this season to end for the Titans, who won 11 games and the AFC South in spite of some major issues and inconsistency. But, all things considered, I stop short of calling this season a failure. They’re not all that far away, and over the last three years, Vrabel and company have done well to establish this franchise as a perennial playoff contender. Beefing up the pass rush will be a top priority this offseason, but the things that need to be fixed aren’t so overwhelming that it can’t be done in a single offseason. They just can’t afford another draft like 2020’s, or else we will be looking at a step back.
Beating a team three times in a row is hard to do. Sometimes, you’re the bully. Sometimes, you’re getting stuffed in a locker. Shit happens in the NFL.
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, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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