How close are the Tennessee Titans to competing?
NASHVILLE — By record alone, the 2023 Tennessee Titans have been a major disappointment and are one of the worst teams in the National Football League. With two games to go in the 2023 NFL regular season, Tennessee is 5-10 and holding the 7th overall pick in next year's draft. But if the Titans lose […]
NASHVILLE — By record alone, the 2023 Tennessee Titans have been a major disappointment and are one of the worst teams in the National Football League.
With two games to go in the 2023 NFL regular season, Tennessee is 5-10 and holding the 7th overall pick in next year's draft. But if the Titans lose out, there's a good chance that pick would land somewhere in the Top 5.
Teams who pick in the Top 5 on draft day very rarely find themselves in the playoffs that next season. So just how close are the Titans to turning things around and concerning in 2024?
One Score Losses
While the team is 5-10, seven of the Titans' losses have come in one score games.
Even if you just look at Tennessee's last four games, it's evident how much different the outlook of this season would be if a few plays went their way. The Titans lost to both the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans in overtime after missing an extra point in regulation in both games. There were countless moments in each of those games that could have swung the outcome in favor of Tennessee.
Then there's Sunday's loss to the Seattle Seahawks. A game that the Titans led with less than two minutes remaining. At the two-minute warning, Seattle was trailing 17-13 with a 3rd & 14 from their own 32-yard line. A defensive holding call against Tre Avery extended the drive and led to the Seahawks scoring a game-winning touchdown.
That's three games. All should have been won. The Titans let them all get away. Instead of sitting at 5-10 and in the basement of the AFC South, there's an argument to be made that Tennessee should be 8-7 and in the middle of the division race.
Titans Are Close
If you asked Mike Vrabel, he'd tell you that the Titans being in so many close games this season is an indicator that the team is, if nothing else, close.
But how can that be possible? There are always going to be close games played in professional football. The good teams separate themselves by winning the close ones and knowing how to finish.
A big reason why the Titans have seven one score losses is because their team lacks the talent to execute crucial plays at the end of games. They get called for devastating penalties. They have too many negative offensive plays. They have below average special teams units. Those are all things that can get you beat.
I don't believe the 2023 Titans are an 8-7 football team that had some unfortunate luck late in games. I believe this is a 5-10 team that has played poorly enough to lose games they had under control. But I also believe this team can be just one offseason away from contention.
The fact that the Titans have been competitive in so many games with as many roster deficiinecies and they have is a really positive sign for next season. tennessee will likely have a Top 10, maybe even Top 5 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. They'll also have over $80 million in cap space to utilize.
Sure they have needs at offensive line, linebacker, cornerback, safety, and wide receiver…But imagine what adding $80 million of free agents and three Top 100 draft selections could do to this roster. The core is solid. Will Levis, Tyjae, Spears, DeAndre Hopkins, Jeffery Simmons, and Amani Hooker are all quality players under team control next season. When that group gets properly supplemented, things could take off in Music City.
Derrick Henry could easily make more NFL history on Sunday
More milestones are coming for King Henry.
