Titans self-sabotage with poor decision making in 17-14 loss to Chargers
Here we are again. Another week, another uninspired effort by the Tennessee Titans (7-7) that resulted in a heartbreaking loss. The Titans will leave Los Angeles as losers of four in a row on Sunday after falling to the Chargers 17-14 on a last second field goal by Cameron Dicker. This one had all the […]
Here we are again. Another week, another uninspired effort by the Tennessee Titans (7-7) that resulted in a heartbreaking loss. The Titans will leave Los Angeles as losers of four in a row on Sunday after falling to the Chargers 17-14 on a last second field goal by Cameron Dicker.
This one had all the elements of a classic 2022 Titans loss: Bad offensive line play, special teams woes, and a wave of injuries. More frustrating that any of that, though, is the Titans once again self-sabotaging a winnable game with poor decision-making and play-calling.
While head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Todd Downing will undoubtedly stand at the podium throughout this week and attribute the team's lack of offensive success to "execution", and say that "there was a lot of good" in today's performance, nobody will be buying it.
Titans coaches may be dealing with injuries all over the roster and subpar talent (particularly on the offense), but they did themselves no favors on Sunday. The decision-making and play-calling put the players in a position to fail, and they have nobody to blame but themselves.
Questionable Calls
For whatever reason, despite the Chargers having the worst run defense in the NFL and getting five yards per carry from star running back Derrick Henry, Tennessee decided to go away from Henry in the situations that needed him most.
Coming out of halftime, two of Tennessee's first three drives resulted in a punt after the Titans decided to pass the ball on 3rd and 2 instead of put it in the hands of 22. On one of those plays, Henry wasn't even on the field and the Titans' drive stalled out around midfield.
Going to the pass and trying to stay balanced is one thing, but you better have Henry on the field and run play-action. If you're not going to give him the ball, at least make the defense think that you are. But no, Tennessee let a hobbled Ryan Tannehill drop back and fire an incompletion, and punted away a huge opportunity for points.
Later on in the game, Tennessee once again cost themselves points by getting away from Henry.
As the fourth quarter began, the Titans sustained a drive deep into Chargers territory. A 13-yard run by Henry set up first down from the LAC 25. Instead of sticking to the ground game, the Titans decided to pass, and their offensive line let them down. Tannehill was sacked for a loss of six yards, and after Henry gained seven yards back to bring Tennessee back into field goal range, the Titans once again lost yards trying to throw the ball.
That lost yardage of the sack would then force Randy Bullock into a 51-yard field goal attempt, which he would miss, resulting in an empty possession. That's the difference in the game right there.
It really is baffling that the Titans felt the need to go away from Derrick Henry when everything else suggests they should do the opposite. This is a team and a coaching staff that does not shy away from their run-first identity, but in a short-yardage scenario against the worst run defense in the league, they insist on passing?
Henry has every right to be livid. Titans fans should be too. Yet another game that has slipped away as the Jacksonville Jaguars continue to creep up into the AFC South race.
Image via Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
