The Tennessee Titans’ losing streak continued on Sunday when the team dropped its Week 15 game against the Los Angeles Chargers by a score of 17-14, pushing the skid to four.
The offense was the reason the Titans lost this game, as the defense kept Tennessee in it with an impressive effort that nobody was expecting considering all the injuries the unit is dealing with.
And, in what has been the story of the 2022 campaign, the Titans saw several more injuries in the losing effort.
When Tennessee’s offense wasn’t setting itself back with penalties, there were drive-killing sacks, typical bad play-calling, and a turnover, all of which combined to stifle the Titans’ offense en route to just 14 points.
Despite all the issues, the Titans nearly forced the game into overtime with a late touchdown drive, but the defense couldn’t hold it down, as Los Angeles mustered up a six-play, 52-yard series with under one minute remaining to secure the victory with a field goal.
It’s hard to get on Tennessee’s defense too much for that drive, as it more than held up its end of the bargain throughout. Unfortunately, the offense didn’t do enough to support it.
Now, the rest of everything we know about Week 15.
Final score: Chargers 17, Titans 14
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| TEN | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| LAC | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
It was over when...
Cameron Dicker booted a 43-yard field goal with four seconds remaining to give the Chargers a 17-14 lead. Tennessee would get a kick return after, but was unable to do anything with it.
Titans' top performers
RB Derrick Henry: 21 carries, 104 yards, TD; 4 catches, 59 yards
CB Roger McCreary: 3 tackles, PD – McCreary’s assist on Joshua Kalu’s interception was one of the best heads-up plays you will ever see.
DB Joshua Kalu: 2 tackles (1 for loss), PD, INT – Kalu pulled off a great toe drag to make McCreary’s incredible assist stand.
DL DeMarcus Walker: 5 tackles (2 for loss), 2 sacks, 2 QB hits
Instant analysis
-The Titans actually appeared to be going with a rotation at left tackle early on in this game but that ended after Radunz left due to injury. The Titans had plenty of those on Sunday.
-Pass protection was fine early on in this game, but that changed as it progressed. Any time the Titans seemed to get momentum offensively, the group upfront would allow a sack. The biggest weakness was the left side once again, with Brewer and Daley letting up sacks.
-Run-blocking was much better this time around, though, and Henry finished with 104 yards and five yards per carry. The King also continues to be involved in the passing game, one of the few good things Todd Downing has done.
-Speaking of Downing, it was status quo. I won’t waste anymore words on him.
-Ryan Tannehill was banged-up from the jump after getting his ankle rolled on the first drive of the game. After being carted to the locker room, Tannehill came back onto the field was able to gut it out with a heavily taped ankle.
-Tannehill was the beneficiary of some big plays by Henry and Chig Okonkwo, otherwise the Titans might’ve scored less and his line would look even worse. He made a bad decision on a deep ball to Racey McMath that was double covered in Titans territory, leading to an interception. It’s not all on Tannehill, though, as there were all the typical issues going on around him, like bad pass protection, play-calling and drops. Adding to all that, he was banged-up from the opening drive and that likely impacted his play.
-The Titans couldn’t score points on a drive late in the third quarter despite being at the Chargers’ 25. Tannehill was sacked twice, pushing a field goal back to over 50 yards, which Randy Bullock missed. The Titans must seek out a kicker with a bigger leg in 2023, because Bullock can’t make them beyond 50.
-The Titans’ pass-rush was better than it had been in weeks despite not having Denico Autry again. Walker notched a pair of sacks, and Big Jeff had one. The Titans had four sacks in their last four games combined, so this was progress.
-The Titans’ secondary did a good job of keeping Chargers receivers in front of them for the most part and didn’t give up easy points. The Chargers were 4-13 on third downs but 2-2 on fourth downs.
-The secondary even forced a pair of turnovers, with Kalu (with an assist from McCreary) and Kevin Byard each notching one. The two turnovers were more than the Titans had in the last five games combined (zero).
-The Titans were 2-2 in the red zone but just 3-11 on third downs.
Injuries
Yes, this list is real. I lost track at one point, so this might be missing a few. Safe to say it’s full steam ahead to 92.
QB Ryan Tannehill (ankle): Tannehill suffered the right ankle injury on the first offensive series of the game for the Titans. The veteran was carted to the locker room but would later return with his ankle heavily taped.
LB Dylan Cole (ankle): Cole went down in the second quarter but was able to return.
CB Terrance Mitchell (hamstring): Mitchell was ruled out almost immediately after exiting in the second quarter.
OL Dillon Radunz(knee): Radunz was banged-up in the second quarter. He did not come back in.
S Andrew Adams (wrist): Adams limped off in the second quarter but returned to the game.
DB Josh Thompson (concussion): Thompson was ruled out in the third quarter.
RG Nate Davis (ankle): Davis was shaken up in the fourth quarter. He did not return.
LB Jack Gibbens (calf): I give up…
What's next?
With the Titans’ (7-7) loss and the Jaguars’ (6-8) win, Tennessee’s lead in the AFC South shrinks to just one game with the Jaguars currently owning the head-to-head tie-breaker. Yes, it’s time to panic.
Next week’s game is the definition of a must-win game, and it comes against the Houston Texans, who sport the worst record in the league. However, the Texans have been quite frisky these last two weeks, almost beating the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys.
Nothing is a gimme for this team right now.
