Following last Monday’s primetime victory over the Miami Dolphins, I ended up giving every single position group a passing grade in last week’s report card. The lowest mark went to the offensive line, who earned a respectable grade of a C-.
This week, it couldn’t have been any more different. Six positions received grades of D or worse, with the highest grade of the day going to the specialists, and even they didn’t get an A.
The Titans have now lost seven straight division games dating back to last season, and after being undefeated at home for most of the year, they’ve now lost consecutive games there as well. This season has been full of letdowns.
But if there’s one positive to hang our hats on, it’s the fact that it’s finally almost over, and we can start to rebuild this thing back into a winning product, hopefully, sooner rather than later.
For now, I suggest you don’t scroll down if you’re looking for an overly optimistic opinion on where things stand following Sunday’s 19-16 loss to the Texans’ B-team.
Quarterback: C
Will Levis picked up right where he left off against the Dolphins and had a tremendous start to Week 15. Sadly, that positive momentum disappeared as the game progressed.
While he made some good throws, Levis also threw several risky passes and even missed a streaking Treylon Burks, instead forcing the pass to DeAndre Hopkins, resulting in an interception.
You could argue that play-calling and poor protection held him back, but he certainly had his fair share of low moments.
Running backs: F
It was truly a horrendous day running the football.
Derrick Henry and Tyjae Spears combined for just 39 yards on 25 carries (1.56 YPC). To be fair, the run-blocking was abysmal, but it’s hard to justify that type of production for a team whose entire identity revolves around the run game.
Wide receivers: D
Treylon Burks finally produced a positive impact and Chris Moore had some fantastic moments as well. However, this group was largely a disappointment for most of the game.
Hopkins is usually a dominant presence out wide, but even he had some uncharacteristically bad drops, en route to 21 yards on two catches. As a whole, the receivers room finished with a combined 155 yards receiving.
Tight ends: C
Chig Okonkwo has sneakily been looking like the player we all fell in love with a year ago. He had a monster play in this game where he physically fought for extra yards to secure a much-needed first down.
Unfortunately, he came down awkwardly after one of his catches and was forced to leave the game for a little bit. He never appeared to be the same after that.
Outside of him, no other tight end recorded a catch on the day, and with the run-blocking being bad, I can’t go any higher than this average grade.
Offensive line: F-
Pathetic run-blocking. Abysmal pass-blocking. Horrendous all-around performance. Not much else needs to be said.
Defensive line: F
I miss the days when the Titans’ defensive line was filled with a bunch of physical bullies who imposed their will on the opposition for 60 minutes.
Now, it’s a group that makes the likes of Devin Singletary and Zack Moss look like future Hall of Famers.
The Texans rushed for 148 yards, most of which came from Singletary (121). The most embarrassing part came when Tennessee had the Texans in 3rd-and-long scenarios and still got gashed for chunks at a time.
The Titans missed Teair Tart and desperately need Jeffery Simmons back in the lineup, but it probably doesn’t make too much sense to put him at risk of re-aggravating his knee injury in what is now a lost season.
Outside linebackers: C+
Denico Autry, Harold Landry and Arden Key were some of the few players who played well.
Landry and Key had a handful of moments where they put pressure on the quarterback, and Autry recorded two sacks, solidifying the first double-digit sack season of his career.
Of all the aging veterans on expiring contracts, Autry is the one who is making a strong case for himself to be back next year.
Inside linebackers: D
This group is getting a lot of the blame as well for its inability to slow down the Texans’ run game.
Both Azeez Al-Shaair and Jack Gibbens had an occasional nice play here and there, but for the most part, they weren’t the type of difference-makers this team needs them to be.
Cornerbacks: F
The Titans were without Kristian Fulton (IR) and Sean Murphy-Bunting (left early) for most of the game, and it showed.
Tennessee’s pass defense couldn’t stop Noah Brown and Dalton Schultz of all people, with the pair totaling 140 yards and one touchdown between the two of them.
Roger McCreary had some nice moments, but he also got manhandled by Schultz on a play that should’ve been an interception. Instead the Texans tight end snatched the ball away from him to setup a touchdown.
This is one group that needs to be completely re-vamped this offseason in the worst possible way.
Safeties: C-
Amani Hooker and K’Von Wallace continue to play decent football, but the main reason for this grade is due to the pick-six Elijah Molden had. Molden did have some low moments in coverage after that, but when you make that type of play, I have to give a passing grade.
Specialists: B
Nick Folk missed an extra point, but he also made his lone field goal attempt of the day.
Meanwhile, punter Ty Zentner continues to be a strong replacement for the Titans’ All-Pro punter, Ryan Stonehouse. He pinned the Texans back inside the five on one punt and averaged 45.3 yards on eight attempts.
