NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans had been the NFL ‘s best at winning games decided by three or fewer points through coach Mike Vrabel ‘s first five seasons.
That’s taken a hit this season, no more so than over the month of December.
Tennessee (5-10) is 1-3 this month with the first four games all decided by a field goal or less — two losses in overtime at home after missed extra points in regulation. For the season, Tennessee is 4-7 in one-score games overall.
That’s the biggest reason Tennessee lost 20-17 to Seattle in the first game of the Vrabel era with the Titans already eliminated from playoff contention. Penalties, missed plays and lots of new faces are part of the struggle to finish.
“We’ve been close a lot of times,” Vrabel said Tuesday. “And … we could go through all the plays that are very positive, that are well coordinated with a lot of effort and execution involved in it. And then, there’s just too many of those plays that get you beat.”
Seven of 13 Titans on injured reserve are starters, including two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons who was added Dec. 23. Tennessee tied a season high playing 11 rookies against Seattle and started a season-high five rookies.
“We’ll make sure there’s 48 guys that’re ready to go as healthy as they can be,” Vrabel said.
WHAT’S WORKING
The defense. Even with tackle Marlon Davidson, linebacker Otis Reese IV and safety Mike Brown making their first starts, the Titans held Seattle to a pair of field goals backed up inside their 10. But they gave up a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown drives that dropped Tennessee to the NFL’s second-stingiest unit inside the red zone.
WHAT NEEDS HELP
Protecting the quarterback. The Titans gave up six sacks a week after allowing seven and getting rookie quarterback Will Levis hurt. Only Washington, the Jets and the Giants have given up more than Tennessee’s 56 sacks. Andrew Rupcich started the first NFL game of his career at right guard.
It’s yet another change on an offensive line that features two rookies on the left side, an undersized undrafted free agent at center and has started four different Titans at left tackle and three at right tackle.
STOCK UP
Chig Okonkwo. The second-year tight end caught every pass thrown to him for a team-high 63 yards and a touchdown. It marked the second-best receiving game of his career, and the 12-yard toss from running back Derrick Henry was Okonkwo’s first TD this season.
STOCK DOWN
CB Tre Avery. Undrafted out of Rutgers, the cornerback made his fifth career start against Seattle, and he was the closest defender on both fourth-quarter touchdowns allowed. Avery even had hold of DK Metcalf’s right arm as he caught an 11-yard TD pass to give Seattle its first lead early in the fourth quarter.
The 5-foot-11 Avery also was the defender on the game-winning TD, a 5-yarder to 6-7 tight end Colby Parkinson. He ranks third on the roster with seven penalties, which have led to three first downs.
INJURIES
Vrabel said Levis will try to practice Wednesday in a limited fashion. Levis was among 14 Titans who did not practice a week ago, trying to rest and heal players up for kickoff. Vrabel said he believes Levis can get “invaluable reps” if able to heal up his sprained left ankle enough to play Sunday in Houston.
KEY NUMBER
4 — Derrick Henry became the fourth player in NFL history, including the postseason, with at least 10,000 yards from scrimmage and five TD passes. Henry, who has 11,585 yards from scrimmage in 124 games, joined Marcus Allen, Walter Payton and LaDainian Tomlinson — who are all in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It also was Henry’s third career game where he threw a TD pass and ran for a score.
NEXT STEPS
Rest, recover and prepare for the final road trip this season to Houston. It’ll be the Titans’ second game in three weeks against their AFC South rival. Then return home for the season finale in hosting Jacksonville. A loss in either of these games clinches the franchise’s worst record since going 3-13 in 2015.
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