It’s One Game. Well, Sort’a.

We’ve all heard it, the old NFL matra, “on any given Sunday, any team can beat any other team.“

Not only have we heard it, but we believe it. No…I’ll walk that back. We know it.

We know it because we’ve seen it. We’ve experienced it. Some of us have even lost money because of it.

And yet, the old tried and true matra goes right out the window when our beloved Titans–at least this 2021 version of them–fall on the swords of the worst team in the NFL: the lowly Jets.

But are they really the worst team? I suppose so, if you believe that the worst team can have a top 20 defense and, arguably, the best defensive line in the NFL. Not to mention their number one red zone defense.

Yes, their offense is atrocious. No argument here. I’m just saying that the Jets aren’t as bad as the hype–and neither are the Titans.

That said, “Nashville we’ve got some problems.”

1. Pass protection – Something has to be done here. So far Tannehill’s been sacked a whopping 17 times. At this rate he’s going to end up in the ICU and we’re going to end up with Logan Woodside/Matt Barkley. (Hope Jon Robinson has Cam Newton’s number in his contacts.)
2. Tannehill holds onto the ball too long – This is starting to look like his tenure with Miami (2012-2018) where he threw for a ton of yards, had too many interceptions, got sacked too many times behind a slip-shod offensive line with meddling tight end play and ultimately suffered a torn ACL that ended his career there. Tannehill is a very good quarterback, but he doesn’t make the fast reads like an elite quarterback does. I would like to see Todd Downing utilize Tannehill’s wheels more with scripted plays as the Titans are a strong run blocking team. How about some read options? (at least until we get Jones and Brown back) Yes, it opens Tannehill up for ferocious line-backer hits, but he’s getting murdered in a shoddy pass protection anyway…at least this way he has more of a fighting chance.
3. Where are the tight-ends? – Tannehill could really use a reliable security blanket. The Titans traded the talented, but strangely under-utilized Jonnu Smith with hopes that Anthony Frisker would step up. He hasn’t. MyCole Pruitt–activated off the practice squad– has looked better than Frisker and Geoff Swaim. I would like to see Pruitt get more opportunities to move the chains.
4. Defensive backs getting beat – The Titans had high hopes for Jackrabbit Jenkins, that the nine year veteran would not only hold the fort, but that he would mentor a young secondary. So far he’s been a big disappointment. Frankly, he looks confused as does the whole secondary. Against the Jets, Jenkins was targeted nine times and gave up 6 catches for 110 yards.
5. Too many injuries – We are all awaiting the return of Julio Jones and A.J. Brown–both out due to hamstring issues. The big two are big play capable, winning one on one matches more often than not, which in turn pressures the defensive line and the line-backers, lessening the pass protection load. In this current state of play, it is absolutely essential that we get Jones and Brown back before a tightening of the schedule beginning with the Buffalo Bills in week 6.