Last Updated: November 28, 2023, 03:30 IST
NASHVILLE, Tenn.: The Tennessee Titans hope snapping a three-game skid with a win helps get their mojo again.
Staying at dwelling for 4 of their closing six video games possible is their finest likelihood at climbing again to .500 after a 17-10 win over Carolina that price first-year Panthers coach Frank Reich his job Monday.
For now, the Titans (4-7) can merely be joyful at not having to journey once more. They host Indianapolis on Sunday for his or her first back-to-back dwelling video games this season, and coach Mike Vrabel isn’t trying previous the Colts (6-5) with Tennessee nonetheless in search of its first victory over a workforce presently with a profitable report.
Vrabel mentioned Monday he simply needs his Titans to struggle every week. They’re nearer to being mathematically eradicated from playoff competition than pushing for a postseason spot in final place within the AFC South with six groups forward of them for the AFC’s final berth.
This is a workforce that began a season-high 4 rookies led by quarterback Will Levis. The Titans performed 9 whole rookies, tying a season excessive.
“We got to focus on this week,” Vrabel mentioned. “We got to focus on health here, recovery, improvement, you know, these little details, these techniques that I know that we can be better at.”
Outside linebacker Arden Key performed in Jacksonville a yr in the past when the Jaguars completed the common season by profitable 5 straight to take the AFC South title away from Tennessee.
“We come in beat the Colts, it’ll build more confidence,” Key mentioned.
WHAT’S WORKING
The protection — at the very least in Nashville. The Titans are permitting simply 15 factors per recreation taking part in on their dwelling subject, and that may be a good signal for a workforce with 4 video games remaining at Nissan Stadium. They additionally had 4 sacks and allowed solely 258 yards because the fifth straight workforce to carry Carolina to fifteen factors or fewer.
The Titans are tied for ninth within the NFL in giving up simply 20.4 factors a recreation.
WHAT NEEDS HELP
The offense, at the very least within the second half. The Titans jumped out to a 17-3 lead at halftime, which is extra factors than they’ve scored in six highway video games or their “home” loss to Baltimore in London. Tennessee has been outscored in every of the third and fourth quarters and a mixed 124-80 after halftime.
Against Carolina, the Titans couldn’t handle to increase drives, holding the ball for under 3 minutes, 10 seconds within the third quarter. Their finest possession got here within the fourth quarter once they managed seven performs over 36 yards, and an 18-yard run by Derrick Henry was an enormous key to that drive consuming up clock.
STOCK UP
Rookie Jaelyn Duncan. The sixth-round select of Maryland began his first NFL recreation at left deal with alongside fellow rookie Peter Skoronski, the eleventh general choice. Duncan was flagged as soon as for a false begin on third-and-3 within the third quarter.
He was a part of the eighth completely different mixture to start out on the offensive line this season. Duncan additionally was amongst 4 rookies who began for Tennessee, which performed 9 whole.
STOCK DOWN
Dillon Radunz. The third-year participant made his fifth begin this season and tenth of his profession, this time at proper deal with. He allowed the one sack Tennessee gave up, and he additionally was penalized for a false begin. A beginning job is there for the taking up this offensive line if 53rd general draft choose in 2021 settles in.
INJURIES
The Titans made it via wholesome. Their problem now’s getting gamers more healthy for the stretch run.
WR Treylon Burks is the largest damage, and the second-year starter missed his third straight recreation. He stays within the concussion protocol after being briefly knocked unconscious within the Nov. 2 loss at Pittsburgh.
KEY NUMBER
2-3: Levis’ report as a starter. He led a TD drive of 9:36 that was Tennessee’s longest since Nov. 17, 2022, within the workforce’s most up-to-date highway win at Green Bay. Levis additionally wanted 4 performs to arrange Nick Folk’s 53-yard subject aim on the finish of the primary half in simply 28 seconds.
NEXT STEPS
Try to win back-to-back video games for the primary time this season and beat a workforce with a profitable report for the primary time.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
