Titans' offensive woes continue

Dec 12, 2017 - 3:38 AM NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans' lackluster play the past two months -- especially on offense -- bit them Sunday and bit them hard with a 12-7 loss at Arizona.

That loss leaves the Titans at 8-5 with three weeks remaining and now likely needing to win out to earn the AFC South division title as they now look up at the Jacksonville Jaguars in the standings.

Not only that, a playoff berth, which seemed like a sure thing just a week ago, will require at least one and possibly two more wins in the final three games.

At the crux of the Titans' struggles is an offense that has not played well for about two months. There were whispers about quarterback Marcus Mariota's sporadic play and shouts about the tepid play-calling from offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie. But while racking up wins over weak sisters like the Colts, Texans, Bengals and Browns, it was said that things would work out and that winning was all that mattered.

True enough, until Sunday when the Titans' offense stalled so badly that a defense that registered eight sacks and held the Cardinals without a touchdown still could not produce a Tennessee victory.

Mariota tossed two costly interceptions, bringing his season total to 14 (only Cleveland's DeShone Kizer has been worse with 17 picks), Mariota went 16 of 31 for just 159 yards.

When it was over, a frustrated Mariota met with reporters, and his demeanor was one of dissatisfaction with what has happened to him in a season where he was supposed to take the Titans to new heights, based on a strong second season in 2016.

Somewhere, though, that went off the rails, thanks to one serious late-season 2016 injury (broken fibula) and several other minor ones.

Not all the blame lies with Mariota, as his receiving corps -- aside from tight end Delanie Walker -- has been inconsistent at best and often unproductive.

The play-calling doesn't get a pass either, as Robiskie's calls seem to be predictable and boring, especially when playing with a lead.

Titans head coach Mike Mularkey insists that execution is the primary culprit, with everyone involved from players to coaches.

"I think it's very fixable. There's things in life that aren't, this is one that is. We've got a good group, we've got a very good staff -- very, very veteran staff that's been in a lot of meetings and a lot of rooms, and a lot of games and been with a lot of players," Mularkey said. "Fortunately, these guys trust what we're going to do -- again, looking it all over, how we can get better, everybody is. It's being addressed."

--Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan had his homecoming ruined not only by Tennessee's ugly road loss to the Cardinals, but also by leaving the game with back spasms. Lewan was unable to return, and veteran tackle Dennis Kelly filled in for him for the rest of the game.

Titans head coach Mike Mularkey said Monday an MRI on Lewan showed that the injury was not too serious and that he could play this Sunday when the Titans travel to San Francisco.

"I think it scared him a little. Any time you're messing with your low back, it just put a little scare in him. I think it's a relief, obviously," Mularkey said. "Again, we're still going to have to go get treatment for the next couple of days, see if we can just calm it down. He was disappointed, he wanted to play. He's from out here and was really disappointed that he couldn't play in the game, play in the whole game."

Lewan will get to stay in his hometown area all week as the Titans are practicing at Arizona State this week rather than making a second cross-country trip.

--The mystery regarding the running game remains as the Titans went back to DeMarco Murray for the bulk of their work Sunday. Derrick Henry had just eight carries for 20 yards, while Murray had 34 yards on 11 carries, though he had a 54-yard run wiped out by a holding penalty on right tackle Jack Conklin.

Mularkey said the division of the snaps was just the way the game went. This, even after Henry had run for 109 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown run, the week before against Houston.

"It's just the way the plays unfolded. Again, like I told you, DeMarco (Murray), probably his best run of the year, the run we had a hold call on, which it was holding, was running effectively," Mularkey said. "The way we had it built again, he's still our guy and Derrick (Henry) is the guy that will come in if he needs a break. It's just the way the game unfolded, it wasn't done purposefully."

NOTES: QB Marcus Mariota suffered a left knee sprain in Sunday's loss to the Cardinals. It took place when his leg folded up awkwardly on a scramble and hit from Antoine Bethea. Mariota might be limited in practice on Wednesday. ... TE Phillip Supernaw suffered a sprained ankle on Sunday and won't practice on Wednesday. If Supernaw is unable to play Sunday in San Francisco, the Titans would have newly acquired TE Luke Stocker active for the first time. ... OLB Derrick Morgan won't practice Wednesday, but he has not been ruled out of the game Sunday against the 49ers. He did not play vs. the Cardinals due to a sprained knee.



REPORT CARD VS. CARDINALS

--PASSING OFFENSE: F -- Marcus Mariota was bitten twice more by interceptions, but the offense's struggles are not completely on him. Receivers have not been consistent with their route-running and only TE Delanie Walker appears to be completely trustworthy.

--RUSHING OFFENSE: F -- This was supposed to be the strength of the Titans' offense this season, but the same inconsistencies that have taken place for a number of games this year arose again Sunday as Tennessee got just 65 yards total on the ground.

--PASS DEFENSE: B -- The Titans held Larry Fitzgerald to five catches for 44 yards and certainly didn't allow Blaine Gabbert to make many plays against them. The Titans also posted eight sacks, but did not get any turnovers.

--RUSH DEFENSE: C -- The normally stout Titans run defense allowed the Cardinals to run for more than 100 yards, the first time the Titans have allowed that in eight games. The defense did do its job in holding Arizona to field goals, however.

--SPECIAL TEAMS: D -- Perhaps this falls to coaching, but the Titans' fake punt run from their own 35 was a disaster as Eric Weems was unable to get the yard needed to move the chains. It was that kind of day for the Titans.

--COACHING: D -- Two separate grades here, as Dick LeBeau had the defense ready to play, and they gave the Titans more than enough chances to win the game. They get an A, but the offense and the play-calling failed so miserably, that the overall grade is barely passing.