NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The final chapter has been written and the book is closed on the Titans' 2-14 season. A 27-10 loss at LP Field to the Indianapolis Colts assured the Titans of the #2 overall selection in the 2015 NFL Draft.
The draft is just one piece to what is sure to be a busy offseason for general manager Ruston Webster and his staff as they will begin to reassemble the roster for 2015.
Charlie Whitehurst started his fifth game of the season, completing 12-of-28 passes for 72 yards and one touchdown. Kendall Wright was on the receiving end of the six-yard score to extend his team lead to a career-high six touchdowns on the season.
Almost poetically to end the Titans' season, Whitehurst left the game late in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury, leaving Jordan Palmer to close out the season's final drive.
Shonn Greene posted Tennessee's individual high this season with 94 rushing yards on 11 carries. That topped his own 71-yard performance in Week 1 against the Chiefs. No Titans running back ran for 100 yards in a game this season.
Storyline Statistics
First Downs – Ten: 9 Ind: 16
Third Down Efficiency – Ten: 4-16-25% Ind: 5-16-31%
Total Net Yards – Ten: 192 Ind: 378
Net Passing Yards – Ten: 50 Ind: 314
Net Rushing Yards – Ten: 142 Ind: 64
Time of Possession – Ten: 26:34 Ind: 33:36
The numbers are a microcosm of the Titans season, especially the 25 percent conversion rate on third down. Tennessee went zero-for-six on third downs in the second half. The big positive is the 142 rushing yards, highlighted by Shonn Greene's career-long 52-yard run on fourth-and-one.
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Sunday Milestones**
• Chance Warmack became just the fourth rookie in the Titans Era (1999-present) to start all 32 games for the team in his first two NFL seasons, joining Jevon Kearse (1999-00), Tank Williams (2002-03) and Michael Roos (2005-06).
• DaQuan Jones recorded his first career sack and forced fumble against Andrew Luck in the first quarter.
• Antonio Andrews recorded his first career NFL catch, finishing with two receptions for 11 yards.
• Brett Kern recorded a career-long and tied a franchise record with a 79-yard punt in the second quarter.
• Shonn Greene's 52-yard run in the second half was a career long.
Review of the Five Things to Watch
1. The Colts Starters
As was widely speculated, Andrew Luck and the majority of Indy's starting cast played only the first half against the Titans. Luck finished completed 10-of-16 passes for 160 passing yards one two touchdowns. The Colts' marquee play of the game came on an 80-yard catch and run by Reggie Wayne that got Indy to Tennessee's one yard line.
Former Titans QB Matt Hasselbeck played the second half in its entirety, completing 13-of-19 passes for 155 yards and one touchdown.
2. Action for Antonio Andrews
Andrews caught two passes, but never saw the ball on a running play.
3. Final Chance to Make a Play
The film will tell all to Whisenhunt and his staff. It shouldn't take long for the first dominos of the offseason to fall for the Titans.
4. Finish on a High Note
Whisenhunt commended the effort of the Titans during the week and their fight on Sunday, but it wasn't enough against the Colts.
5. Inactive Lists
The Titans inactives were pretty much as expected with the hopes of Taylor Lewan and Zach Mettenberger not coming to fruition.
The Tennessee Titans take the field for a 2014 Week 17 game against the Indianapolis Colts at LP Field. (Photos: Donn Jones, AP)
