DETROIT – The Titans lost to the Lions 52-14 on Sunday at Ford Field.
Here's a look at six things that stood out from the contest:
Coverage Teams Gaffes
I remember Kalif Raymond with the Titans, and I liked him. He was a great energy guy, and a shifty receiver/returner with speed. He made some plays in Tennessee. On Sunday, the Titans made Raymond look like the best returner in the league, as he racked up 190 yards on five punt returns, including a 90-yard return for a touchdown. It was part of a day when the Lions totaled 262 return yards. Lions kick returner Khalil Dorsey also busted a 72-yard return that led to a quick Lions touchdown. After the game, Coach Brian Callahan was left answering questions about special teams coach Colt Anderson, and the unit's struggles this season. "Obviously, we haven't played well enough on special teams," Callahan said. "I think Colt is a good football coach. We haven't played well enough, and we haven't coached well enough. … We don't get down and cover, and we missed tackles today. There's blame to go around all of it, both schematically and in performance. None of it is good enough anywhere."
Turnovers
The Titans didn't just make things easier for the Lions with lapses on special teams – they also gave them short fields because of turnovers on offense. Quarterback Mason Rudolph threw a pair of interceptions, and each one led to a Lions touchdown. Receiver Calvin Ridley lost a fumble that led to a Detroit touchdown, and tight end Chig Okonkwo also lost a fumble. Count 'em up and that's 21 points off turnovers for the Lions, a team good enough to win without help. "Unfortunately, it's the same story – giving them some easy ones once again, putting our defense on a short field," Rudolph said. "I have to protect the ball better, and put our defense in a better situation."
Calvin Ridley's Day
Ridley was one of the bright spots for the Titans. Ridley had six catches for 118 yards in the first quarter for the Titans, on six targets. Ridley finished the game with 10 catches for 143 yards, including a long of 47 yards, on 15 targets. There was a stretch where it seemed like Ridley was running wide open on every play. But the Titans couldn't sustain it as they fell further and further behind. "Me personally, just the way the season is going, I am willing to do whatever I have to do to play better," Ridley said. "I love football, I don't come to just do this for money or anything. I do it because I love it. I want to do it for my brothers, and I owe it to the organization to play good."
Deflating End to the First Half
Do I think the Titans were coming back in this one? No. But what transpired at the end of the first half was deflating, and it killed any chance of a rally. Trailing 35-14 in the closing minute of the half, the Titans had a first-and-goal at the Detroit one-yard line. The Titans threw the ball four plays in a row, and every one of the passes fell to the ground, incomplete. It was a bad way to end the half, a discouraging moment for anyone who believed a comeback was in the cards. "To move the ball so well, and not get the seven," Rudolph said. "Yeah, it's deflating."
Penalties
If we're adding up all the ways the Titans lost, which we seem to be doing in here, we can't leave out the penalties on the day. The Titans hurt themselves here as well, especially in the first half, when a touchdown run by Jha'Quan Jackson was taken off the board because of a holding penalty. The Titans were penalized seven times for 55 yards in the first half. Jarvis Brownlee was flagged for defensive pass interference and a facemask on the same play, and Jackson's TD run was negated because of a holding penalty on Peter Skoronski, one of two called on him Sunday. The Titans, who ended up being penalized eight times for 60 yards on Sunday, didn't lose because of penalties. But, they sure didn't help matters.
Defense Put in Tough Spots, But Still…
The Titans entered the weekend ranked No.1 in total defense, and, chances are, they'll be ranked No.1 after this weekend's games as well. After all, the Lions only had 225 of total offense. The reality is the Lions had short fields all day because of the turnovers and issues on coverage teams. Detroit's touchdown-scoring drives looked like this: 2 plays, 23 yards; one play, 70 yards; 3 plays, 25 yards; 4 plays, 12 yards; 7 plays, 22 yards, 3 plays, 26 yards. So, no, the Lions didn't drive the field on the Titans all day. (Yes, I'm aware Jahmyr Gibbs raced 70 yards on a touchdown run). Still, no one deserves any ribbons around here. The Titans left some Lions wide open on touchdowns, and, once again, they didn't force a turnover. Opposing defenses seem to be having no trouble doing that against the Titans.
The Tennessee Titans take on the Lions in Week 8 at Ford Field.
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Detroit Lions compete at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, MI. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
