NASHVILLE – The Titans lost to the Jaguars 36-22 on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.
Here's a look at six things that stood out from the contest:
Turnovers
The Titans came out with some energy, and they started out fast. But things started to unravel after some sloppy play, and turnovers. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill fumbled after being sacked. Tannehill then threw an interception on what looked to be miscommunication with receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Running back Derrick Henry lost the ball when he took a big hit, and then saw the football escape his grasp later on a direct snap. The three first half turnovers led to 17 points, and it put the Titans on the road to trouble. "It (was) a large part of the game," Titans head coach Mike Vrabel said of the turnovers. "But we have to be able to get some turnovers. We have to be able to get our hand on the football. … It starts with taking care of the football, without question."
Shaky Defense
The Titans couldn't stop the Jaguars when they turned it over, and they had trouble slowing them down all day. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence completed 30-of-42 passes for 368 yards and three touchdowns, with a passer rating of 121.9 The Titans didn't sack him once, and the defense was credited with just one quarterback hit (Mario Edwards). The Jaguars racked up 22 first downs and 364 yards of offense. "You watched the game," defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons said. "We have to be better. Sometimes the quarterback gets the ball out quick, and we can't get sacks. We had a couple of batted balls. … Of course we want 10 sacks a game, but it doesn't happen if he's getting the ball out quick."
Chig Okonkwo
Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo continues to make good things happen when he gets the ball in his hands. Okonkwo had a team-high six catches (on six targets) for 45 yards, and he scored on a 10-yard touchdown as he helicoptered into the end zone after taking a big hit at the goal line. Okonkwo also made a nifty catch on a two-point conversion when he secured the ball with one hand – and his facemask. Okonkwo keeps getting better, and the Titans need to find ways to utilize him. He's clearly one of the team's best offensive weapons, something he's proven even more over the past two weeks.
Raw Emotion
There were plenty of emotions in the Titans locker room after the game. Players seemed frustrated, and upset, following the franchise's first three-game losing streak since the 2018 season. Linebacker Dylan Cole seemed to really take thinks personally. Tears streamed down his face as he talked about his performance, and the loss. "I know personally, I sucked," Cole said before pausing. "I sucked today. I have to embrace it, learn from it, and improve. We put a lot of work in, and to put stuff out there like that, it doesn't justify the work that we put in, and it hurts. … All we can do is improve, and get back on the winning train, and learn. … We have to stick together. I know people outside are going to be talking, and they are going to have some criticism. We'll get better. We'll get a win and we're going to turn this thing around."
Derrick Henry's Day
Early on, it looked like it would be another big day for Henry against his hometown team. Henry had 96 rushing yards after the first quarter, including a 50-yard run, and a three-yard touchdown run. But Henry finished the day with just 121 rushing yards, and his carries were limited down the stretch because the Titans were playing catch up. Plus, Henry also lost two fumbles, which he beat himself up for after the game. "We have to get better," Henry said. "It sounds like a broken record. … We have to come in, make the corrections, learn from it. We need to take care of the ball; I have to take care of the ball. I hold myself accountable always – I have to take care of the job and do my job better."
Protection Probs
Tannehill's first fumble of the day came when he was sacked by Jaguars outside linebacker Travon Walker, who blew past right tackle Dennis Daley. Tannehill has now been sacked 10 times in the last two games, and 29 times on the season. The Titans aren't built to throw the ball 38 times while playing from behind, and that's the scenario they were faced with on Sunday. This, in part, is why opposing defenses have been able to tee off on the Titans quarterback in recent weeks. Still, if the Titans are going to get back on track and have success, protection needs to be better moving forward.
