Titans Twitter basks in glory of crushing Jaguars’ hopes and dreams

The Titans won’t improve their draft positioning, but fans took solace in the fact that their team ended the Jaguars’ season.

The Tennessee Titans failed to move up in the 2024 NFL draft order on Sunday after knocking off the Jacksonville Jaguars, 28-20.

While I was certainly in the camp of wanting the Titans to lose this game, the result didn’t leave me totally upset because the victory did knock the Jags out of playoff contention.

The Titans are returning the favor one season after Jacksonville did the same to Tennessee. Adding to that, this is a hugely disappointing end of the year for the Jags, who many pegged to at least win the division.

With the win, combined with a victory by the New York Jets, the Titans will pick from the No. 7 spot, where they entered the week. Only a loss could’ve moved Tennessee up.

Despite the worse draft pick, Titans fans did find solace in the fact that their division rival will be on the couch with them next week. Here’s how fans reacted.

Twitter honors Derrick Henry after what could be last game with Titans

Titans fans on social media honored running back Derrick Henry after what could be his final game with the team.

The Tennessee Titans played the spoiler role on Sunday, beating the Jacksonville Jaguars, 28-20, in a win that officially eliminated the Jaguars from playoff contention.

Truthfully, this game was much more lopsided than the score would indicate, as the Titans were in control for the majority of this game.

Despite the win, it was still a rather emotional game for the Titans’ fanbase due to the fact that this could be the final game in two-tone blue for legendary running back, Derrick Henry.

If this was his final outing in Tennessee, what a way to go out for the future Hall of Famer. Henry recorded 153 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries (8.1 yards per carry). He also busted off a 69-yard run.

There is still a chance that Henry could come back if he decides to take a reasonable deal, but it’s hardly a guarantee. When addressing fans on the field after the game, Henry sounded like someone who won’t be back.

Just in case, fans rightly showed tons of appreciation for one of the best players in franchise history, who they genuinely love and appreciate for everything he’s done for the team and the local community.

Let’s go ahead and see what some of the reactions on social media were following Henry’s incredible performance in the season finale.

When they last met: Commanders and Cowboys

The Commanders kept it close until the Cowboys blew it open in the 4th quarter.

“When they last met” is an ongoing series during the NFL season, recalling the preceding game between Washington and the next opponent on the Commanders’ schedule.

Dallas 45, Washington 10 – Week 12, November 23, 2023

Washington had trimmed the Dallas lead to four points with 1:51 remaining in the half and still managed to lose 45-10 in a Thanksgiving Day massacre at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Dak Prescott passed for four touchdown passes, Tony Pollard ran for a touchdown, and DaRon Bland intercepted a Sam Howell pass, returning it 63 yards for the game’s final touchdown.

Washington entered the game already written off by the NFL fans as the Cowboys were a 13.5-point favorite at kickoff.

Washington scored on Sam Howell’s one-yard run with 1:51 remaining in the half, narrowing the Commanders deficit to four points (14-10). However, the Washington defense permitted the Cowboys to drive 75 yards to a virtually uncontested touchdown drive, extending the Dallas lead to 20-10.

The Dallas pass rush hurried Howell most of the day, eventually sacking the former Tar Hell quarterback four times. Howell’s pick-six was the only turnover of the day for either team.

Washington actually owned the time of possession statistic holding the ball for 36:54 seconds to only 23:06, being the time the Cowboys had possession of the ball.

However, what the statistic does not reveal is how easily and quickly the Cowboys scored on three of their possessions.

Brian Robinson rushed for 53 yards on 15 carries, while Curtis Samuel collected 100 receiving yards on his nine receptions.

Prescott finished 22 of 32 for 331 yards and his four touchdown passes to no interceptions nor sacks. Pollard accumulated 79 rushing yards on 13 carries. Brandin Cooks, CeeDee Lamb and Jalen Tolbert generated 72, 53 and 49 receiving yards, respectively.

Washington fell to 4-8, while Dallas raised its record to 8-3.

Titans’ pass protection stats from Week 17: Jaelyn Duncan gets single-digit grade

Titans LT Jaelyn Duncan earned a pass-block grade in the single digits in Week 17.

The Tennessee Titans’ offensive line had another day at the office in Week 17, with the group upfront performing terribly in run-blocking and pass protection yet again.

After getting starting quarterback Will Levis hurt via a sack in the second quarter, veteran backup Ryan Tannehill was taken down five more times during the contest.

When asked if there were some plays in which he didn’t have a chance, Tannehill wasn’t shy to speak the truth.

“Yeah, definitely,” he answered, before comparing himself to John Wick at the end of the movie.

And based on the numbers, Tannehill would be right. Of the six sacks the Titans’ offensive line surrendered in the game, five of them were among the 20 fastest sacks given up in the entire league in Week 17.

For whatever reason, Tennessee decided to start Andre Dillard again, and that led to the team benching the failed free-agent acquisition again.

But Jaelyn Duncan didn’t do any better. In fact, the rookie posted a Pro Football Focus grade in the single digits when it came to his pass protection.

Single. Digits.

Here’s a look at the pass protection stats from Dillard, Duncan and the rest of the offensive line following the loss to the Texans. All stats and grades come from Pro Football Focus.

Biggest takeaways from Titans’ Week 17 loss to Texans

The biggest takeaways from the Titans’ Week 17 loss to the Texans.

The Tennessee Titans’ Week 17 loss to the Houston Texans gave us a taste of just about everything that has plagued the team during the 2023 campaign, which will thankfully come to an end next week.

There was horrendous pass protection and run-blocking, a quarterback got hurt as a result of the former, and the Titans managed to shoot themselves in the foot with bad penalties, a turnover and shoddy play-calling.

The defense was awful between the 20’s, but the unit did buckle down in the red zone, as it has all season long.

The only silver lining of Sunday’s result was the fact that the Titans helped their quest to get the highest draft pick possible. That, along with a lot of cap space, will greatly aid in the roster overhaul Tennessee needs.

We’ll talk about all of those topics and more as we take a look at the biggest takeaways from the Titans’ 11th loss of the season.

Titans’ winners and losers from Week 17 loss to Texans

The Titans’ biggest winners and losers from the Week 17 game.

We are thankfully just one week away from the end of the Tennessee Titans’ 2023 season after they suffered their 11th loss of the campaign on Sunday to the Houston Texans.

It was once again a sloppy mess for the Titans, filled with self-inflicted wounds and overall poor execution, especially from the offensive line.

As if things couldn’t get any worse, rookie quarterback Will Levis was forced to leave the game early after suffering a foot injury while taking a sack that resulted in a defensive touchdown for Houston.

Now, for the second-to-last time this season, a look at the biggest winners and losers from Tennessee’s latest loss.

What Titans said about Week 17 loss to Texans

A look at what the Titans had to say about their Week 17 loss to the Texans.

The Tennessee Titans lost their eighth-straight divisional matchup dating back to last season after dropping their Week 17 contest against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on Sunday, 26-3.

The Titans were only down 3-0 going into the second quarter but the wheels came off after that, with the Texans dropping 17 points in the frame that was more than enough to win this game.

Making matters worse for Tennessee, rookie quarterback Will Levis suffered a foot injury in the second quarter that ended his day early. Ryan Tannehill replaced him but wasn’t able to get the offense going.

“I don’t think it’s anything that’s going to be too, too serious,” head coach Mike Vrabel said of Levis’ injury, per Jim Wyatt. “Couldn’t finish the game, so we’ll see where things are tomorrow.”

Vrabel also noted that Levis’ injury is not related to the ankle issue he was battling in recent weeks. The rookie signal-caller did not speak to the media after the game.

Now, a look at what else the Titans had to say about Week 17.

Titans roasted by fans, media for awful Week 17 showing

How social media reacted to the Titans’ Week 17 loss.

The Tennessee Titans have laid an egg throughout the 2023 season, and Sunday was no different in an embarrassing 26-3 loss to the Houston Texans.

Simply put, Tennessee came out today like a team that is ready for the offseason to begin.

To make matters worse, the Titans’ horrendous offensive line got its talented young quarterback, Will Levis, injured again. At this point, there really is no reason to play him next week, even if he’s healthy enough to go.

If there were any positives to take away from this game, it’s the fact that both Derrick Henry and DeAndre Hopkins eclipsed 1,000 yards for the year.

Outside of that, this was the type of game that you couldn’t wait for it to end.

Tennessee has now dropped to 5-11 on the year and is on the cusp of securing a top-seven draft pick. Let’s take a look at some of the post-game reactions following the Titans’ 23-point loss to the Texans.

Titans dominated by Texans in Week 17 loss: Everything we know

The Titans were no match for the Texans in Week 17.

The Tennessee Titans went into NRG Stadium on Sunday and were no match for the Houston Texans, en route to a 26-3 loss in Week 17.

The Titans were down 3-0 after the first quarter, but things went off the rails after that, with Houston jumping out to a 20-3 lead going into the half on the strength of a 17-point second quarter.

In the process, rookie quarterback Will Levis suffered a foot injury on a sack-fumble that led to a defensive touchdown for the Texans. Levis did not return after being carted to the locker room.

Veteran signal-caller Ryan Tannehill took over from there, but that did nothing to spark the Titans’ offense over the final two quarters, mostly thanks to bad blocking upfront.

The Texans only mustered up a pair of field goals in the second half, but that was more than enough to close things out, as the Titans didn’t score a single point over the final two quarters.

While this was another ugly showing for Tennessee, the good news is it will help their draft positioning, which is all that matters right now in a season that can’t end soon enough.

Now, a deeper dive into Tennessee’s Week 17 loss to Houston.

When they last met: Commanders and 49ers

The Commanders hung tough with the 49ers last season until they pulled away in the second half.

“When they last met” is an ongoing series during the NFL season, recalling the preceding game between Washington and the next opponent on the Commanders’ schedule.

San Francisco 37, Washington 20 – Week 16, Dec. 24, 2022

Brock Purdy completed 15 of 22 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns as the Commanders fell to the San Francisco 49ers 37-20 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

Entering the game with a 7-6-1, the Commanders playing for a playoff berth, went toe-to-toe with the 49ers, as the game was tied 7-7 at the half. The Commanders had missed a huge opportunity in the second quarter when inside the 5, they ran four plays but could not score.

Purdy completed touchdown passes of 34 and 33 yards to George Kittle, extending the 49ers lead to 21-7.

But Washington starter Taylor Heinicke answered with a 3-yard scoring pass to Terry McLaurin with 2:46 remaining in the third quarter, narrowing the deficit to 21-14.

The 49ers defense then shut down the Commanders offense, resulting in three consecutive possessions resulting in Robbie Gould field goals, extending the 49ers’ lead to 30-14.

Ron Rivera benched Heinicke and turned to Carson Wentz. Wentz responded, completing 12 of 16 passes for 123 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown pass to Curtis Samuel.

As a result of Wentz playing well, Rivera named Wentz the starter for the next week against the Browns, but Wentz played poorly; Washington lost at home to the Browns and was officially eliminated from the 2022 playoff race.