By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special correspondent

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – There is always something to play for despite your team’s record. For the Titans, this is revenge from two weeks ago and also a chance to beat your owner’s biggest rival.

If the last part doesn’t enter the minds of the players that is OK, but avenging a loss to a team they had beat and outplayed but couldn’t finish off and eventually lost to in overtime should be motivation enough.

The Titans played well enough last week against the Seahawks but couldn’t finish off the game again and eventually lost in the last minutes of the contest.  

The trend of losing close games is not a healthy one, especially for a team under Mike Vrabel that had a reputation for winning close games.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Titans hit a fair share of big plays in the passing game.

Per Inside Edge, their wide receivers have the second-best average per reception (15.1 yards) in the NFL. That’s 2.5 yards more than league average.

Only the 49ers (15.1) are better with the mighty, bombs-away Dolphins and Texans tied for third and the Browns fifth (13.9) buoyed by Amari Cooper’s 17.4-yard average on 72 receptions.

Why has receiver yard per catch helped the other top teams in the category fare so much better in overall offense and points than the Titans?

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- For the second time in three years, Eddie George missed the cut from the list of 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame to 15 finalists.

Three other running backs were in the final 25 with George, the Titans/Oilers' all-time leading rusher: Tiki Barber, Fred Taylor and Ricky Watters.

Of the four, only Taylor advanced to the final 15. 

By MIKE HERNDON, columnist

The Titans aren't going to the playoffs for the second straight season after qualifying for the postseason in four of the previous five seasons. However, that doesn’t mean the two remaining games on the schedule are completely meaningless.

There are still a few things left for the Titans to accomplish in their remaining tilts against the Texans and Jaguars besides trying to play spoiler to their division rivals.

1. Continue Will Levis’ development.

Mike Vrabel indicated on Tuesday that Levis would try to practice this week and that they hope he can return to play against the Texans. That would be a great thing for the Titans and Levis if he can get back on the field for these last two games.

By JAKE DOWNARD

Whether it is the prioritization of establishing the run, the unique delayed pressure with Jeffery Simmons and Denico Autry on defense, the combo blocks to clear out lanes for Derrick Henry or the utilization of Henry’s gravity to set up play action passes downfield, Mike Vrabel teams have always had an identity.

Unique looks on defense have led to the Titans finishing 4th, 14th, and 4th, respectively, in red zone scoring defense over the last three years. On the other side of the ball, they’ve finished top 10 in red-zone scoring offense each of the last four seasons. 

By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special correspondent

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The difference between a rookie quarterback with upside and an established veteran was evident with Ryan Tannehill playing quarterback and giving the Titans a chance to win despite poor offensive line play.

I felt Tannehill played well and also gave the team a calming presence.

This is not to say Tannehill is better than Will Levis, but this is a game from which Levis can learn a lot from Tannehill, particularly in terms of ball placement.

Derrick Henry (19-88 and a TD)was very good and probably didn’t have his number called enough.  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The late game-losing drive we saw the Titans allow Seattle to piece together at Nissan Stadium Sunday to secure a 20-17 win didn’t hit as hard because the path to defeat has become so common, making us somewhat numb to it.

Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked a game-winning field goal in overtime for the Texans just a week earlier. Gardner Minshew connected with Alec Pierce for 55 yards, putting the Colts on the porch for an OT TD in Week 13. In Pittsburgh back on Nov. 2, the Steelers went 92 yards in 11 plays to move ahead for good late.

So when the Seahawks got the ball down 4 with 3 minutes and 21 seconds left, it was not hard to envision what was about to unfold.

By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special correspondent

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans are officially eliminated from the playoffs. The one player most fans want to see in the teams’ remaining games is Will Levis, who’s questionable for the game due to a high ankle sprain.

These next three Titans' games are an evaluation of what they currently have on the roster and what they need for the future.

The evaluation starts with the team's pending free agents. Do they find a role for Derrick Henry next season? This should be a serious evaluation of what the offensive plan is for next year and if Henry fits. This should not be an owner decision out of goodwill for what he has accomplished during his great Titans career. The owner should first sit down with the general manager and the head coach and demand a plan for next season. This should not wait until after the season.