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Mike Vrabel Got Hot For A Second And Swore, And It Told Us Nothing New About Him

Mike VrabelNASHVILLE, Tenn. – Mike Vrabel is typically very level at his press sessions. You can read his mood pretty quickly. He’ll occasionally get exasperated.

But the consistency he seeks from his team and has rarely gotten this year is a press-conference guarantee.

Tuesday, however, he had a moment.

The season’s been a disaster, the major problems unfixable without an infusion of new talent that won’t come until free agency and the draft.

Still, he will try to get his team ready for its finale Sunday at Nissan Stadium looking for a first win in the AFC South and a result that can keep the Jaguars from winning the division.

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Titans Doomed For Disaster Against Division Rival -- Sacks, Injuries Too Much to Overcome

Titans Doomed For Disaster Against Division Rival -- Sacks, Injuries Too Much to Overcome

By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special correspondent

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – This was an embarrassing loss for the Titans. Not only a divisional game but a hated rival and a team that is playing a high number of rookies and young players with a rookie head coach.

Despite all those variables, this game proved just how far apart these two teams are.  

Dec 31, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Tennessee Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks (16) drops a pass while being covered by Tennessee Titans cornerback Tay Gowan (30) in the first quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Treylon Burks fails to haul in a bomb/ © Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

One team dealt with injuries and roster changes and the other couldn’t overcome them.

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The Analytics Of The Titans in Houston, And Of Their Top Draft Pick

Titans HuddleBy JAKE DOWNARD

Jake Downard is a law student who creates NFL and NBA content focused on analytics on Twitter as @JakeAndBall. He also works with fanspo.com. A glossary of the analytics terms he uses is at the bottom of the piece.

For a glossary of the metrics and terms used in this post, please see this earlier file.

If you want a perfect microcosm of the 2023 Tennessee Titans, look no further than the Week 17 matchup with the Houston Texans. This one had everything. Will Levis and Ryan Tannehill were pressured on seemingly every drop-back. The offensive line struggled with everyone from Will Anderson Jr. to Teair Tart, giving up six sacks on the day. The Titans were a miserable one for 12 on third downs. The run game was non-existent at times. The red-zone offense was as expected, and the red-zone defense was somehow ironclad. Before we get into the analytics, let’s discuss a few quick positives.  

 

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Titans' QB So Beat Up He Left Houston Feeling Like John Wick

Titans' QB So Beat Up He Left Houston Feeling Like John Wick

HOUSTON – The lead character in a 2014 action movie was an assassin who lost the protection of his organization as he sought revenge against the bad guys who killed his dog.

No, the story’s not fully similar to the Titans in their 26-3 loss at NRG Stadium on Sunday, but stick with me here.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) is sacked by Houston Texans defensive tackle Kurt Hinish (93) and defensive end Derek Barnett (95) during the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas., Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023.
Ryan Tannehill gets sacked/ © Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

When the small contingent of Tennessee media finished a short conversation with backup quarterback Ryan Tannehill and had dropped our cameras, I asked him how he was feeling after absorbing five of the six sacks the Texans recorded, some seemingly in an instant.

“I feel like John Wick at the end of the movie,” he said.

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Titans' Mail: Amy Adams Strunk's Houston Feelings, Tim Kelly's Security, OL Free Agents

Titans Third DownNASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Two games left to this thriller of a season, and I can feel your excitement. I know most of you just want to sit back, root for the team to perform well and collect a win that would give the Titans a chance to match last year's 7-10.

Or not.

You sent along some good stuff for the mailbag, and so I did my best to give you some excellent and thought-provoking answers.

Feel free to continue the conversation in the comments or with follow-up questions.

Here's the best of what you sent.

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Titans' Revenge And Owner's Rivalry Should Fuel Intense Game In Houston

Titans' Revenge And Owner's Rivalry Should Fuel Intense Game In Houston

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.

Harold Landry
Harold Landry has a favorable matchup vs. Charlie Heck/ Angie Flatt

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.

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A Surprisingly Good Titans' Wide Receiver Stat

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.

Chris Moore
Chris Moore is averaging 20.1 yards on 18 catches/ Angie Flatt

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?

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Titans' Eddie George Fails To Advance To Final 15 For Pro Football Hall of Fame

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.

Eddie George celebrates his fourth quarter touchdown in Super Bowl XXXIV. Behind is quarterback Steve McNair/- - photo by Eric Parsons Eddie George
Eddie George after a TD in Super Bowl XXXIV/ © Eric Parsons, Copyright 2000 The Tennessean

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

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