BALTIMORE -- Before the big game started, the Titans came out of their tunnel and gathered on the Ravens’ logo at midfield of M&T Bank Stadium. It’s their common practice.

It’s also the sort of meaningless territorial act that takes place all over the league that home teams can decide is important or take for what it is -- football players standing on a piece of grass.

In advance of his second loss to the Titans in a calendar year, Super Bowl-winning coach John Harbaugh chose to give it import, ultimately engaging with Malcolm Butler over it.

The reaction certainly seemed to symbolize leftover hard feeling from Tennessee’s upset of the No. 1 seeded Ravens here in the 2019 playoffs back on Jan. 11.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – With Rodger Saffold out and Ben Jones hurting, the Titans intend to have first-round pick Isaiah Wilson in uniform for the first time in his rookie year on Sunday in Baltimore.

Wilson’s troubled season has been a big storyline for the 6-3 Titans.

He went on Covid-Reserve on July 28 and came off it on Aug. 3.

Photo: George Walker, The Tennessean via pool.

He was cited for trespassing at TSU on Aug. 15 where a campus police report said contemplated jumping off a second-story balcony to avoid trouble. The school was closed to outsiders because of COVID-19 concerns. [Unlocked]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Titans and the rest of the NFL are at the point in the season where every game is a big game and will impact what happens in January.

The Ravens lost to injury their three best run defenders in defensive lineman Calais Campbell, Brandon Williams and inside linebacker L.J. Fort, and Patriots running back Damion Harris ran for a career-high with 121 yards.

This should be a big indicator of what the Titans offensive game plan should be.

RUN DERRICK HENRY!!

The Ravens possess two of the best man cover corners in the NFL in Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters who can match the Titans’ receivers with size and speed.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Anthony Midget engaged in a healthy conversation with the local media about press coverage earlier this week and he didn’t back down from defending his cornerbacks the way they’ve appeared to back down from a lot of receivers this season.

“Obviously we’re asking the guys to be more aggressive in the back end and I feel Breon (Borders) has come in and done a better job and obviously that’s a strength of Malcolm (Butler’s),” Midget said.

“So the last couple weeks I thought the guys have been doing more of that and we’re going to continue to stress that, just understanding what the situation is, whether it’s third-down or whatever part of the game it is, what we are looking for and whether we want guys pressing or playing off.”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans’ first-round pick hasn’t found his way onto the field for a game yet, sidelined by poor conditioning, COVID-19, off-the-field issues and lack of readiness.

Maybe Sunday in Baltimore will be the start of Isaiah Wilson’s career as a member of the Tennessee Titans. It would be a leap for him to dress, after which I imagine there would be another big leap to playing on offense. (I'll believe any of it when I see him in uniform.)

Photo: Mike Vrabel with Isaiah Wilson by George Walker Tennessean via pool.

Wilson is the headliner of what's been an incredibly disappointing draft class so far. The group’s story isn’t written nine games into its first year.

But a team that was a game away from the Super Bowl sure could have used some supplementation from the college ranks in 2020.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Congratulations, you made it to next week. I hope you are heading into Monday night with a big fantasy lead and maybe won a bet or two. I wish The Masters was more exciting.

I appreciate the collection of mail and enjoyed digging in.

What’s the biggest reason for our offensive slump over the past 3 weeks or so?

— Missed Field Goals Szn (Titan Up)(6-3) (@JDJD2814) November 15, 2020

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- My review of the Titans' 34-17 loss to the Colts that left them knotted with Indianapolis at 6-3 at the top of the AFC South...

Arthur Smith did his homework on the Colts’ defense, keeping it off balance on the first drive of the game with a precise six-play drive with the ball never hitting the ground en route to a touchdown.

Photo: Tennessee Titans/ Alison McNabb

The Colts offensive focus was to commit to running the football and instead of ignoring the run when it struggled early they made a personnel change and used third-down back Nyheim Hines more.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Take all that work they did to finally find a big start to a season, to get atop the AFC South standings and be chased instead of chasing and crumple it up, snap it to Trevor Daniel and drop it on his foot.

Let’s see if he can punt it into a nearby trash can.

Photo: Alison McNabb/Tennessee Titans

A disastrous third quarter keyed by what qualifies as a massive special teams’ failure even for this team means a 34-17 nationally televised embarrassment for the Titans at the hands of the Colts.

It puts the teams together at 6-3 at the head of the division, where the Titans are no longer being pursued but are actually in the weaker position.