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By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special correspondent

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A true evaluation of Ryan Tannehill as a franchise quarterback begins this week.

With an ailing Derrick Henry, the offense will run through the quarterback and the other offensive weapons. WRs A.J. Brown, Corey Davis and TE Jonnu Smith will need to have big games to keep up with the Saints' scoring.

Tannehill has played well since taking over as the starter, but he has had the benefit of an outstanding run game and the play-action that is a result of the success of running the ball.

The Saints' defense has a playmaker at each level.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Greetings as we prepare for Week 16.

I'm here to hit you with a podcast, a Periscope and a mailbag all at once. 

Are the #Titans in trouble? https://t.co/c48jXxRxEs

— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) December 20, 2019

(We got a little jumbled on some of the playoff-scenario talk. You can easily sort it out right here. And the Colts remain a factor.)

All of this is open to all this week, as is this brilliant idea: A membership to PaulKuharsky.com as a gift for the Titans' fan in your life. It's currently 25 percent off for a full year. A steal for everything I write, private Periscope/Facebook Live broadcasts, scouting previews and reviews from Blake Beddingfield, podcasts, a spot in our private Facebook community and a five percent discount at Tennessee Tickets.

Head here to sign up, I can change an email address and/or a member name at any time.

Onto mail.

The Titans could win out, go 10-6, and miss the playoffs. That would seem better than last year, but with the preseason "good to great" expectations, would you consider this season a move in the right direction. Or another stagnant failure.

— Will Craig (@WillCraig0804) December 19, 2019

PK: If they go 10-6, even if without the playoffs, it’s a step forward. It’s not the one they were looking for, but it’s a step forward for sure. I think while fans could be upset over the failure to get into the post-season and can reasonably say the team did not advance from good-to-great as it pledged throughout the offseason there was still progress in a season of transition at quarterback.

Many of Jonnu's big impact plays have come on well designed concepts or gadgets (HB toss, shovel pass, delayed screen passes). What you don't see are many "normal" TE concepts like seam routes, out routes, stick routes.

Is he future TE1 or just athletic utility guy?#pkmail

— TitansNotes (@Titans_Notes) December 19, 2019

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans’ secondary was a strength early this season, and it held up well enough to mask some deficiencies in pass pressure.

Now, with a banged-up group of cornerbacks preparing to face a quarterback who rarely gets sacked, Jurrell Casey says it’s time for the defensive front to payback the backfield.

"They definitely need us right now,” Casey said. “They’re beat up, they’re banged up. They’ve been doing great for us all season long

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – After hitting just one field goal in six attempts, including a low attempt from 45 yards that was blocked in Sunday’s 3-point loss to Houston, Ryan Succop has been put on injured reserve by the Titans.

It means incoming Greg Joseph is in line to handle all aspects of the job Sunday when the Titans host the Saints in Week 16. The Titans also released failed kickoff specialist Ryan Santoso on Tuesday.

It also makes clear that Cody Parkey, who had three good games between the Cairo Santo failure and Succop’s poor comeback from his extended recovery from knee issues, is virtually AWOL from the NFL kicking ranks. He’s not been mentioned as a tryout candidate anywhere else and the Titans probably would have given an edge to someone familiar. Parkey was with the team from Oct. 8 to Nov. 2.

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By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special contributor

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- My review of the Titans 24-21 loss to the Saints…

The turnover that created a 14-point turnaround on the Whitney Mercilus interception of the Ryan Tannehill throw to Anthony Firkser that should have been a touchdown flipped the game on one play.

The Titans had their own great plays that stopped Texan scores, one by S Kenny Vaccaro stretching out for a touchdown-saving interception.

That was a great play call by defensive coordinator Dean Pees, switching from man coverage to zone and Vaccaro was the robber on the pass.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans’ standing as a team no one would want to see in the playoffs took a hit Sunday.

Eric Reid separated Anthony Firkser from an early touchdown pass and turned it into a Whitney Mercilus interception he returned 86 yards to set up a score. That was a terrible turn of events that set the game on a bad course and led to a 24-21 loss to Houston.

If they can go win two games while Derrick Henry’s hamstring improves and they get healthier in the secondary they can certainly get back to that.

“They’re a good team,” said Kenny Vaccaro, who killed the Texans’ first drive with an end-zone interception. “It’s one of those situations where we’re trying to go from good to great. Beat them, we’re heading toward being a great team. Right now, we’re still like a good team, we’re 8-6 now. We’re still a little-bit-above-average team.” [Unlocked]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Generally speaking, being like the Colts would be an accomplishment for the Titans.

Except for the one area Tennessee is managing to mimic them on some scale now isn’t the Colts' division success since 2002 NFL realignment. It’s the unreasonable dedication to their veteran kicker.

Adam Vinatieri’s struggles crushed the 2019 Colts and he finally got moved aside before Week 14. Later he went on IR, deciding to have knee surgery he confessed he should have had earlier.

Since Ryan Succop came off IR following his difficulties recovering from early off-season knee surgery and took back his duties on Nov. 3, he has missed five-of-six field goal attempts, including a low 45-yarder that was blocked in the first quarter Sunday in a crucial game the Titans lost by, you guessed it, 3 points.

(Photo is a PAT)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Titans of recent years, no matter how good, have always been predisposed for a drop-off.

Plenty of teams can get slapped in the face in the unpredictable NFL, it’s a big part of what makes the league compelling.

But Tennessee has made a habit of appearing not to be ready for crucial follow-ups or stretches following good wins or streaks.

After winning six of seven and sitting pretty at 8-4 in 2017, they flailed in losses at Arizona and San Francisco. The glorious overtime win over the Eagles in 2018 was quickly offset with a dud at Buffalo and two more losses. Later, the great wins at Dallas and over New England were followed by ugly losses at Indianapolis and Houston.

This surging version of the Titans could certainly lose Sunday’s crucial matchup with the Texans, but it doesn’t feel capable of a washout.