DENVER – The visiting team that played Sunday in the only NFL stadium that is a mile above sea level is sinking fast and even a quarterback change didn’t alter the offense’s course to the deep dark.

This is an absolute shipwreck. A good-to-great campaign now features losses to three franchise the Titans arguably have more talent than – the Jaguars, the Bills and the Broncos. The Titans are 2-4.

No matter what dramatic turnaround we can dream up that may be ahead, after a 16-0 disaster at the hands of the Broncos, the Titans are 1-4 in the AFC with only seven remaining.

The change from Marcus Mariota, who was horrible, to Ryan Tannehill with 4:49 on the clock in the third period didn’t alter things too much, at least not in terms of scoring. They moved the ball better, with Tannehill winding up with more than double Mariota’s passing yardage, but the end zone remained off limited. Another winning effort from the defense was for naught.

By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special correspondent

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Denver Broncos are a bottom-five team in the NFL based on personnel.

Joe Flacco was no longer needed in Baltimore because of the emergence of second-year QB Lamar Jackson. Flacco is the type of QB that will have his moments as he did with the Ravens in 2018 against the Titans. Flacco is a stationary target in the pocket and this could provide a be a big day for the Titans’ pass rush.

The Broncos did very little to upgrade their offensive in the offseason. The biggest addition was first-round pick, TE Noah Fant. Fant has the vertical speed to stretch the seam of the defense and keep the safeties occupied. Second-round choice, OL Dalton Risner, is the starting LG.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Through five games the Titans’ plan to beef up Marcus Mariota has paid serious dividends.

David Carr was sacked 76 times quarterbacking the 2002 expansion Houston Texans. Mariota has absorbed 22 through five games, which puts him on pace for 70.

He’s taking plenty of hits beyond those sacks, and while the offensive line is the primary culprit, Mariota’s held the ball too long too often. Play design sometimes seems to contribute, with deep routes combining with poor protection to complicate things.

But I am here to credit Mariota. Though his play has been jagged, he’s been excellent on two fronts that were big concerns heading into a fifth-season that will determine much about his future.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Since 2016, 15 of the NFL’s 32 teams have at least one first-round pick who’s gotten a postseason honor -- a Pro Bowl appearance, an All-Pro selection or an NFL Offensive or Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

That was Jon Robinson’s first season as general manager of the Titans, who are on that list thanks to Jack Conklin’s All-Pro rookie season.

Those honors are hardly the only measure for first-round success.

• Carolina’s getting monstrous production from Christian McCaffery, who gained 1,965 yards from scrimmage last season,
• The recently injured Bradley Chubb had 12 sacks as a rookie for Denver.
• Calvin Ridley and Mike Williams each caught 10 touchdowns in 2018 for Atlanta and the Chargers, respectively.
• Will Fuller just had a 14-catch, 217-yard, three-touchdown game for Houston.
• Sony Michel and Derek Barnett have Super Bowl rings with New England and Philadelphia, respectively.

But since that stellar year for Conklin, the Titans’ right tackle, the production of Robinson’s five first-round picks has been mediocre.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans' plan to activate first-round draft pick Jeffrey Simmons for practice next week and hope he makes his NFL debut on Oct. 20 at Nissan Stadium against the Chargers.

Simmons has been on the Non-Football Injury list since the season started, which meant he could not practice with the team or play for six games.

The Titans play their sixth game Sunday in Denver.

Unlike a player who is removed from IR, there is no built-in wait period between the return to practice and the return to game-play.

[Unlocked]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Seemingly coaching more on emotion than on the analytics of the moment, Mike Vrabel’s recent key fourth-down choices have hindered the Titans not helped them.

A rundown…

Sept. 15 vs Indianapolis

4-1-TEN 34 (3:38) (No Huddle) PENALTY on TEN-M.Mariota, Delay of Game, 5 yards, enforced at TEN 34 - No Play. 4-6-TEN 29 (3:38) (Punt formation) B.Kern punts 45 yards to IND 26, Center-B.Brinkley. C.Rogers to IND 26 for no gain (D.Cruikshank; C.Milton).

In the fourth quarter, trailing 19-17 the Titans weakly tried to draw the Colts offsides for a few seconds, then Marcus Mariota and the rest of the team stood at the line of scrimmage staring at the sideline while the clocked ticked down and the took a delay.

By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special correspondent

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Zero excuses after a loss like this. Offensive line breakdowns, dropped passes and the offense struggled to convert third downs.

The Titans offense struggled in the first half because of big losses due to penalties and sacks. This is a theme that keeps showing up for Tennessee.

Marcus Mariota was efficient and decisive with his throws. Mariota was sacked five times and escaped another four potential sacks. The receivers had four dropped passes and three of the four would have resulted in first downs.

Titans offensive drives:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – It can’t be like that. It just can’t.

The Titans can’t make the financial investments they did in Taylor Lewan, Rodger Saffold and Adam Humphries and spend the draft assets they have on Corey Davis, A.J. Brown and Nate Davis and get that sort of offensive output against the Buffalo Bills, no matter how good their defense is.

They can’t watch Cairo Santos miss four field goals (one of them was blocked) and they can’t score just 7 points for the second time in three weeks and walk off an NFL football field and feel like they are on any sort of desirable trajectory.

They can lose to the Bills, but they can’t do it like that, not 14-7.