NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans were proud of a team defense that didn’t produce a lot of individual numbers but did better work as a collective in 2018.

Yardage-wise, the team ranked eighth in the NFL, 18^th against the run and sixth against the pass.

The Titans were 10^th on third down, third in points, and second in red-zone D, all numbers they can be satisfied with and still grow on. The one area they had just 17 takeaways, a middling number.

Three veterans Titans said they felt like it may have been the best defense they’ve played on.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Titans' coaching staff in 2019 is in line to look very much like it did in 2018.

Matt LaFleur is interviewing for the Packers head coaching job Sunday and Dean Pees is taking some time to decide if his health allows him to continue. So change at coordinator remains possible, though special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman remains in place.

Strength and conditioning coach Tom Kanavy has been let go as has one of his assistants, Taylor Porter.

But each of the team's position coaches will be back for a second year, with Mike Vrabel clearly expecting continued player growth and additional talent to help them all. [Unlocked]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Matt LaFleur’s interview for the head-coaching job of the Green Bay Packers is scheduled for Sunday, which gives him a lot of time to prepare to wow team president Mark Murphy.

He’s one of seven known candidates for the job. Jim Caldwell and Chuck Pagano have already interviewed. Josh McDaniels, Brian Flores, Mike Munchak and Dan Campbell will.

LaFleur has the least experience of that group, one year less than Flores in the NFL, but one year more than him with a coordinator title.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Now Marcus Mariota rests and heals.

It’s a familiar process for a quarterback who Monday showed he’s just as frustrated with his most recent injury, and the ones before it, as the fans of the Titans are.

Robert Watkins, rated by many as the top-rated spine specialist in the world, examined Mariota after he suffered his first stinger, Nov. 18 in Indianapolis. The quarterback went to Southern California for that visit. [Unlocked]

By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special correspondent

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Scouting notes off the Titans' season-ending 33-17 loss to the Colts...

The Colts’ offense was dominant to start the game with two long drives that both ended in touchdowns. They dominated time of possession (Colts 40:13, Titans 19:47), ran the ball consistently versus the Titans defense and stole the game plan that Tennessee wanted to use against the Colts. 

The Titans did make Andrew Luck look uncomfortable for the first time in a long time. The interception for a touchdown throw was uncharacteristic of Luck and it was caused by the speed of the defense and the inside linebackers flying all over the field wreaking havoc.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The sad ending took a backseat to who wasn’t in the huddle for the start. The Titans on Sunday Night Football gave Music City all day to freak out about an early report that Marcus Mariota, injured last week against Washington, wouldn’t play.

And he was not part of the 33-17 loss to the Colts that sent Indianapolis on to the playoffs and will see the Titans disperse Monday, owners of a third consecutive 9-7 record.

Already without Jurrell Casey, Logan Ryan and Brian Orakpo on defense and Delanie Walker, Jonnu Smith and Jack Conklin on offense, the Titans got within 17-10 at halftime.

But Mariota would certainly have given them a better chance than Blaine Gabbert did, with two picks and 165 yards on 18 of 29 passing. The Titans converted one of nine third downs, held the ball for only 19:47 (to Indy’s 40:13) and ran just 45 plays (compared to 72).

It is remarkable how many people have simply decreed he should have played, with zero details on his injury beyond the minimal stuff on the league-mandated injury report: “neck/foot, limited, questionable.” If he could have, what possible rationale would there have been for him not to have? [Unlocked]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – ESPN reported Sunday morning that Marcus Mariota is a no-go for the biggest game of his career Sunday night, where the winner of the Colts-Titans matchup will advance to the playoffs and the loser’s season will end.

“…[O]ne source told ESPN that an independent spine specialist has warned the Titans that further damage would put Mariota's ability to throw the football at significant risk beyond this weekend,” Chris Mortensen wrote.

My conversations early Sunday told me the team is still working with doctors and couldn’t yet say if Mariota would play. A second person said the team will work Mariota out today. But a third finally provided confirmation that it's not very likely Mariota will play.

Titans fans need to let it sink in and move away from the idea that, if Mariota doesn’t play, a simple stinger like the one their high school football-playing son may have suffered is keeping Mariota out. [Unlocked]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Taylor Lewan was fined $10,000 for his postgame interaction with Washington’s Josh Norman last week, when the Titans’ tackle mocked the Washington cornerback claiming he tried to injured Derrick Henry during the Titans win.

It’s Lewan’s second significant fine this month.

On Dec. 4 he was charged $26,739 for postgame interaction with officials following the Titans’ win over the Jets two days earlier.

Friday after practice Lewan told media in more detail what sparked the altercation. (I was not there.)

The always entertaining @TaylorLewan77 with some follow-up comments on his run-in with Josh Norman last Sunday: #Titans pic.twitter.com/qzxdh3jCYU

— John Glennon (@glennonsports) December 28, 2018

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