NASHVILLE, Tenn. – It’s awfully meaningful for meaningless.

Yes, Thursday night’s Titans’ game against the Cowboys at Nissan Stadium doesn’t have a bearing on whether Tennessee will win the AFC South and qualify for the playoffs.

Courtesy Tennessee Titans

But this team can’t just wave a white flag against Dallas, accept a sixth consecutive defeat in the name of getting healthier and think it’s going to find all that’s been missing on the division championship game at Jacksonville on Jan. 7 or 8.

“I would say from my perspective, we need to win this week,” Kevin Byard said. “Obviously, with all the playoff implications and things like that, that may not be true. But I can guarantee you that me – and I will make sure

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans are a shell of a team at this point in the season.

Five weeks ago, they were 7-3 and easily on their way to an AFC South championship.

Pool photo: Tennessee Titans

Even though the hope for a playoff run was limited they were going to make the playoffs and be a division winner.

Now, the Titans are on a five-game losing streak.

Fate has them going into Week 18 of the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars needing to win to be in the playoffs.

The Week 16 game between the Titans and Texans was a tough one to watch.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Through an awful offensive season and an especially bad showing during a losing streak that moved to five games Saturday, the Titans have concentrated on team unity.

They win and lose together. They understand how they are built, where their shortcomings are and what they have to overcome – which has now been too much more often than not. On Christmas Eve it was especially apparent with limited rookie Malik Willis at quarterback against the NFL’s worst team in the coldest home game in franchise history.

© Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean-USA TODAY Sports

He threw a crucial interception and Derrick Henry gave away a vital fumble as the offense produced two whole touchdowns in a 19-14 loss that dropped Tennessee to 7-8.

Jeffery Simmons wasn't asked anything about the offense before he said he wasn't pointing any fingers at Willis.

After it was over, a wife or girlfriend of someone on the team trudged up a dingy cement staircase leading from the field level, where there is a room for player families, to an exit to the parking lot.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from PaulKuharsky.com central.

We appreciate your support and continue to strive to serve you with great information and analysis.

If you have not heard this week’s podcast, it’s a good one so please be sure to give it a listen before the game.

The Paul Kuharsky Podcast

💥 Moving on with Malik
💥 Low-energy #Titans' offense
💥 The idea of resting, waiting for Jags game
💥 A Vrabel dilemma
💥 Simmons' confidence

Apple: https://t.co/ZLp6ZA2f39
Spotify:https://t.co/qM5YywoDO0
Google Pods: https://t.co/qkTYilyjhR pic.twitter.com/fJUPGDnn5b

— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) December 22, 2022

Onto the best of your questions.

With Tannehill’s (probable) season-ending injury, is he still the #Titans’ best QB1 option next season, or too soon to tell?

— ⛪️♥️CHVRCHΞS Fans’Papa♥️⛪️ (@VaderJaws) December 22, 2022

Can the #Titans completely rebuild by keeping Tannehill? “If” a rebuild would be in the works, why not trade him to get assets to assist in the rebuild process? Isn’t keeping Tannehill just kicking the can down the road?

— The General (@mac9nj) December 22, 2022

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Texans have lost nine straight games but have played competitively the past two weeks versus two playoff-caliber teams, the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys.

Houston is last in the NFL in total offense and 26^th and 29^th in passing and rushing yards, respectively.

On defense, the Texans are 30^th overall with the worst rushing defense giving up 167 yards a game while they are 19^th vs the pass.

The Texans had most of their best players inactive last week with injuries. Three rookies -- running back

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A new podcast episode awaits you on Apple, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

I recorded shortly after I reported that Ryan Tannehill is very likely done for the 2022 season (and that Dillon Radunz tore an ACL). So I delve deeply into that.

Whichever platform you prefer, please subscribe, rate and review.

Other subjects I dive into:

• How the Titans can function with Malik Willis at quarterback with a patchwork line.
• How low-energy the offense feels.
• A Mike Vrabel dilemma when working with so many new guys.
• The idea of resting up and just playing to win the finale in Jacksonville.
• Franco Harris on Derrick Henry.
• Jeffery Simmons' confidence.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Ryan Tannehill's second injury to his right ankle suffered in the team's loss to the Chargers in Los Angeles Sunday will very likely end his season, multiple sources confirmed.

© Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

Malik Willis worked as the starter during the open portion of practice Wednesday and was the quarterback made available to the media in Tannehill's usual time slot.

Offensive coordinator Todd Downing spoke of Willis as if he would be the starter Saturday at Nissan Stadium against the Texans as the Titans look to end a four-game losing skid that's dropped them to 7-7.

But Tannehill's future beyond that was unclear.

Now PaulKuharsky.com has learned his injury could require surgury.

By MIKE HERNDON, columnist

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Another week, another lackluster offensive performance, and another handful of injuries for the rapidly deteriorating Tennessee Titans. Those are the two constants across 14 games of the 2022 season and neither seems likely to get a lot better anytime soon.

Ben Jones has his second concussion of the season/ Photo: Angie Flatt

We can start with the injuries. Mike Vrabel’s squad finished Sunday’s 17-14 loss to the Chargers without the following players: