One of the most egregiously bad aspects of the Tennessee Titans’ 21-20 Week 1 loss to the New York Giants was the play-calling of offensive coordinator Todd Downing.
Buy Titans TicketsDowning, who had a horrible first year as Tennessee’s play-caller in 2021, picked up where he left off on Sunday with several questionable play calls. Two of them came on third-and-1 plays where Downing appeared to be allergic to simply handing the ball off to Derrick Henry.
One saw the Titans go with the wild cat with Henry, who fumbled the snap and was unable to pick up the first down, leading to a Titans punt.
The other was more crucial. Downing went with an end around to Chigoziem Okonkwo with 6:26 left in the game instead of handing the ball off to Henry, which was stuffed for a four-yard loss, leading to another Titans punt that prevented them from having the opportunity to run out the clock.
But wait, there’s more…
The least talented tight end on the roster, Geoff Swaim, had more targets than Chig and Austin Hooper combined, and he had the same number of touches as his fellow tight ends put together. Downing even called a TIGHT END SCREEN for Swaim, who also had a drop on one of his targets.
Downing’s leash had already run out with Titans fans, and they were right back to calling for him to be fired after Sunday, which is very understandable.
You’re going to be hearing Tim Kelly’s name a lot in the coming week. Here are some of the best reactions to Downing from Week 1.
There is no reason Todd Downing should have been brought back this season. He proved it today
— Music City Miracles (@TitansMCM) September 11, 2022
I wonder what kind of nasty dirt Todd Downing has on Vrabel to justify keeping his horrible OC ass around. #FireToddDowning
— TitanTheCollector (0-1) #FireToddDowning (@collector_titan) September 11, 2022
Todd Downing’s favorite thing to do on 3rd and short is not hand off to Derrick Henry.
— Sundays in Nashville (@SundaysinNash) September 11, 2022
Todd Downing might be the worst OC I’ve ever seen
— Stoney Stan Account (@titan_always22) September 11, 2022
Fire Todd downing. Have a great night
— Fire Todd Downing (@TheTrumanShow89) September 11, 2022
I don’t care if it’s Week One, Todd Downing is still an absolute bozo.
— TicTacTitans (@TicTacTitans) September 11, 2022
Todd Downing just makes it really hard to like him
— Jimmy Morris (@jmorrisMCM) September 11, 2022
Hey Todd Downing, let’s do a flea flicker with Ben Jones throwing to the punter. #Titans
— Big Joe (@BIGJOEONTHEGO) September 11, 2022
Todd Downing’s gotta go man
— Derrico Henrio (@KingHenryStans) September 11, 2022
Got a picture with Todd Downing after the game! pic.twitter.com/QO3Dqzsrtl
— AJ Ethridge (@AJEthridge94) September 11, 2022
@titan_dk so they got like one more Drive or maybe two to show me they can make this thing right before I call it a night this is disappointing. Having Todd Downing as an OC is Criminal
— JUST DANDY 💯💯👑🙌🏿 🇭🇹🇭🇹 (@Dandy305_954) September 11, 2022
Calling for Todd Downing job after week 1 is NOT an overreaction. That was a disaster.
— 𝓝𝓲𝓬𝓴 ⚔️ (@FeedKingHenry) September 11, 2022
Name a man more hated in the state of Tennessee than Todd Downing, I’ll wait
— rain ⚔️ TITAN TF UP (@rainIoss) September 11, 2022
Fire Todd Downing into the sun…yesterday
— TFS (@TitansFanSam) September 11, 2022
I don’t know if this team is good or whatever but I sure don’t want Todd Downing to be anywhere close to it anymore
— Blake (@_BlakeTucker) September 11, 2022
100% blame the offensive play calling.
Todd Downing is an absolute idiot. He was last year and he still is.
Fire his sorry ass.@Titans
— Mohammed ☀️ (@mhesen09) September 11, 2022
Day number 1 of calling for the unhire-ment of Todd Downing #Titans pic.twitter.com/J8fWkQUHJO
— FIREDOWNING🤬 (0-1)(2-0) (@TnTitanFan1) September 12, 2022
