The Tennessee Titans dropped their Week 3 contest to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, leaving them with a 1-2 record. As a result, Tennessee is moving down in the NFL power rankings of experts going into Week 4.
We start with USA TODAY’s Nate Davis, who has the Titans falling two spots from No. 18 to No. 20. Here’s what he had to say about Tennessee:
Buy Titans Tickets20. Titans (18): They managed 94 yards offensively Sunday, the franchise’s lowest ebb in its post-Houston iteration. Equally unimpressive were the six first downs at Cleveland on Sunday as Tennessee was shut out of the end zone for the second time in three weeks.
While Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill deserved the blame for the team’s bad Week 1 showing on offense, it was the offensive line that let the team down in Week 3.
And more specifically, left tackle Andre Dillard, who gave up seven pressures and three sacks, according to Pro Football Focus.
Now, a look at where the rest of the experts in our round-up are ranking the Titans.
Jarrett Bailey, Touchdown Wire: 26 (-1)
Bailey: “Good Lord the Titans have looked horrible through three weeks. If not for a gift wrapped win from Brandon Staley and the Chargers, they’d be 0-3 and pondering when to start Will Levis.”
Barry Werner, The List Wire: 26 (-7)
Werner: “The Titans went into Cleveland and faced a Browns team that was without Nick Chubb and had Deshaun Watson. Neither can be considered a plus, right? Ryan Tannehill threw for 104 yards. Derrick Henry rushed for 20. What is Mike Vrabel going to do?”
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: 21 (-7)
Prisco: “The offense was non-existent against the Browns. That’s a good defense, but the offensive line issues are a problem.”
Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk: 25 (-5)
Florio: “The Titanic encountered something other than an iceberg in the Cuyahoga River.”
NFL Nation, ESPN: 29 (-7)
Turron Davenport: “The Titans have allowed an average of 4.3 sacks per game. Whether it’s penalties or giving up a sack, the Titans are finding themselves behind the chains far too often. Tennessee is not built for success if it isn’t efficient early in the series to avoid third and long. The protection is not good enough to hold up for longer developing routes and oftentimes requires help from the tight ends or running backs. That’s a big reason why the Titans only average 3.3 third-down conversions per game, 24th in the league. And there are times when Ryan Tannehill has held onto the ball too long, as well.”
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: 25 (-3)
Iyer: “The Titans’ offensive line woes destroyed them vs. the Browns’ front. When they can’t run well, they can’t win, because the passing game breaks down and the pass defense stinks.”
Eric Edholm, NFL.com: 21 (-1)
Edholm: “Even while adding the context of how many good pass rushers the Titans have faced through three games, Andre Dillard had a rough day against the Browns’ Myles Garrett, being overwhelmed in pass protection a few times, and also being flagged on back-to-back third-down plays in the second quarter. He wasn’t the only Tennessee offensive lineman to struggle at Cleveland, but it’s concerning that left tackle remains an issue — and that coordinator Tim Kelly hasn’t done more to help Dillard. Perhaps they could try rookie Peter Skoronski there once he’s healthy, but Mike Vrabel stuck with 15-game starter Dennis Daley last season amid similar struggles. Tennessee might have to figure out how to make it work with Dillard.”
Frank Schwab, Yahoo Sports: 25 (-6)
Schwab: “At halftime Sunday, Tyjae Spears had 18 snaps and Derrick Henry had seven. The game wasn’t uncompetitive before halftime. That’s just what the Titans preferred. Spears finished with a 27-18 edge in snaps. A similar situation happened with the RB split in Week 1. One explanation is it’s simply bad coaching, and the staff is mindlessly playing a mid-round rookie over a future Hall of Famer way more than it should. Another explanation is that the Titans think Henry has taken a big step back and he can’t be the focal point of the offense anymore, even though it needs some help. Either way, it’s a trend we need to watch.”
Dalton Miller, Pro Football Network: 24 (-3)
Miller: “Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry should sue the Titans organization for gross negligence. No sane human would think a line consisting of Andre Dillard (who they added this offseason), Peter Skowronski, Aaron Brewer, Daniel Brunskill, and Chris Hubbard was a suitable unit for the field. Yes, the rookie left guard is hurt, and their starting right tackle is suspended. But Hubbard has been the bright spot of this line, and that is a massive problem. If Tennessee gets down early in a game, they don’t have the juice in the dropback game to climb back against teams.”
K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire: 28 (-2)
Ryan Dunleavy, New York Post: 21
Brandon Anderson, Action Network: 27
Anderson: “Am I sad I couldn’t find a reason for the Titans to Stay Stay Stay at No. 25 a fourth consecutive week? Yes. But do they deserve to rank that high after tallying six first downs and 94 yards on 45 plays in an actual NFL game? No. Ryan Tannehill and his five sacks and 4.2 YPA are officially on washed watch.”
