The Tennessee Titans (2-3) are back under .500 on the season after they lost a frustrating game to the Indianapolis Colts (3-2) in Week 5, 23-16.
It was frustrating because the Colts beat the Titans at their own game. Indy was the more physical group, as evidenced by the Colts dominating the Titans upfront, en route to nearly 200 yards on the ground.
Buy Titans TicketsMeanwhile, Tennessee’s offense moved the ball with relative ease in between the 20’s, but the unit simply couldn’t finish drives, with the Titans going 1-for-4 in the red zone on Sunday.
Let’s see which players and units emerged as “winners” and “losers” from the Titans’ Week 5 defeat at the hands of their division rival.
Loser: CB Kristian Fulton
Fulton was getting beaten in coverage all game long and he committed a pair of pass interference penalties that aided in two Colts scoring drives. It might be time to bench Fulton and give someone else a look on the outside.
While Fulton was no doubt the biggest culprit, it’s not like the rest of the unit was anything special. The secondary remains the biggest concern on defense for Tennessee, especially when you consider its supposed No. 1 cornerback, Fulton, continues to struggle.
Winner: WR DeAndre Hopkins
It was a tough day for the “Deandre Hopkins is washed” crowd.
The veteran receiver fully proved he hasn’t lost a step after dominating the Colts’ secondary in the second half en route to season-highs in receptions (eight) and yards (140).
Hopkins, who was the most consistent player for the Titans’ offense in Week 5, almost had his first touchdown, also, but Derrick Henry just missed him in the back of the end zone.
Loser: Titans' defensive front
The Titans were uncharacteristically horrible in run defense, which can partly be blamed on the absence of defensive lineman Teair Tart. Zack Moss gashed the unit for 165 yards on the ground, making him the first running back since Saquon Barkely in Week 1 of last season to break the century mark against Tennessee.
But it was more than just the run defense that struggled. The pass-rush was non-existent, allowing backup Gardner Minshew to pick apart Tennessee’s suspect secondary.
Winner: K Nick Folk
Folk continues to be money for Tennessee, no matter the distance. The veteran kicker made three field goals on Sunday, including one from 53 yards out. He remains perfect on the season.
In between: Titans' offensive line
While the offensive line was very good in pass protection this week, giving up just one sack, the unit did nothing to open up holes in the run game. Henry averaged just 3.3 yards per carry, and outside of his 19-yard touchdown run, Tyjae Spears averaged 2.5 yards per tote.
Winner: RB Tyjae Spears
With Tennessee’s offense desperately needing a spark, Spears provided it with his 19-yard touchdown run that was the first score of his career.
Unfortunately, the run-blocking wasn’t good overall, thus Spears struggled to find room other than that run. He added 35 receiving yards, the second-most on the team in Week 5.
Loser: Titans' red zone offense
The passing attack actually operated with a good amount of success against the Colts despite the lack of a run game, but the problem was finishing.
The Titans squandered three red zone trips on the afternoon, including a big one in the fourth quarter that would’ve given Tennessee the lead. With the run game not doing much all afternoon, I would’ve rather seen a pass to Hopkins — or to anyone, really — in that spot.
The Titans also just missed a touchdown on the Henry pass to Hopkins during their first offensive series of the game, and one of Chig Okonkwo’s two offensive pass interference penalties badly hurt — if not wrecked — the other.
Loser: Chig Okonkwo
Speaking of Chig: not only did he have a pair of offensive pass interference penalties, one of which was a tough blow in the red zone, he also had multiple drops, something he’s had issues with this season. The breakout campaign for Tennessee’s young tight end is very much in trouble.
