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The Titans’ well-known and high-earning players let their team down late against the Colts

The Titans’ well-known and high-earning players let their team down late against the Colts

Here’s a lens through which to view the fourth quarter of the Tennessee Titans’ 20-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday:

  • Will Levis, the quarterback the Titans relied on as the centerpiece of their franchise, completed 3 of 10 passes with one interception after going 13 of 17 with a touchdown in the first three quarters.
  • Calvin Ridley, the standout receiver the team signed in free agency, had no catches on five goals late in the game.
  • L’Jarius Sneed, the cornerback acquired in a trade in March who defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson recently called the best at his position in the NFL, was hit for the go-ahead touchdown pass on the same drive in which he ran for a 33-yard -Pass was warned Pass an interference penalty.
  • Lloyd Cushenberry III, the rising star center the Titans added as a free agent to shore up a struggling offensive line, was stood up on a crucial third-and-1 and slammed backwards into his running back to derail the attack’s progress and to force a punt.

Players like these should fix the problem that has plagued the Titans this season. On Sunday they were part of the problem.

“I think across the board we just all need to play at a higher level,” Levis said after the game. “I think in all position groups we can come forward and say and admit things that we could have done better.”

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The Titans’ early losses were easy to explain. The young quarterback made some mistakes as a young quarterback, although the turnover margin was inexcusable. The return games of a previously poor offensive line had not improved. It wasn’t good, but it wasn’t unimaginable.

But now the Titans are 1-4 after blowing an early (and late) lead, squandering a chance to take second place in the AFC South standings and burying the Colts 0-3 in division play. This time, these understandable errors weren’t the problem. They didn’t lose because of a stupid turnover or an early dismissal. They lost because they didn’t play particularly good football at the end of the game when it was needed most.

“We’re obviously frustrated,” safety Quandre Diggs told The Tennessean. “But what do you expect? We have a locker room full of cats that are alphas and cats that hope to win.”

Ridley expressed his frustration and publicly called for more goals to be achieved at the beginning of games so that he can be better later. Levis says now is not the time to point fingers. Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons says now is the time to “put out the fire” because “no one is trying to save us.” Sneed says the team is still better than his record and he is better than his performance.

Sneed showed off his uncanny ability to speak in positive-toned riddles after the games. When asked what he needs to do to give his best more often, he said that he doesn’t want to give his best because he will always think that he has more to prove. When asked what it takes to be at his best more consistently, he said that he can intercept three passes in a game and still think he’s not doing anything close to his best. When asked what he could do to meet his own standards more often, he replied that he was keeping God’s schedule and knew that His light would soon shine on him.

The fact is, however, that Sneed made game-winning catches late in the crucial moments of two defeats – which doesn’t exactly confirm the Titans’ expectations of him.

“I think L’Jarius is a really good football player and I’m glad we have him,” Titans coach Brian Callahan said. “There was a jump ball and one on the sideline that was ruled a PI (pass interference). But I’m glad we have him. He’s a really good football player.”

Sneed obviously wasn’t the only player to blame. The Titans’ star veterans, first-round picks and offseason acquisitions were responsible for 83 yards worth of penalties that resulted in four Colts first downs and a Titans punt. In a game decided by three points in which the Titans led in the fourth quarter, facts like these can make all the difference – even if playing aggressively and committing to the margin of error, as Sneed likes to do, is ingrained in the Titans’ identity.

“We knew what we were getting when we got all our DBs,” Diggs said. “You feel me? We knew Sneed would be aggressive. We knew Jarvis (Brownlee Jr.) was going to be aggressive. Chido (Awuzie), aggressive. Myself, aggressive. Jamal (Adams), aggressive. That’s it.” .Sometimes you live with it and you die with it. But at the end of the day we’ll make it right.”

Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at [email protected]. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.