NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Call it bad luck. Call it poor play. But the 2024 version of the Tennessee Titans aren’t good enough to overcome the obstacles they faced Sunday – self-inflicted or otherwise – in a 23-13 loss to the Vikings.
The Titans knew they’d have to battle one of the NFL’s best defenses and the game’s top current wide receiver, but they also had to overcome an officiating crew that made several game-altering calls throughout the course of the afternoon. All of them went against the Titans.
Good teams make their own breaks. The Titans aren’t good enough to make them or even avoid the bad ones. And there’s plenty of blame to go around.
This season has been full of Titans miscues, so let’s start with the officiating that proved costly in this game.
With the Vikings leading 7-3 in the second quarter the Tennessee defense bowed up at the goalline. Safety Mike Brown making a bone-crushing hit on Jordan Addison on fourth and goal, jarring the ball incomplete for what looked like an enormous defensive stand. But penalty flags were thrown and Brown was cited for unnecessary roughness, gifting Minnesota a new set of downs at the Tennessee one.
Brian Callahan, still stinging from a Titans scoop and score touchdown that was reversed in their loss to the Chargers last week, lost his temper, exploding on referee Clete Blakeman and any member of the officiating crew that was within shouting distance, picking up another unsportsmanklike conduct penalty. Sam Darnold punched in a quarterback sneak on the next play and, even though the point after was missed, the Vikings had six points they shouldn’t have had.
Callahan’s outburst may earn him some points in a locker room, but certainly didn’t earn any calls the rest of the day.
Moments after Levis hit Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for a jaw-dropping 98-yard touchdown pass to pull within 16-10, the Titans appeared to have another defensive stop as Jeffery Simmons sacked Darnold on third and long. But, once again, a penalty flag flew.
This time they booked rookie cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. for illegal contact on Minnesota star Justin Jefferson down the field. The Vikings took advantage once again with Darnold hitting Cam Akers in the flat for a three-yard touchdown and a 23-10 lead.
The Titans looked to have an answer as Levis dialed up another deep shot to Calvin Ridley for an apparent 51-yard touchdown, only to see another yellow flag littering the field.
The call was an illegal formation caused by practice squad elevation Isaiah Prince lining up too deep in the backfield as the right tackle. It was one of three penalties for illegal formation on Prince in the game, and it was costly as the Titans had to settle for a field goal.
The Vikings also benefitted from a replay review of an apparent Darnold fumble on Arden Key’s sack in the fourth quarter. The ball appeared to be knocked out and recovered by Tennessee linebacker Kenneth Murray, but replay appeared to show Darnold regain control – albeit briefly – as his knee touched the ground before it was completely ripped away from him. The fumble call was overturned and the Titans lost a short field opportunity and perhaps their last best chance to mount a comeback against a Minnesota team that sits just a game back of Detroit in the NFC North.
Three calls and a replay review that swung the game at least 17 points. That would be a lot for any team to overcome.
But it’s not all on the referees.
The Titans committed 13 penalties for 91 yards and at least some of them were actual penalties, a growing concern for a team that’s racked up some big penalty numbers in recent weeks.
The Titans had more penalty yards in the first half Sunday than they had total yards and finished the game with more penalties than first downs. Those aren’t winning numbers.
It looked like the Titans could steal some momentum early when Simmons fell on a fumble after Minnesota botched a toss sweep. Will Levis converted a pair of third downs, one with his legs and one with a beautiful ball to Calvin Ridley, but he was sacked on third down forcing the Titans to settle for a field goal.
It was one of five sacks the Titans allowed on the day as Levis has now been brought down behind the line 13 times in his two games back from injury playing behind this porous offensive line.
He was sacked to end one fourth quarter drive and had to run for his life on another fourth down before firing a pass well off the mark for Tyler Boyd.
Levis’s late interception as he attempted a desperation deep shot for Ridley sealed the game and dropped the Titans to 2-8.
Too many mistakes. Not good enough play. The Titans have a difficult enough time finding ways to win on their own. They can’t afford to battle the refs as well.
