MIAMI _ The Dolphins should have known it would be a tough day when left guard Laremy Tunsil, their first-round pick, sustained an ankle injury in pregame warm-ups.
The hard luck followed the Dolphins all day as they committed blunder after blunder in their disappointing 30-17 loss to Tennessee on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.
It was so bad that before it was over a small group of the original crowd of 64,425 was chanting "We Want Moore!" meaning they wanted to see backup quarterback Matt Moore instead of starter Ryan Tannehill.
Another small group of fans chanted "Sell the team!" meaning they wanted owner Steve Ross to abandon ship.
The Dolphins got plowed on the ground, allowing 235 yards rushing, and Tannehill was sacked six times as their unlikely playoffs hopes were almost wiped out before well before Halloween.
Clearly this isn't the way the Dolphins (1-4), who rushed for a paltry 51 yards on 17 carries, wanted to start their four-game homestand.
Tunsil's injury, coupled with a slew of other injuries _ the seven-man inactive list, which included Tunsil, was comprised totally of players who were projected starters coming out of training camp _ made it likely things could go badly for the Dolphins against the Titans (2-3).
Among those on the inactive list were Tunsil, linebackers Jelani Jenkins (groin) and Koa Misi (neck), cornerback Xavien Howard (knee), tight end Jordan Cameron (concussion), running back Arian Foster (groin/hamstring) and left tackle Branden Albert (illness/ankle).
Still, the Dolphins had a chance as they trailed, 24-17, entering the fourth quarter.
But they allowed Tennessee to seal the victory with a 4-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Marcus Mariota to wide receiver Rishard Matthews with 8:23 left.
Mariota, who was unimpressive entering the game, ended up going 20 of 29 for 163 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 117.5 passer rating.
Tannehill, by contrast, was 12 of 18 for 191 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions for a 62.3 passer rating.
Tennessee, which was tied for last in the NFL in scoring at 15.5 points per game, converted a Tannehill interception into a field goal and a 24-14 lead early in the third quarter.
The Titans had a 21-14 halftime lead thanks largely to rushing for 166 yards (on 23 carries) in the first half. Then again, it could have been Mariota's two first-half touchdown passes and his 5-yard touchdown run that led to the halftime margin.
The Dolphins entered the game 29th in the NFL in run defense at 129.8 yards per game and they lived down to their ranking.
Tennessee went ahead, 14-7, on a 5-yard pass from Mariota to wide receiver Andre Johnson, the former University of Miami standout, capping a 12-play, 76-yard drive. The Titans ran the ball on 10 of those 12 plays, including six consecutive runs for 47 yards.
The Dolphins, on the other hand, who entered the game averaging 77.8 yards per game, 29th in the NFL, had 11 carries for 39 yards rushing in the first half.
The Dolphins were outgained, 274-101, in the first half.
The Dolphins' scored on running back Jay Ajayi's 4-yard run to tie the game at 14 in the second quarter after they tied the score at 7 earlier in the quarter on a 74-yard punt return by wide receiver Jakeem Grant that briefly electrified the crowd at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Dolphins continue their homestand next week against Pittsburgh, then Buffalo, then the bye week, then the New York Jets.
