The Tennessee Titans suffered a crushing overtime loss at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts in Week 13, 31-28.
This was the Titans’ first loss at Nissan Stadium this season, and it also allowed the Colts to sweep the Titans for the first time since 2018.
The defeat was humbling and deflating and showed just how far the Titans have fallen when it comes to AFC South supremacy and relevancy.
There were a lot of whacky things that happened in this one. A coach was even fired at the conclusion of the Titans’ game because of the insane developments that occurred in Sunday’s contest.
As you can imagine, now-former special teams coach Craig Aukerman’s unit found itself in the stock down section of this week’s article. However, there were a few players who improved their stock despite the loss.
Let’s see who falls into which category ahead of Tennessee’s Week 14 game against the Miami Dolphins.
Stock up: RB Tyjae Spears
Derrick Henry and Tyjae Spears were incredible on Sunday, totaling 208 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns combined. with 177 of those yards coming on the ground.
Spears carried the load in the second half after Henry left with a concussion and proved that he’s capable of being the bell cow for this team, which is especially important if the Titans decide to move on from Henry in the offseason.
However, the two of them together are undoubtedly one of the better running back tandems in the NFL, so you can’t blame the team if they choose to keep Henry and Spears together a little longer.
Stock down: Titans special teams
This group was hilariously bad in Week 13, and so much so that the team ended up firing special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman on Monday.
When your unit messes up back-to-back punts that result in 10 points for the opposing team and a season-ending injury to your star punter and holder, which also led to a crucial missed extra point, you deserve to lose your job.
The Titans now have to find someone to fill in for punter Ryan Stonehouse but there won’t be an option out there as good as him.
Stock up: WR DeAndre Hopkins
DHop caught five passes for 75 yards and one touchdown on a day where he eclipsed 900 career catches and 12,000 receiving yards. Those two numbers, along with his 75 receiving touchdowns, makes him just the fifth player in NFL history to reach all three of those marks over their first 11 seasons.
Hopkins has been awesome for this team and it’s a shame that the Titans finally nailed a free-agent wide receiver signing during what is a failed season.
Stock down: WR Kyle Philips
After a few positive weeks, Kyle Philips looked like he might be turning the corner. But then he saw his snaps decrease over the next two games and was surprisingly a healthy scratch against the Colts.
This decision was beyond questionable, considering they didn’t even allow Treylon Burks to play a lot after he returned from his concussion.
There were times when this team could’ve used another capable target outside of Hopkins, but Tennessee somehow didn’t see the need for Philips’ services in Week 13.
To say this team makes confusing decisions at the receiver position would be a severe understatement.
Stock up: DL Denico Autry
Denico Autry has been awesome as of late, and Sunday was no different.
He recorded five tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble while also nearly intercepting a pass he tipped near the end of regulation that would’ve probably won it for the Titans had he reeled it in.
With Jeffery Simmons expected to miss a few weeks, this team will have to rely heavily on Autry to be a disruptive presence to have any chance of competing the rest of the year.
Stock down: CB Sean Murphy-Bunting
For the most part, Sean Murphy-Bunting has been an awesome addition to the Titans’ secondary. If the team decides to bring him back in 2024, you won’t get a complaint from me.
However, last Sunday was arguably the worst game of his Titans tenure. The worst part about it is, his lowest moments came in overtime when the team needed him most.
SMB negated a sack with an illegal contact penalty and then gave up the back-breaking big play to wide receiver Alec Pierce, which put the Colts in scoring position.
He’s definitely done well this season, but last Sunday was not his best moment.
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