The Tennessee Titans looked to go 2-0 for the first time in years on Sunday’s home opener, but were denied by the visiting Indianapolis Colts.
Tennessee fell 19-17 in a game it had several chances to win, but failed to execute and capitalize on opportunities to shift the momentum back into its favor.
The Titans will need to clean up these mistakes as they face yet another division rival in the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road Thursday.
Here’s a look at who performed well, and who would have liked to have at least one play back on the loss.
Stud: CB Logan Ryan
Ryan didn’t have a single interception as a Titan ahead of the 2019 season. But in two weeks, he’s now had as many. The cornerback finished the day with one tackle, three assists and the interception.
Expect Ryan to continue being a steady factor within Dean Pees’ defense.
Dud: Offensive line
The Titans offensive line continues to struggle in the wake of injuries and the suspension of Pro Bowl left tackle Taylor Lewan. Their shortcomings in both this game and Week 1 have done the offense and its quarterback no favors.
The unit allowed four sacks on Sunday, making for a season total of eight over just two games.
Point production also needs to improve, and that all starts with the offensive line getting stronger.
Stud: RB Derrick Henry
We may have seen an even stronger afternoon from Henry if the offensive line had been able to handle a tough Colts front seven.
He was still a force on offense, though, carrying 15 times for 81 yards and one of Tennessee’s only two touchdowns of the day.
Dud: WR Adam Humphries
Many people had expected more from Humphries by this point in the season. He and quarterback Marcus Mariota had some great chemistry in the preseason, but he recorded a second quiet outing in the home opener.
He had just two receptions for a loss of one yard.
Stud: OLB Harold Landry
The defense may have had trouble bringing Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett down, but they hardly found an issue putting the pressure on him.
Landry was a big part of that, recording four tackles, two assists and one sack on the loss.
He’s sliding into a bigger role this year after the departure of Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan, and is developing well.
Dud: S Amani Hooker
Rookies will be rookies, but Hooker was met with an especially rude awakening as he missed an opportunity for a crucial tackle on Colts tight end Eric Ebron to allow the Colts to move the chains. The play by Ebron helped set up the first Indianapolis touchdown on the day.
It’s poor execution on missed opportunities like this one that cost Tennessee the game.
