There were high expectations for the Tennessee Titans (1-2) ahead of the 2019 season.
After all, the team did spend the entire offseason making moves within the offensive line, adding new offensive weapons and creating a sense of continuity by promoting Arthur Smith to offensive coordinator after Matt LaFleur’s departure to Green Bay.
All of this should have set quarterback Marcus Mariota up for success on the fifth and final year of his rookie contract.
Instead, the Titans have dropped their past two matchups, with the 20-7 road loss to the Jaguars being the most recent.
Things could hardly go more south for the team at this point — and it’s because of that it’s not shocking the Titans have fallen so far in the USA TODAY NFL power rankings.
Here’s what the network’s Nate Davis had to say about the Titans’ steady decline in the rankings, where they now rank at No. 20 after falling four spots in a week.
“If you’re waiting for a switch to QB Ryan Tannehill, the offensive line will probably make that happen if coach Mike Vrabel doesn’t,” he wrote.
It’s concise, maybe even chippy analysis, but it points out the two glaring issues the Titans immediately need to fix to avoid a long losing streak.
The Tennessee offensive line has allowed a league high of 17 sacks on Mariota over just three games, and his poor quarterback play has certainly been a factor not only in that number, but also in the team’s offensive struggles as a whole.
The Titans will face the Atlanta Falcons next on Sunday at noon in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
