NASHVILLE, TENN. — Remember when the Titans were safe at home?
Gee, you have a good memory.
Another home game, another ugly defeat for the Titans. The 26-20 loss to the Broncos on Sunday is the kind of game that leaves a mark for a team that has little margin for error if it hopes to make the playoffs.
“We didn’t have our A-game today,” cornerback Cortland Finnegan said. “We let this one get away.”
I have a better grade — incomplete. Once again, the Titans failed to close the deal. Their offense went AWOL after intermission. The defense sagged under the weight of 44 second-half snaps. Special teams were an asset at times and a liability at times.
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“We just didn’t finish the game like we wanted to,” quarterback Vince Young said.
Of particular concern is that the Titans failed to cash in on a front-loaded schedule that featured three of their first four games at home. They head to Dallas on Sunday at 2-2.
Regardless of which corporate name was attached to the stadium, the Titans once had an air of invincibility on home turf. When what was then Adelphia Coliseum opened in 1999, the Titans won their first 13 home games. Even when they went 8-8 last season, the Titans won five times at LP Field.
Now, though, something is lost in translation. Two weeks ago, Pittsburgh bludgeoned the Titans on what once was sacred turf. On Sunday, a painfully average Denver team made itself right at home.
“You would like to think you play better at home,” Titans safety Chris Hope said. “For whatever reason, the ball doesn’t always bounce right for us at home.
“In order to be a playoff contender, you have to protect your house and win at home. We just didn’t get it done, and I hope it doesn’t come back to hurt us.”
The game may have lacked artistic merit, but there were plenty of subplots to keep things interesting. Among them:
Early in the second quarter, Titans defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil flipped off the officiating crew after a roughing-the-passer call against Sen’Derrick Marks. In case NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is interested, the video was posted on YouTube before halftime.
On one second-quarter carry, Titans backup Jevon Ringer gained more yards than star back Chris Johnson managed in the entire game — 54 yards to 53.
As a kick returner, Titans rookie Marc Mariani experienced the highest of highs (a 98-yard touchdown return) and the lowest of lows (muffing a kickoff with less than two minutes remaining).
After a first-half splurge, the Titans’ offense managed a grand total of 46 yards on 20 plays after intermission.
It all added up to a loss that had the Titans wondering how this one got away.
“It was definitely frustrating,” Young said.
That’s the best word to describe the Titans right now — frustrating. They’re frustrating to watch. How can you roll up 242 yards in the first half and manage a grand total of 10 points? How can you limit Denver to 19 rushing yards, sack quarterback Kyle Orton six times and still get beat at home?
There seems to be a disconnect on offense. After throwing the ball efficiently in the first half (Young was 13-of-18 for 138 yards and a touchdown), the Titans attempted only 10 passes in the second half. And three of them were desperation heaves in the final 23 seconds.
Meanwhile, Johnson carried only eight times after halftime. After 11 straight 100-yard rushing games last season and a 142-yard effort in the opener, Johnson has been held well below 100 yards in two of his last three games.
“The situation is we are not a good running team right now,” Johnson said. “We’ve got work to do.”
Indeed, much work remains. Three of the next four games are on the road.
Of course, considering how the Titans have played at home this season, maybe that’s not such a bad thing.
David Climer is a columnist for The Tennessean.
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