Titans-Bears Analysis:Once-dominant Titans finding ways to lose

By JAMES CLARK / Editor for the Southern Standard (McMinnville, Tenn.)

With the Bears’ offense going nowhere, R.W. McQuarters provided points with this 75-yard punt return for a touchdown. He returned a second punt for a TD, but it was called back due to penalty. (James Clark photo)

Through their first four years of existence, the Tennessee Titans were known for finding a way to win.

Whether it was an Al del Greco field goal as time expired, or a miraculous Steve McNair scramble for a first down, the Titans had an uncanny knack for producing a victory.

That hasn’t been the case in 2004 – especially at home where the Titans once won 13 games in a row. This year, despite fourth-quarter leads, the Titans have found a way to lose four of their five games in Nashville on the way to a disappointing 3-6 record.

Playoff talk has vanished and the team faces a brutal home stretch that includes games against high-powered offenses like Indianapolis, Kansas City and Denver.

“It seems like we’re not playing to win,” said receiver Derrick Mason. “We’re playing not to lose and you can’t do that. When you play not to lose, you’re tentative. You worry about making mistakes. You lose that hunger. You can’t play that way in this league.”

Sunday’s overtime loss to Chicago showed the Titans can lose just about any way possible. Quarterback Billy Volek lost a fumble in the end zone that resulted in a safety and a 19-17 Bear victory. It was only the second time in NFL history a team has lost in overtime on a safety.

If that’s not enough, the Titans allowed Chicago to win even though Bear quarterback Craig Krenzel only threw for 116 yards with two interceptions. He had a quarterback rating of 19.3.

Cornerback Samari Rolle called the loss the worst in his seven years with the organization. He ranked it more disappointing than the Super Bowl defeat and the home playoff loss to Baltimore.

Defensive end Kevin Carter says mistakes are costing the Titans victories.

“We’re doing it right some of the time,” said Carter. “But some of the time isn’t enough. The mistakes are killing us.”

The Titans 2004 woes began in week 2 when they allowed the Colts to score 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to grab a 31-17 win.

They followed that the next week by allowing Jacksonville’s Fred Taylor to run in for the winning touchdown with 9 seconds left. They allowed Houston to score a fourth-quarter touchdown to put the finishing touches on a 20-10 victory.

Now the Titans have a three-game road stretch where they have to travel to Jacksonville, Indianapolis and Houston – three divisional teams they couldn’t beat at home.

“You win, you lose, you dig yourself out of holes, you enjoy success, you endure tough times all as a team,” coach Jeff Fisher said moments after the Chicago loss. “Today was an example of that. We lost this game as a team. This one is going to hurt for a while.”

In addition to losing the Chicago game, the Titans lost more key players. Safety Tank Williams is gone for the season after suffering a knee injury. The Titans’ other starting safety, Lance Shulters, is still recovering from a foot injury.

Running back Chris Brown, who didn’t finish the Bears game, could miss a couple weeks with turf toe. Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is expected to miss the Jacksonville game with an elbow injury. Offensive tackle Brad Hopkins is out two to three weeks with a hand injury.

On the bright side, quarterback Steve McNair is expected to play against Jacksonville.