The Tennessee Titans closed out the 2024 season at home against the Houston Texans, and unfortunately it ended in a loss. The Titans final record for 2024 is 3-14, which is worse than last year’s six-win season that saw Mike Vrabel lose his job.
The season didn’t go how anyone in the Titans’ organization thought it would go, especially Ran Carthon and Brian Callahan. But here we are with a three-win season and a whole lot of work to do during the offseason.
Before we get to that, though, here’s a look at some of the studs and duds (and studly duds) from Sunday’s Week 18 loss.
STUD: WR Calvin Ridley
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Wide receiver Calvin Ridley wasn’t a huge factor in the Titans’ loss on Sunday, but he did have three receptions on five targets for 76 yards. He made himself available to both Will Levis and Mason Rudolph and did what he could to move the ball down the field. The Titans’ offense simply didn’t have what it took to get past the Texans’ defense today.
DUD: QB Will Levis
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The Will Levis experiment needs to be over. Levis went 9-for-17 for 175 yards and a touchdown against the Texans, but he also fumbled the ball twice and was sacked once for a loss of eight yards. He got lucky that David Martin-Robinson was in place to pick up one of his fumbles, or it would have been two turnovers instead of one. He cannot run Brian Callahan’s offense, which he’s proved all season long. It’s time to move on.
STUD: RB Tony Pollard
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The entire Titans’ offense was largely ineffective against the Texans on Sunday, but Tony Pollard carried the ball 22 times for 62 yards. He didn’t find the end zone today, but he has played through injury for most of the season and today was no different as he battled through an injury since Tyjae Spears was unavailable with a concussion.
DUD: CB Darrell Baker Jr.
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The cornerback wasn’t his usual self on the field today, recording just one tackle (it was solo) and committing a holding penalty in the first half on a special teams play that affected where the ball was placed.
STUD: WR Bryce Oliver
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Bryce Oliver held it down as a return man against the Texans. He returned three kicks for 113 yards, an average of 37.7 yards per return. Plus, he showed up on offense, catching one pass on three targets for 15 yards. His impact was felt on multiple levels, and he was a reliable source of field position on Sunday.
DUD: WR Mason Kinsey
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He’s not called on very often, as was the case today. He caught one punt but didn’t return it for any yards and was not an impact on the offensive side of the ball either. He’s been helpful on special teams as a return specialist in the wake of Jha’Quan Jackson’s fall, but his use beyond that is limited.
STUDLY DUD: TE Josh Whyle
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Chig Okonkwo was questionable heading into this game, which left more openings for other tight ends. Josh Whyle caught five passes on seven targets for 29 yards, an average of 5.8 yards per reception. His saving grace is that he caught the two-point conversion on the Titans’ final touchdown of the game, but otherwise he wasn’t impactful.
More STUDS
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- TE Tay Martin
- WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
- TE Nick Vannett
- LB Luke Gifford
- CB Chidobe Awuzie
- S Daryl Worley
- DT T’Vondre Sweat
- P Ryan Stonehouse
More DUDS
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- S Roger McCreary
- LB Jerome Baker
- LB Ali Gaye
- LB James Lynch
- DT Sebastian Joseph-Day
