NASHVILLE – The Titans had a problem against Houston on Sunday.
It was themselves.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Titans coach Robert Saleh said after Sunday’s 26-3 loss to the Texans. “One game is not going to define us. We’re going to continue to work. We’re going to continue to find ways to get better. This organization and team will have its day in the sun.” More Sports News
That day was not Sunday.
Two costly turnovers and continued sluggish play from the offense was too much to overcome on a day when the defense kept the team in it for a while, before the dam eventually broke.
Second half penalties and poor pass protection also hurt the cause.
The loss dropped the Titans to 0-5.
“It’s tough right now,” defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons said. “No one likes losing. I love winning, and I want to win football games. … We are not playing winning football right now.”
Titans quarterback Cam Ward completed 23-of-36 passes for 170 yards with no touchdowns and an interception in the contest. Ward was sacked four times in the game, but he was pressured throughout the contest, and hit hard on several occasions.
Offensively, the Titans just couldn’t get anything going against the Texans, who built their lead on first half field goals before cashing in possessions with touchdowns in the second half.
The Texans outgained the Titans 329 to 187 yards in the game, and they held the ball 34:39 of the game’s 60 minutes. The Titans were penalized seven times for 83 yards as things began to unravel in the second half.
It was all part of a miserable day for the Titans fans who showed up at Nissan Stadium.
“It’s tough,” guard Peter Skoronski said. “I refuse to believe that we truly deserve to be 0-5, but we have to show that, and we haven’t. It has to be better.”
The Titans took an early 3-0 lead on a 30-yard field goal by kicker Joey Slye on a drive that turned out to be the highlight of the day for the offense.
The Texans tied the contest at 3-3 later in the first quarter on a 45-yard kick by Ka’imi Fairbairn, and things went downhill from there.
After a fumble by running back Tyjae Spears gave the Texans the ball at the Titans 35-yard line, and that led to another Fairbairn field goal, which made it 6-3.
On Tennessee’s next possession, Ward was intercepted as he was pressured on a throw across the middle. The Texans cashed that in for Fairbairn’s third field goal of the game, which made it 9-3 with 6:56 left in the second quarter.
The Texans extended their lead to 12-3 on yet another field goal by Fairbairn, this one from 53 yards.
Things got worse in the second half.
At the start of the third quarter, the Texans put together a 17-play drive and capped it off with a two-yard touchdown run by quarterback C.J. Stroud to make it 19-3.
The Titans kept punting the ball back to the Texans, and the visitors kept adding to their lead. A nine-yard touchdown pass from Stroud to receiver Jaylin Noel made it 26-3 with 14:09 remaining.
The Titans added to their yardage total in the closing minutes of the game, but it didn’t lead to any more points.
“At the end of the day, we have to make plays,” Ward said. “I have to make plays, and the whole team has to make plays. That is what it comes down to, making plays.
“I am not a loser,” Ward responded when asked if he’s gotten used to losing. “The record may say that, that we are that right now. But at the end of the day you have to go through some stuff to get wins.”
The Titans return to action next Sunday against the Colts in Indianapolis.
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