Joe Rexrode and Jason Wolf explain how this loss to the Rams makes the Titans' NFL playoff push that much harder. Autumn Allison|USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee
The best and worst from the Titans’ 27-23 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.
BEST
Defensive touchdowns: They sure come in handy, especially for a team that’s having a hard time finding them on offense. Jurrell Casey’s crushing hit of Rams quarterback Jared Goff before Goff could execute a handoff left linebacker Wesley Woodyard with a walk-in touchdown – the Titans defense’s first of the season.
The Gurley hurdle: Rams star running back Todd Gurley jumped clear over the head of Titans cornerback Brice McCain on a first-quarter screen pass for a gain of 19, then got 16 on a second-quarter swing pass after hurdling safety Kevin Byard. The guy is absolutely ridiculous.
![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) walks off the]()
1 of 130![Titans wide receiver Rishard Matthews (18) watches]()
2 of 130![Titans head coach Mike Mularkey walks off the field]()
3 of 130![Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan (77) and center]()
4 of 130![Titans linebacker Derrick Morgan (91) leaves the field]()
5 of 130![Titans linebacker Jayon Brown (55) and wide receiver]()
6 of 130![Titans linebacker Avery Williamson (54) leaves the]()
7 of 130![Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) and Titans quarterback]()
8 of 130![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) watches the closing]()
9 of 130![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) slaps hands with]()
10 of 130![Rams running back Malcolm Brown (34) signs a jersey]()
11 of 130![Titans linebacker Brian Orakpo (98) signs a jersey]()
12 of 130![Former USC players Rams wide receiver Robert Woods]()
13 of 130![Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (18) scores in the fourth]()
14 of 130![Rams linebacker Robert Quinn (94) grabs onro Titans]()
15 of 130![Titans tight end Delanie Walker (82) tries to get past]()
16 of 130![Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) runs for yardage]()
17 of 130![Rams linebacker Robert Quinn (94) gets a hand on Titans]()
18 of 130![Titans wide receiver Corey Davis (84) just misses a]()
19 of 130![Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (18) can't make the]()
20 of 130![Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey (99) pressures]()
21 of 130![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) is pushed out]()
22 of 130![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) throws on the]()
23 of 130![Titans wide receiver Rishard Matthews (18) celebrates]()
24 of 130![A Rams fan celebrates in the fourth quarter at Nissan]()
25 of 130![Titans running back DeMarco Murray (29) is helped off]()
26 of 130![Titans wide receiver Eric Decker (87) defends himself]()
27 of 130![Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) hands off to Rams]()
28 of 130![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) prepares to stiff]()
29 of 130![Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (18) makes a catch in]()
30 of 130![A Titans fan yells for his team during the second half]()
31 of 130![Titans running back DeMarco Murray (29) reaches for]()
32 of 130![Titans running back DeMarco Murray (29) runs for a]()
33 of 130![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) congratulates]()
34 of 130![Titans running back DeMarco Murray (29) scores in the]()
35 of 130![Titans linebacker Derrick Morgan (91) presses Rams]()
36 of 130![Titans safety Kevin Byard (31) breaks up a pass intended]()
37 of 130![Titans safety Kevin Byard (31) celebrates breaking]()
38 of 130![Titans wide receiver Eric Decker (87) makes a catch]()
39 of 130![Titans place kicker Ryan Succop (4) kicks a field goal]()
40 of 130![Titans wide receiver Rishard Matthews (18) pulls away]()
41 of 130![Rams linebacker Cory Littleton (58) tries to tackle]()
42 of 130![Rams running back Malcolm Brown (34) is tackled by]()
43 of 130![Titans place kicker Ryan Succop (4) is congratulated]()
44 of 130![Rams wide receiver Sammy Watkins (12) is celebrates]()
45 of 130![Rams wide receiver Sammy Watkins (12) is congratulated]()
46 of 130![Titans safety Kevin Byard (31) forces Rams running]()
47 of 130![Rams wide receiver Sammy Watkins (12) pulls in a touchdown]()
48 of 130![Rams wide receiver Sammy Watkins (12) scores on a touchdown]()
49 of 130![The Rams celebrate their touchdown during the third]()
50 of 130![A Titans fan is decked out for Christmas during the]()
51 of 130![Titans wide receiver Corey Davis (84) gets a first]()
52 of 130![Titans place kicker Ryan Succop (4) misses a field]()
53 of 130![Titans head coach Mike Mularkey watches the team during]()
54 of 130![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) picks up his]()
55 of 130![Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan (77) tries to]()
56 of 130![Titans place kicker Ryan Succop (4) celebrates his]()
57 of 130![Rams running back Todd Gurley II (30) runs in a touchdown]()
58 of 130![Rams running back Todd Gurley II (30) scores past Titans]()
59 of 130![Rams running back Todd Gurley II (30) is congratulated]()
60 of 130![Rams running back Todd Gurley II (30) runs in a touchdown]()
61 of 130![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) sits on the sidelines]()
62 of 130![Titans wide receiver Eric Decker (87) is tackled by]()
63 of 130![Titans wide receiver Eric Decker (87) is tackled by]()
64 of 130![Titans cornerback Tye Smith (33) stops Rams running]()
65 of 130![Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) fumbles in the second]()
66 of 130![Rams players console kicker Sam Ficken (5) after his]()
67 of 130![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) scrambles along]()
68 of 130![Titans wide receiver Corey Davis (84) pulls in a catch]()
69 of 130![Titans linebacker Wesley Woodyard (59) scoops up the]()
70 of 130![Titans linebacker Wesley Woodyard (59) scoops up the]()
71 of 130![Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey (99) sacks Rams]()
72 of 130![Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey (99) sacks Rams]()
73 of 130![Titans linebacker Wesley Woodyard (59) celebrates his]()
74 of 130![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) hands off to]()
75 of 130![Titans wide receiver Corey Davis (84) is tackled in]()
76 of 130![Titans wide receiver Eric Decker (87) reaches for the]()
77 of 130![Titans place kicker Ryan Succop (4) celebrates his]()
78 of 130![Titans running back DeMarco Murray (29) is wrapp3ed]()
79 of 130![Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson (22) can't quite hang]()
80 of 130![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) sits on the field]()
81 of 130![Titans wide receiver Eric Decker (87) gets a first]()
82 of 130![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) is sacked to]()
83 of 130![Titans wide receiver Corey Davis (84) is stopped after]()
84 of 130![Titans tight end Jonnu Smith (81) reaches for extra]()
85 of 130![Titans place kicker Ryan Succop (4) kicks a field goal]()
86 of 130![Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) congratulates Rams]()
87 of 130![Titans cornerback Demontre Hurst (30) heads to the]()
88 of 130![Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) congratulates Rams]()
89 of 130![Rams linebacker Cory Littleton (58) pulls down an interception]()
90 of 130![Titans cornerback Curtis Riley (35) gets a hand on]()
91 of 130![Rams running back Todd Gurley II (30) leaps over Titans]()
92 of 130![Rams running back Todd Gurley II (30) leaps over Titans]()
93 of 130![Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws early in the]()
94 of 130![Titans head coach Mike Mularkey walks the sidelines]()
95 of 130![Rams wide receiver Pharoh Cooper (10) is tackled inn]()
96 of 130![Rams wide receiver Sammy Watkins (12) is tackled Titans]()
97 of 130![Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (18) pulls down a first-down]()
98 of 130![Lee Greenwood sings the National Anthem before the]()
99 of 130![The Titans listen to the National Anthem before the]()
100 of 130![Rams running back Todd Gurley II (30) runs for yardage]()
101 of 130![The Titans enter the field at Nissan Stadiium on Dec.]()
102 of 130![A fan cheers the Titans before the game at Nissan Stadium]()
103 of 130![Titans tight end Delanie Walker (82) warms up before]()
104 of 130![Titans offiensive coordinator Terry Robiskie watches]()
105 of 130![Titans center Ben Jones (60) and center Brian Schwenke]()
106 of 130![Titans offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie and general]()
107 of 130![Titans linebacker Erik Walden (93) warms up before]()
108 of 130![Titans linebacker Derrick Morgan (91) warms up before]()
109 of 130![The Titans quarterbacks huddle before the game at Nissan]()
110 of 130![Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) warms up before]()
111 of 130![Titans tight end Delanie Walker (82) warms up before]()
112 of 130![Titans wide receiver Rishard Matthews (18) warms up]()
113 of 130![The Titans huddle before the game at Nissan Stadium]()
114 of 130![Titans safety Da'Norris Searcy (21) wamrs up before]()
115 of 130![Titans wide receiver Corey Davis (84) makes a one-handed]()
116 of 130![Titans defensive backs huddle during warmups at Nissan]()
117 of 130![T-Rac in a Santa Suit before Titans and Rams game at]()
118 of 130![Dylan Stevens from Kathryn, ND, wears ornaments on]()
119 of 130![Titans place kicker Ryan Succop (4) signs autographs]()
120 of 130![Titans safety Kevin Byard (31) makes a catch during]()
121 of 130![Titans safety Da'Norris Searcy (21) warms up before]()
122 of 130![Titans wide receiver Taywan Taylor (13) warms up before]()
123 of 130![Titans cornerback Adoree' Jackson (25) heads off the]()
124 of 130![Titans wide receiver Corey Davis (84) signs autographs]()
125 of 130![Kris, Kannon, Turner, Drew and Kara Blalock from Franklin,]()
126 of 130![Nathan Valliere from Toronto, Canada, plays Jenga before]()
127 of 130![Hayden Armstrong age 5 from Madisonville, TN stays]()
128 of 130![T-Rac poses with Brody Prosise and Ethan jacks from]()
129 of 130![Michael Valliere from Toronto, Canada before the Titans]()
130 of 130
Special teams: Adoree’ Jackson set up a touchdown with a 57-yard kickoff return, a much-needed energy boost from him. Ryan Succop had a rare miss but made three others. Brett Kern was excellent as usual with two of four punts inside the 20 and a long of 62. He did have a 20-yarder that was officially blocked, though the replay was unclear on that – and either way, the Titans have to block that better.
The crowd: Hey, it wasn’t huge. It was several thousand fans short of a sellout. But from the opening play, the folks who showed up stood and made noise. No one can say the Titans didn’t have a home-field advantage Sunday.
Not huddling: It worked. It works. It should remain a go-to device, even for a team built to run.
Titans head coach Mike Mularkey and quarterback Marcus Mariota explain their 27-24 loss against the Los Angeles Rams at Nissan Stadium on Dec. 24, 2017. George Walker IV / The Tennessean
WORST
DeMarco Murray's knee injury: He limped off late, putting very little weight on his right leg, and coach Mike Mularkey suggested afterward that this could be a serious setback. Yes, this means heavy Derrick Henry against the Jaguars, but it is not a good thing for the Titans. And it could be a bad thing long-term for Murray, who turns 30 in February.
Titans inside the 1: Poised to take the lead late in the first quarter with a first-and-goal inside the 1, the Titans got a false start from tight end Luke Stocker. Marcus Mariota was sacked for a loss of 10. He hit receiver Corey Davis for 4. And he was nearly picked on third-and-goal. That’s how you blow a sure touchdown.
Titans safety Kevin Byard told members of the media following the 27-23 loss that it was frustrating since the Titans haven been better in late-game situations earlier this season. Autumn Allison|USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee
That fake punt: On their first possession, the Rams lined up to punt on fourth-and-10 from the Titans’ 33, then got under center suggesting they might go for it, then got back into punt formation. And then punter Johnny Hekker caught the snap and looked for a receiver. He actually went to his second read and was way late on a bomb to double-covered Michael Thomas, with Titans defensive back Curtis Riley dropping a pick. Rams coach Sean McVay may be a genius as some say, but that sequence did not reflect it.
The crowd: It was Christmas Eve. It was a chilly, cloudy day. And the Titans came in after two straight losses to put their playoff hopes in jeopardy. But you’re still talking about a meaningful December game for a franchise seeking its first playoff bid in nine years, and the overall turnout was disappointing. And for the “IT’S ALL ABOUT THE ANTHEM!” crowd, there have been significantly larger crowds than this since the NFL’s weekend of protests.
Officials: Look, the Titans make way too much of calls that go against them in general. But a missed false start helped the Rams convert a fourth-and-1 run to set up a third-quarter touchdown. And a Titans recovery of an onside kick after tying the score at 20 apparently didn’t count because the ball wasn’t officially put into play. How that happens I have no idea.
Reach Joe Rexrode at jrexrode@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter @joerexrode.
Titans head coach Mike Mularkey and quarterback Marcus Mariota explain their 27-24 loss against the Los Angeles Rams at Nissan Stadium on Dec. 24, 2017. George Walker IV / The Tennessean
Titans tight end Delanie Walker said that the team's late slip gave too many chances for the Rams offense to shine. Autumn Allison|USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee
Titans safety Kevin Byard told members of the media following the 27-23 loss that it was frustrating since the Titans haven been better in late-game situations earlier this season. Autumn Allison|USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee
Joe Rexrode and Jason Wolf explain how this loss to the Rams makes the Titans' NFL playoff push that much harder. Autumn Allison|USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee
Avery Williamson, Titans linebacker, told members of the media that the team isn't counting out Jacksonville based on previous encounters. Autumn Allison|USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee
Autumn Allison and Jason Wolf discuss the playoff implications for the Titans in today's contest against the Rams. Autumn Allison|USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee
Titans free safety Kevin Byard, a former MTSU star, was named a Pro Bowl alternate despite leading the fan voting at his position. Jason Wolf / The Tennessean, USA TODAY Network - Tennessee
Titans beat reporter Jason Wolf explains what it will take for the Titans to make the playoffs. Autumn Allison|USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee
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