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
There’s pride and fight in this Titans team, which might be of little consolation as another playoff chase circles the drain and another mistake-filled loss injects gloom into Nashville’s Christmas cheer.
But it’s worth a mention because the Titans really gave an excellent Los Angeles Rams team a run Sunday at Nissan Stadium, and that had to surprise some people, and this is the time of year to find the good in things, right? Things such as the Jurrell Casey blast of Rams quarterback Jared Goff, leading to a Wesley Woodyard scoop and score.
More: Rams 27, Titans 23: Todd Gurley runs wild as Jaguars clinch AFC South title
And the persistence of Marcus Mariota – getting things done with a no-huddle approach – after his terrible interception on the first series led to a Los Angeles touchdown and put everyone on Rams romp alert. And the overall effort of a banged-up defense. And the long-awaited burst of energy from rookie wideout Corey Davis. And that Christmas Eve crowd, smaller than the Titans hoped considering their postseason hunt, but loud and lively all the same.
![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]()
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Win this one and much of the damage done in two losses out West to losing teams is repaired. Win this one and it’s a bigger New Year’s Eve crowd for a game against Jacksonville to earn the Titans’ first playoff appearance since 2008. Win this one and Titans coach Mike Mularkey has to get some credit for keeping things together and beating one of this league’s hot-shot coaches.
But the Titans lost, 27-23 after a late comeback drive fell short, and that’s three straight defeats and an 8-7 record – and yes, there’s still hope for a bid with the newly crowned AFC South champion Jaguars coming to town. The Titans are going to show up to play. They're in if they win, and that would make this a successful season.
It’s just that this looks exactly like an 8-8 team in more ways than one.
More: DeMarco Murray's knee injury puts cruel twist on another tough Titans loss
For one, great job rising to threaten the 11-4 Rams, but where was that effort when it would have won against the Cardinals and 49ers?
“If a team is good, we’re going to play like it – look what we did against the Rams," said Titans tight end Delanie Walker, the preferred target on a failed fourth-and-4 that ended the Titans' chances. "We came out, they were one of the highest-scoring teams and we went neck to neck with them. Then you look at Arizona, we played to their level. You look at San Francisco, we played to their level."
That's not good. It's certainly not playoff good.
More: Titans report card: Marcus Mariota held without TD, comeback bid falls short vs Rams
For two, this is a team guilty of too many critical errors considering its slim margin for them.
Like when you have a first down inside your opponent’s 1-yard line? You can’t have a Luke Stocker false start and Mariota sack and a consolation field goal. You can’t have a punt blocked. Mariota can’t throw that first pick, staring down another linebacker and throwing it right into the arms of Cory Littleton – on a pass Rams corner Troy Hill probably would have grabbed if Littleton didn’t.
And Brice McCain, filling in on a banged-up secondary – this was not the week to miss cornerback Logan Ryan because of an ankle or see cornerback LeShaun Sims go to injured reserve with a hamstring – can’t grab Cooper Kupp for an obvious interference call on a deep pass Kupp was never going to reach. A Titans defense that worked so hard can’t let the admittedly incredible Todd Gurley take a screen pass 80 yards for a touchdown.
More: Rams 27, Titans 23: Instant analysis
The Titans got hosed on some calls, too, and you can dwell on that if you want. Mularkey certainly indulged that narrative, saying of NFL officials this season: "The most consistent thing they've done is be inconsistent."
A false start should have been called on the Rams on a key fourth-down conversion for Gurley, and I still don’t totally understand what Walt Anderson’s crew was trying to tell us on the successful Titans onside kick that was taken off the board. I’m also not 100 percent sure Brett Kern’s third-quarter punt was tipped at all before he took a hit that would have drawn a roughing penalty otherwise.
But bad calls happen every week. Winning plays were still there to be made Sunday. The Titans got the ball near midfield, down 27-23, and couldn’t connect downfield. The defense let Goff convert some crucial third-and-long situations late when it had a chance to get off the field.
“I don’t think anybody went into this game not giving 100 percent effort. Everybody was flying to the ball," Titans safety Kevin Byard said. "We’re just not executing at a high level right now in all phases of the game.”
The Rams are tough, especially Gurley (118 rushing yards, 158 receiving yards), who is as good an MVP candidate as I’ve seen this season. Which makes the Titans' ability to rise to meet them both impressive and frustrating.
"Basically," Walker said, "we're not consistent."
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
And when the Titans finally got a stop late and gave Mariota a chance, he couldn't get it done on fourth down from the Rams' 43. He said he didn't see an opening to get it to first-option Walker, and then he might have been able to run but hesitated too long and ended up flipping a prayer into the air while falling to his back.
Now his team's plummet to precisely average is almost complete. DeMarco Murray's apparently serious knee injury won't help. The Titans and 8-8 seem destined for each other. But they have fooled us before.
"Disappointed that we lost but obviously we’re still in it," Mariota said. "We’ve got to put one together.”
Reach Joe Rexrode at jrexrode@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter @joerexrode.
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