Can the Tennessee Titans manage to stay afloat during a season that’s quickly going down the drain? Perhaps the bigger question is can this season get any worse?
The team has already fired its offensive coordinator.
The Titans have lost their last three at home.
And the Tennessee defense ranks near the bottom of the NFL in nearly every major statistical category.
“It was tough game, a frustrating game,” said Titans coach Mike Munchak after Sunday’s 24-10 loss to Houston. “That’s why we are 4-8. We can’t make enough plays to win when we have an opportunity to do it.”
The miscues on Sunday were many.
Kendall Wright and Jared Cook both dropped fourth-quarter passes as the Titans tried to overcome a 21-3 halftime deficit.
Several big plays were called back due to penalty. And the team endured four turnovers, including two fumbles by quarterback Jake Locker and one from Chris Johnson.
Looking at the stretch run, the final quarter of the season lies ahead. The Titans travel to Indianapolis this Sunday to face red-hot QB Andrew Luck. The Colts won the first meeting between the two, 19-13, in Nashville.
From there, it’s a “Monday Night Football” home matchup against the struggling Jets. The last two games are away at Green Bay and home against Jacksonville.
Looking at team needs, the Titans clearly need to find a playmaker on defense. The front four doesn’t generate much of a pass rush and the secondary has difficulty covering receivers. The defense in general is not physical and lacks leadership.
Offensively, the Titans appear in better shape with a solid offensive line, although starting tackle David Stewart was lost for the season Sunday with a broken leg.
The receivers are capable, and Johnson provides big-play ability at running back.
Quarterback is not perceived as a strength or a weakness as Locker and Matt Hasselbeck are dependable, although not spectacular at this stage of their careers. Locker is still learning and Hasselbeck is 37.
Based on the current NFL standings, the Titans are on track to have the No. 6 pick in next year’s NFL draft. The last time the Titans had the No. 6  pick, they selected Adam “Pac-Man” Jones.
The Titans have also used high draft picks in recent years on Vince Young (No. 3) and Locker (No. 8).