NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- There was a sliver of hope on an awful day for the Tennessee Titans in the fourth quarter of their 38-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins at Nissan Stadium on Sunday.
Tennessee got within 24-10 on the final play of the third quarter, then held the Dolphins to a three-and-out, and a low punt and a good return got them the ball at Miami’s 27-yard line.
But on the first play of the possession, Dolphins cornerback Brent Grimes dived in front of Titans tight end Delanie Walker near the goal line and grabbed Miami’s second interception against Marcus Mariota.
The Titans thought Anthony Fasano had grabbed the ball from Grimes before he was touched, but officials didn’t see it that way.
The Titans could have gotten within a touchdown. Instead, they gave the ball back and then watched the Dolphins drive 97 yards for a touchdown that gave the Dolphins a 31-10 lead and put the game away.
Against the Colts and Bills, the Titans were a team that collapsed in the fourth quarter. Sunday they had a chance to make the Dolphins that team but failed.
What it means: The Titans posted a huge opening-day win in Tampa Bay. Since then, they’ve dropped four in a row. After their loss to the struggling Dolphins, who played their first game under interim coach Dan Campbell, Tennessee’s two-year record under Ken Whisenhunt is 3-18. Mariota is the one reason for hope, but the Titans can’t protect the rookie quarterback against good pass-rushers and his weapons can’t regularly get separation or be in the right spots for him. He got hurt and struggled in Sunday's game, with two lost fumbles and two picks. Some of the Titans' losses this season have been better losses than that of the 2014 team, but they are still losses. Results-wise, the 2015 Titans look just like the last year’s version.
What were they thinking? Whisenhunt threw a challenge flag after Grimes’ diving interception of Mariota in the fourth quarter. Fasano grabbed the ball from Grimes, who was on his back, but had the cornerback been touched down? Regardless, turnovers are automatically reviewed and can’t be challenged. Whisenhunt was penalized a timeout.
One reason to panic: The Titans can’t block. Mariota was sacked five times and had little time to work. The team has invested a lot of picks and dollars in the offensive line. Mariota is the face of the franchise and has to be kept cleaner. Yes, it was on a roughing-the-passer penalty, but Miami's Olivier Vernon hurt Mariota’s left knee early and it clearly affected the quarterback. Tennessee can't let him get hit like that, and we’ve seen it from Cleveland and Buffalo, too. At least those teams have productive defensive fronts. Miami had one sack coming into this game.
Fantasy watch: Antonio Andrews got the most work among the Titans' running backs, with nine carries for 23 yards. But against a defense that came into the game allowing an average of 160 yards per game on the ground, Tennessee managed just 63 yards rushing. Play a Titans running back, any Titans running back, at your own risk in fantasy.
Ouch: Center Brian Schwenke suffered a gruesome broken left leg in the second quarter and was replaced by rookie Andy Gallik. We know rookie Jeremiah Poutasi isn’t ready to block a player like Cameron Wake -- Poutasi was pulled. Now the Titans are going to have a rookie center.
Alarming stat: The Titans have been outscored 56-16 in the fourth quarter this season.
What’s next: The Titans host the Atlanta Falcons next Sunday in the final game of a four-game homestand that hasn’t yet produced a win.