NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Delanie Walker has seen it all -- from the highs of a Super Bowl appearance with the 2012 49ers to the lows of a 2-14 season with the 2014 Tennessee Titans -- and Thursday night in a 40-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, he saw a Titans team that didn't play its best football on a national stage.
The Titans' season-long battle with offensive inconsistency has left many, including Walker, trying to figure out the identity of the team. A revamped receiving core and returning starters at every other spot had people expecting a big offensive jump from the Titans. That hasn't happened.
"It's a little frustrating that we're not putting up 35 points a game," Walker said. "We have the offense to do that. We have the quarterback. We have the running backs. We have the offensive line. We have the receivers. For us not to do that in Week 11, it’s kind of disappointing. We played poor offensively."
The 6-4 Titans have had a decent season in the win-loss column but haven't met their offensive potential. They rank 20th in total offense and 21st in passing offense. They have seen dips in most of the key offensive categories from 2016 to 2017 despite an apparent increase in talent. In 2016, they've averaged 358 total yards (221 passing, 137 rushing) and 23.8 points per game. In 2017, they've averaged 327 total yards (210 passing, 117 rushing) and 22.2 points per game.
So why haven't the Titans improved offensively?
"That's something we've been trying to find out. Find out our identity and figure out why we're not doing that," Walker said, before adding that it all starts with protecting Marcus Mariota and making plays on the back end when given the opportunity.
The good news for the Titans is that they are still in the driver's seat to make the playoffs for the first time since 2008, either as a wild-card team or AFC South winner. Walker wants to make sure they don't use that as a crutch and hopes they'll come out and prove that they're a better team than they showed against the Steelers.
"Everybody's piss is hot right now. I know mine is," Walker said. "I'm a little upset on how the game went down Thursday night. I think this is a good chance to see what type of team we have on how they answer."
Receiver Rishard Matthews had a similar take after the Titans loss to the Steelers: "I hope we all learn from this -- players and coaches. Learn what it takes to close out games, what it takes to get the ball in playmakers' hands. What it takes all around. I hope we all learn."
The Titans are a tight-knit bunch, and Thursday's loss could bring them closer. Marcus Mariota said his four-interception performance against the Steelers would leave a bad taste in his mouth. It has done the same for Walker, Matthews, left tackle Taylor Lewan and at least a few other Titans.
The entire team from the coaching staff to the players have an opportunity to move toward fixing this issue Sunday at the Indianapolis Colts.