NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Players who wore the pretty Columbia blue and white uniforms with red accents have been trained their whole football lives to win. The paltry Nissan Stadium crowd – paid attendance 61,815! -- didn’t necessarily love the idea of the Titans doing that.

The Titans, clad as Oilers, delivered the result healthier for the bigger picture, dropping the game 23-14 to the Houston Texans. With New England’s win over Buffalo, Tennessee secured the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft. 

They will subsequently pick in the top three of each round the rest of the way (barring the third, where they traded their pick for L'Jarius Sneed), as the Browns and Giants also finished 3-14.

Fans watch the Houston Texans play the Tennessee Titans during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Brave fans watch the second half of Texans-Titans/ ASSOCIATED PRESS

It’s not what the players wanted to talk about after the game.

Still, it will help the franchise try to sprint away from the awful 2024 season and sell hope harder and faster than usual after a bad season, changing the subject to Shedeur Sanders, Cam Ward, Travis Hunter, Abdul Carter and trade possibilities, oh the trade possibilities.

Brian Callahan said it’s nothing to be excited about from his perspective. Indications have been that the Titans see growth potential in him and will give him a second season to grow and help things change direction with a new quarterback, whether he be a draft pick or a veteran from the outside. Two others, GM Ran Carthon and president of football operations Chad Brinker, don't appear as secure. 

Amy Adams Strunk is unpredictable. A year ago she surprised many by firing Mike Vrabel, now the hottest coach on the market.

The story of the loss was the same as it's been for much of the season. The anemic offense couldn't move the ball well enough and couldn't score. The Titans had 10 possessions. Seven of them featured one or no first downs.

They had two field goals until a touchdown with 2:41 left in the game on a 49-yard throw by Will Levis intended for Bryce Oliver was caught by Tay Gowan with the Texans' Russ Yeast doing some incredible work to not intercept it.

The defense effectively lost to Davis Mills, who replaced C.J. Stroud after he led a game-opening TD drive that got Joe Mixon over 1,000 yards rushing and Nico Collins over 1,000 yards receiving.

Add Mills (47 of 58 snaps) to Malik Willis, Joe Flacco, Mac Jones (twice) as backups who got the better of the Titans' defense.

As for the draft pick…

“That's the way the league's designed,” he said. “It's designed to continue to allow the teams that don't play as well to have chances to continue to improve their teams. And that's why the draft has always been the way it is. The order is why the teams with the worst records pick at the top. It's not a position I'd ever want to be in again. But there is the benefit of that is it does open up some opportunities for you to try to improve your football team.

“And not only that you get the first pick, you get the (among the) first pick(s) in the rounds after that as well. So you do have a chance to improve your team. I've seen it done. I've been a part of it. It is the one bonus to a season like this.”

Callahan may have a chance. Some good coaches have started poorly and developed as their rosters did. Too often, however, he seemed to be undergoing on-the-job training as a rookie.

That's OK for your third outside linebacker. It’s not good for your head coach if your head coach isn’t Matt Lafleur taking over the 2019 Packers with Aaron Rodgers. 

Veteran Jeffery Simmons, who represents the old guard, and Calvin Ridley, who just finished his first season in Nashville, both said they were glad it’s over.

“Yep, yep,” Simmons said nodding. “The reason why I do this is for my teammates. We fought to the end I think we did all we can in the locker room. It’s over with now and I’m ready for the offseason.”

Ridley laughed about it.

“Yeah I am,” he said. “This was a hard season. I went out there and worked hard, bro. My hamstrings three games straight was hurting. I played. I mean I’m going to go no matter what. Of course, if we were going to the playoffs, it doesn’t matter, I’m going to play, I’m going to do whatever you’ve got to do. But (win) three games man? Yes, I’m happy it’s over. I am.” 

How does the franchise pick up the pieces?

Well, there isn’t much.

Latham talked openly about his December dip and his new understanding of the conditioning level. But as the Titans address the black hole at right tackle, he could wind up fighting to prove he’s the long-term solution on the left, where Bill Callahan has said he envisions him being a stud. 

Of Sunday’s starters only Ridley, Peter Skoronski and Tony Pollard are locks with Latham for the opening-day lineup in September, along with the injured Lloyd Cushenberry.

On the other side of the ball, Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat will anchor things in the middle, with Jarvis Brownlee and Roger McCreary certain to be part of the cornerback corps. L’Jarius Sneed should re-emerge to join them, but there will be a ton of uncertainty on defense too. 

It’s not a lot. The top draft pick must be a true blue-chipper, a star who will produce, lead and be marketable.

That starts with knowing who’s picking him, people Adams Strunk will recommit to or find outside again in the coming days.

It beats waiting on another game from the 2024 Titans, who deserve to be put to rest.

Cron Job Starts