EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – “Absent.”

That’s what it said in white letters on Josh Reynolds' black T-shirt when he took the podium to speak to the media after the Titans’ hard-to-swallow 27-24 overtime loss to the Jets.

That’s what too many key members of the Titans were because of injuries. That’s what the Titans’ big-play defense was. That’s what the Titans’ pass protection was. That’s what the receivers’ separation was.

Ryan Tannehill

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That mark the Titans should have got in the win column in a game against a terrible team is also absent, given instead to a rookie head coach and a rookie quarterback, as their first victories in the league, memories they will never forget.

In a 17-game season, four games is no longer officially the quarter mark. But the Titans are a confounding team that has played well below expectations, expectations the franchise welcomed.

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Paul Kuharsky has covered the Tennessee Titans since 1996, first for The Tennessean, then ESPN.com and now independently at PaulKuharsky.com. He served on the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee for 11 years and is the longest-tenured Titans beat reporter in the franchise's history.