Titans' disastrous special-teams performance proves pivotal in loss

On just about any other afternoon, the Titans’ two-point return of a failed two-point conversion attempt would have been reason enough to win the special-teams battle — maybe even reason enough to win a game.

It’s a testament to just how bad the Titans’ special-teams play was on Sunday, however, that Tennessee lost the special-teams battle — decisively — and lost the game, 31-28 in overtime, largely as a result.

Impressive and as entertaining as Amani Hooker’s length-of-the-field, two-point return was, it was decidedly outweighed by the bad in a game that saw the Titans suffer one blocked punt, one “fumbled” punt that may as well have been blocked, and a missed extra point.

The two punting miscues — which happened on back-to-back Titans series — gifted the Colts 10 points, and the second left punter Ryan Stonehouse flat on the field with what appeared to be a significant knee injury.

That injury, in turn, left quarterback Ryan Tannehill — instead of Stonehouse — holding for kicker Nick Folk, who missed his first extra-point of the season. Instead of taking a 26-25 lead with 5:29 left in the fourth quarter, the failed kick left the game tied at 25.

“We have to be better,” Titans coach Mike Vrabel said. “It starts with me, making sure that everything that we do is sound, and there's a level of execution. And then obviously be able to identify whether we've got scheme issues, or we have to move some guys around, or make some minor adjustments. And that's the case in all three phases.”

The Titans led 17-16 late in the third quarter when the first punt was blocked at the Tennessee 18-yard line. A horde of seemingly unblocked Colts converged around Stonehouse, with Nick Cross blocking the kick, and Grant Stuard scooping up the fumble and going 18 yards into the end zone.

Hooker’s ensuing return of a tipped pass on the two-point conversion try gave the Titans a bit of a reprieve, trimming Indy’s lead to 22-19.

But just four plays later, with the Titans punting from their own 22-yard line, disaster struck again.

Colts cornerback Tony Brown, anticipating the snap and charging in from his gunner position, was so quick to reach Stonehouse that he knocked the ball loose before Stonehouse could punt it. He also leveled Stonehouse, leaving the Titans’ punter — who took a league-leading average of 52.9 yards per attempt — in significant pain after his left leg bent backward at an unnatural angle.

“I’m gutted over that,” said long snapper Morgan Cox, the Titans’ special-teams captain. “No other way of putting it. He’s been such a weapon for us. Like I said, just can’t say anything. Gutted over it.”

The Titans scored a touchdown to tie the game 25-25 on their following drive. But with Stonehouse sidelined, Tannehill — who was a holder in college at Texas A&M — was forced to step into that role. Folk’s kick sailed wide, along with the Titans’ chance to take a fourth-quarter lead.

Needless to say, the trio of Cox, Tannehill and Folk hadn’t worked together often in practice.

“From my vantage point, if I were to go back and do it again, I would make a couple corrections and help [Tannehill] get the laces more in front,” Cox said. “It’s on me to get those laces around and in front, and help him see the ball, help Nick get the ball through the uprights.”

Folk said he made some adjustments with Cox and Tannehill in overtime, allowing Folk to hit a 46-yard field goal that gave the Titans a 28-25 lead.

But there was no getting back an extra point that might have won the game.

“I kind of wish I would have [talked to them] earlier, but I was kind of doing the punting thing [instead of Stonehouse], getting ready for that,” Folk said. “There wasn’t a whole ton of time to go over there and just kind of look at [a simulated field-goal snap].

“That’s I think the biggest part of it I wish I had back. Maybe don’t worry about the punt. Just catch it, punt it and then go worry about the points. But I feel terrible for [Stonehouse].”

Titans fans, meanwhile, were left feeling terrible about a disastrous performance by the special teams.