Blame Tennessee Titans' offense, not defense, for bitter loss to LA Chargers | Estes

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Five observations from the Tennessee Titans’ 17-14 defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday at a sunny SoFi Stadium.

The Tennessee Titans offense: Clutch, but not good

Due credit for a clutch, game-tying TD march in the final seconds of regulation. But it's not like this game was any more impressive for the Titans' offense. For the most part, it wasn't. This offense has been bad nearly all season, and it isn't getting much better as the season and AFC South are slipping away with a losing streak now at four.

At kickoff Sunday, the Chargers (8-6) had the fifth-worst scoring defense and the fifth-worst rushing defense in the NFL. So how was it that the Titans (7-7) – who love to run the ball – made the Chargers’ defense look like one of the best units in the league for most of the afternoon?

The answer: Poor offensive line play, mostly. This offense has multiple issues, but the biggest problem continues to be the guys up front. The Titans’ offensive line simply isn’t good enough to reliably protect Ryan Tannehill or consistently pave a path for Derrick Henry.

After that, what can you do?

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Outside of the drive in the final seconds and a second-quarter touchdown drive of 63 yards – with all 63 yards gained by Henry, either rushing or receiving – none of the Titans’ other nine possessions were worth more than 26 net yards. That included a pivotal sequence late in the third quarter. After managing to string together two plays of 29 yards to reach the Chargers’ 25-yard line, the Titans allowed sacks on two of the next three plays. That moved the ball back for a 51-yard field goal attempt that Randy Bullock missed with the score tied 7-7.

The Chargers took advantage with a six-play touchdown drive to seize the lead.

The Titans defense: Better, but not clutch

After a couple of rough weeks, the Titans’ defense rediscovered its mettle Sunday, keeping one of the NFL’s more prolific passing offenses and quarterbacks within reach for its own struggling offense before allowing the Chargers' winning field goal drive in the final seconds.

The Titans were able to force turnovers and pressure Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert — two vital things the defense had been struggling to do of late.

An impressive tip-drill interception from Roger McCreary to Joshua Kalu was the defense’s first since the Denver Broncos game on Nov. 13. That interception before halftime killed a Chargers’ drive. So did Kevin Byard’s interception in the third quarter, keeping the score at 7-7 entering the fourth quarter.

This wasn’t the defense’s fault Sunday. It played well enough to win.

Tannehill’s toughness

When the Chargers’ Khalil Mack fell on Tannehill’s right foot while tackling him on a first-quarter scramble, it looked bad. Like Tannehill might have broken his foot. At the very least, he appeared to have seriously reinjured the same ankle he sprained earlier this season – a fear accelerated by the sight of Tannehill being carted back to the locker room, presumably for additional evaluation.

But sure enough, not long after that, Tannehill was back on the sideline and back in the game. He missed only one possession. For anything that can be questioned about the Titans’ quarterback, his toughness cannot. This season, if nothing else, has proven that about Tannehill.

Still searching for a left tackle

Desperate for answers at left tackle, the Titans gave Dillon Radunz a turn Sunday. Radunz – who didn’t play a snap last week against Jacksonville – replaced Dennis Daley at left tackle during the first half against the Chargers. Daley returned, however, after Radunz hurt his knee before halftime.

Hey, why not give Radunz a look there? Daley’s struggles of late have been well-documented, and he also allowed the critical third-down sack before a late missed field goal.

While we’re talking left tackle, Taylor Lewan was at SoFi Stadium on Sunday. So was Harold Landry, another of the Titans star players sidelined with a season-ending injury.

Too many injuries

With 16 players on injured reserve and key players inactive on offense and defense like Treylon Burks, Denico Autry, Amani Hooker and Kristian Fulton, the Titans were already a bruised and beaten bunch entering Sunday’s game. But it seemed like the Titans could hardly get through a series against the Chargers without someone else going down.

In the first half alone, the Titans had Tannehill (ankle), Radunz (knee), Dylan Cole (ankle), Andrew Adams (wrist) and Terrance Mitchell (hamstring) all in and out of the lineup while injured.

For a second consecutive season, the Titans’ chronic inability to stay healthy has reached a ridiculous extent compared to most other NFL teams. If such a problem has a solution, the Titans sure haven’t been able to find it.

Reach Tennessean sports columnist Gentry Estes at gestes@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Gentry_Estes.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Blame Tennessee Titans' offense for loss to LA Chargers