NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – First-year coach Ken Whisenhunt has shaken off the disbelief of what he calls a surreal finish, watching the Titans blow the biggest home lead in NFL history. Now he’s focusing on how they jumped out to a 28-3 lead and just needed a play to win.
To him, those are signs of progress even with the Titans mired in a four-game skid.
”It gives us an opportunity to learn from it, and if we get in that situation again and we win a game of because of it, it doesn’t leave a mark,” Whisenhunt said Monday.
The 29-28 loss to Cleveland on Sunday also marked the biggest blown lead in the regular season in franchise history. The only game worse was Jan. 3, 1993, when the then-Houston Oilers lost in overtime after being up 35-3 in Buffalo in the playoffs. That team shook that off and won its division the next season.
This team still hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2008 and is on its third head coach since then. The task got tougher Monday with confirmation that safety Bernard Pollard, who led Tennessee in tackles last season, tore his right Achilles tendon. Pollard will have surgery Tuesday morning and wrote on Twitter that this will be his first time on injured reserve.
Whisenhunt said quarterback Jake Locker ”doesn’t appear” to have any structural or long-term damage to his right thumb after being hitting his hand against a helmet in the second quarter. Locker’s thumb remained swollen Monday.
The Titans (1-4) had many opportunities to win they ruined with penalties or mistakes, including two turnovers wiped out.
Whisenhunt called the flag on Marqueston Huff a bad call. The rookie was flagged for not getting back in bounds quickly enough on a muffed punt late in the third quarter. Whisenhunt said officials didn’t flag the Browns who did the same thing twice, only staying out of bounds longer and farther than huff.
Jason McCourty returned his interception in the fourth quarter 59 yards to the Cleveland 1 but had it erased by his own illegal contact penalty. Whisenhunt defended McCourty for playing as coached. The cornerback had established his position inside 5 yards from the line of scrimmage before the Browns receiver pushed off McCourty 7 yards deep.
Special teams also cost the Titans, allowing a blocked punt for a safety when leading 28-13 in the fourth quarter. Whisenhunt said a player not helping the center block better a week after the Titans weren’t ready for an early onside kick in Indianapolis.
Left guard Andy Levitre committed what his coach called an ”unacceptable” penalty in the third quarter that turned a first-and-10 near midfield into second-and-23. The Titans punted two plays later.
Yet the Titans still had a chance at a first down that could have sealed the win on fourth-down with half a yard to go. Backup quarterback Charlie Whisenhunt was stopped inches short on a sneak, and Whisenhunt said it would have worked if blocked correctly.
”We weren’t ready,” Whisenhunt said. ”We didn’t have a sense of urgency there. That’s something we’ve got to learn from.”
The Titans now host the winless Jaguars (0-5) on Sunday trying to snap this skid and shake off a tough loss. They also have to show they can win on their own field after losing seven of their last eight and their first two under Whisenhunt.
”I fully believe that we’re going to be a good football team,” Whisenhunt said.
Notes: CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson should be cleared from the league’s concussion protocol Tuesday. CB Coty Sensabaugh (right knee) had an MRI exam, but Whisenhunt said he doesn’t think that will be a long-term injury.
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Online:
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Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker
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