The Tennessee Titans’ passing attack continues to be its biggest issue after eight games, and in the process the Titans are doing things that are putting their passing offense in a position to be one of the all-time worst.
In Week 9 against the Chiefs, the Titans completed just five passes while Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs completed 43.
That 38-completion gap is the biggest in the Super Bowl era, snapping the previous record of 36 that the Titans accomplished versus the New England Patriots in Week 6 of the 2009 season in a 59-0 loss.
What’s funny about that is the Titans broke a record set in a 59-0 loss but only fell to the Chiefs by three points, and in overtime.
Patrick Mahomes completed 43 passes on #SundayNightFootball, while Malik Willis completed only 5.
That gap of 38 completions is the largest in a game in the Super Bowl era, breaking the previous record of 36 from the 59-0 Patriots win over the Titans in Week 6, 2009.
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) November 7, 2022
Unfortunately, that isn’t all that came from Week 9.
Not a single Titans wide receiver caught a pass in the game, marking the first time that has happened to a team since 2021, but just the fourth time that has happened overall since 2000.
Titans haven’t completed a pass to wide receiver all game. Only teams since 2000 w/out a completion to a WR:
Patriots in wind game at Bills 12/6/21
Broncos in Kendall Hinton game vs Saints 11/29/20
Texans w/ David Carr at QB vs Steelers 12/8/02— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) November 7, 2022
And I’m not sure where this ranks in NFL history, but it has to be historically bad: not a single Titans wide receiver averaged a yard of separation in the contest.
Via Next Gen Stats
Anyone blaming the Titans’ Week 9 offensive struggles on Malik Willis need to re-evaluate their take. The rookie showed improvement as a passer and had two potential game-changing receptions dropped.
Furthermore, his offensive line didn’t play all that well, and Todd Downing unfathomably went away from what was working in the second quarter, which was utilizing Malik’s legs more in tandem with Derrick Henry.
Hopefully the Titans get some reinforcements this week with Ryan Tannehill — who still gives this team the best chance to win — and Treylon Burks possibly returning.
But then again, this offense was struggling even when both were healthy. At the very least, it should struggle a bit less.