The Tennessee Titans and Washington Commanders met on Sunday at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. It was a Week 13 match that many thought would be close, but the Commanders remembered how to play this week after losing three in a row while the Titans forgot do what they had been doing for the past few weeks.
The Commanders got off to a fast start, scoring on their first four possessions of the game and taking a 28-7 halftime lead after scoring 21 points in the first quarter. The Titans' defense held its game after that, allowing just 14 points in the second half, but the Commanders' lead was too big to overcome at that point and the Titans lost 42-19.
Here's a quick look at the studs and duds (and studly duds) of Sunday's loss:
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Titans quarterback Will Levis was named player of the game for his performance against the Commanders on Sunday. It was a rare game in which Levis didn't turn the ball over at all, recording just two sacks for two lost yards. He went 18 of 38 for 212 yards and two touchdowns, a performance that now only showcased his poise and improved decision-making skills, but he showed he can be the leader of the offense. An overall solid performance from Levis which is another indication that he will be back next year.
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Right tackle continues to be a problem for the Tennessee Titans. Nicholas Petit-Frere is responsible for two penalties and several pressures on Will Levis. The good news is that Levis has recognized that this spot is a weakness and he is starting to avoid the sacks that this pressure brings. But Petit-Frere played similarly to his alma mater on Saturday, which is not a good thing.
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Mr. Reliable, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, started again on Sunday against the Commanders, completing three passes for 61 yards and two touchdowns. He was targeted eight times, but the commander in chief was ready to defend him. Still, he managed to catch enough passes to lead all receivers in receptions, yards and scoring.
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As part of a special unit that desperately needs to improve in blocking and tackling, Jha'Quan Jackson's ability to return the ball was the only bright spot. But last week he had a fumble and this week he fumbled again, losing the ball to the Commanders and putting them in prime scoring position. He needs to improve his ability to hold the ball on returns. Today he returned a kick for 13 yards and a punt for eight yards, while Julius Chestnut returned four punts for 96 yards.
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Daryl Worley was on the practice squad all season until the Titans were forced to sign him because he was no longer eligible for promotion. He's played well the last few weeks, but on Sunday against the Commanders he led the entire defense with 17 tackles (eight solo). He disrupted the Commanders' offense on several occasions and made himself a nuisance on the field.
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After being all over the field and turning heads in recent weeks, Titans safety Mike Brown was noticeably absent on Sunday against the Commanders. He recorded just two tackles (one solo) and played virtually no role on the defensive side of the ball. There was a noticeable difference in the way the defense performed early on and his lack of commitment definitely hurt the team.
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Tony Pollard is usually very reliable and doesn't lose the ball, but all the players have a bad game here and there. Today was one of Pollard's worst, as he only ran eight times for 35 yards and lost a fumble. He added four receptions on six targets for an additional 33 yards, which is why he's not a complete idiot this week. However, the Titans need Pollard to get back on track or the rest of the season will be difficult.
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- WR Tyler Boyd
- TE Chig Okonkwo
- RB Julius Chestnut
- LB Kenneth Murray Jr.
- DE Jeffery Simmons
- NT T'Vondre Sweat
- DB Roger McCreary
- P Ryan Stonehouse
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- The offensive line
- LB Jaylen Harrell
- LB Otis Reese
- DE Sebastian Joseph-Day
