INDIANAPOLIS — Following a disappointing fourth consecutive loss, Tennessee defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons expressed his frustration with the atmosphere within the team. As he sat in his locker, surrounded by a light-hearted demeanor, he felt the situation was not appropriate for such camaraderie, particularly after falling 38-30 to division rivals Indianapolis.
“At this point, and I said this a couple weeks ago, it’s like, ‘What are we really playing for? We’re building for next year,’” Simmons remarked. His words highlighted the dissatisfaction of a franchise that had high hopes at the onset of the season with a new coach, a promising young quarterback, and a defense that had performed well. However, as the losses began to mount, that hope appeared to be fading quickly.
With the latest defeat, Tennessee’s record fell to 3-12, marking a troubling trend with six losses in their last seven games. The defense, which once seemed robust, has notably struggled, allowing two of their last four opponents to exceed 200 rushing yards. In this particular game, Colts running back Jonathan Taylor dominated, accumulating 218 yards and three touchdowns while helping his team achieve a staggering 335 total rushing yards — a new franchise record dating back to 1956.
Simmons was blunt about the team’s defensive struggles, emphasizing, “Every week when we turn on the tape, it’s the same (thing)… Guys are out of position, they’re not where they should be…Stopping the run is not hard. But it does take all 11 guys. It starts with the defensive line, but the entire unit needs to be cohesive.”
The game showcased Tennessee’s apparent disarray, particularly when Taylor found space to run, making a significant 65-yard dash for a touchdown and later another lengthy run of 70 yards, which only compounded the team’s woes. By the time Taylor scored his final touchdown on a 1-yard run in the third quarter, the Titans were trailing 38-7.
Rookie defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat, who had briefly exited the game due to an eye injury, noted the clear issues on defense. Despite returning shortly after his injury, the problems persisted. Moreover, Tennessee’s offense suffered further setbacks with three turnovers, adding to their league-high total of 29, which influenced first-year head coach Brian Callahan’s decision to bench Will Levis in favor of Mason Rudolph.
While Rudolph managed to throw for 252 yards and two touchdowns, his late interception helped the Colts extend their lead right before halftime. This ultimately sealed the fate of the game, as the Titans struggled to find any rhythm throughout.
Callahan acknowledged his team’s inconsistencies, stating, “We need to play cleaner. The down-to-down consistency just isn’t there… It showed up again.” Even amid setbacks, Simmons couldn’t shake the frustrations of the season, saying, “It’s frustrating as hell, 3-12? I didn’t expect this… Every guy in the locker room, every coach, needs to ask themselves what we’re playing for.”
As Tennessee looks to regroup, the past several weeks have cast a shadow over their aspirations and raised doubts about what lies ahead for the team.