Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel. Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

'We got our asses kicked': Titans' loss exposes major issues

Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel didn't mince words following a 41-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills-- the Titans' biggest margin of defeat of the Vrabel era and worst loss in nearly a half decade.

"We got our asses kicked, plain and simple," Vrabel said via Titans team reporter Jim Wyatt. "We got outcoached and outplayed, and we have to get it fixed."

Tennessee, the No. 1 seed in the AFC last season, got exposed in several areas.

The Titans had to be committed to the run this season after trading A.J. Brown and releasing Julio Jones, but with the Bills bottling up Derrick Henry, it created stagnation for the Titans' offense. Henry was held to 25 yards on 13 carries, a paltry 1.9 yard per carry average.

It didn't help that longtime left tackle Taylor Lewan left with an injury Monday and that the Bills' secondary kept the receivers in check. Rookie Treylon Burks had the most success with four catches for 47 yards. 

Quarterback Ryan Tannehill was held to 117 yards passing and threw two interceptions. He was replaced in the second half when the score got out of hand.

Tennessee's issues on defense can be attributed to the mounting injuries with the front seven. Top pass rusher Bud Dupree and valuable reserve OLB Ola Adeniyi left the game Monday with injuries. With Harold Landry already lost for the season to an ACL tear, it left 2021 fourth-round pick Rashad Weaver as the team's top rushing option. 

The Titans' secondary didn't fare much better, with starting cornerback Kristian Fulton (hamstring) already not playing and fellow starter and 2021 first-rounder Caleb Farley sidelined for some of the game.

The Titans' start isn't disastrous because the AFC South is so weak. Tennessee, however, must get on track Sunday in Nashville against the Raiders, who also are 0-2.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Dodgers add recently acquired left-hander to active roster
Report: 2023 No. 7 pick expected to terminate KHL contract, join Flyers
Mavericks advance to Western Conference Finals aided by controversial call late
Connor McDavid, Oilers hammer Canucks to force Game 7
Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk epic increases excitement for potential rematch
Seize the Grey wins in muddy Preakness
Even Mike Budenholzer admits the Suns need a point guard
Watch: Juan Soto's first multi-homer game as a Yankee
Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa lead at PGA Championship
Knicks could get major boost for Game 7 showdown with Pacers
Giants All-Star pitcher suffers setback in recovery from injury
Panthers star named winner of 2024 Selke Trophy
WNBA to investigate $100,000 sponsorship deals for Aces players
Tiger Woods blames one big factor for missing the cut at PGA Championship
'Ain't good enough': Draymond Green claims Celtics must 'win it all' or it's a 'failure'
Blue Jays GM wants struggling club to feel 'massive sense of urgency'
Raptors expected to flip former NBA champion during the offseason
MLB insider reveals Mets' massive extension offer that Pete Alonso turned down
Celtics legend provides update after gruesome finger injury
Bulls hire former NBA head coach as top assistant

Want more sports news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.