The Tennessee Titans’ 2023 season has been one to forget. Heading into the final week of the season, they sit at 5-11. They will finish the season with an AFC South rivalry match-up with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
However, despite the struggles, they won’t mail it in against the Jaguars. Titans’ head coach Mike Vrabel spoke to the media and shared just how tough being in his position is.
Mike Vrabel Details Struggles of Losing
The Titans hired Vrabel in 2018, and since then he has been one of the best coaches in the game. The Titans even reached highs of 11-5 and 12-5 in 2020 and 2021. However, the last two seasons have been the worst of his coaching career.
The Titans started 2022 7-3 but finished the season losing seven straight to finish the season 7-10. 2023 hasn’t been much different, struggling the entire season this time. The Titans (5-11) are tied for the second-worst team in the AFC this season with the Los Angeles Chargers. They sit only behind the New England Patriots (4-12).
MORE: Tennessee Titans Depth Chart
On Tuesday, the media asked Vrabel why he wants to still win against the Jaguars. “Because it sucks to lose,” Vrabel responded. “It f**kin sucks, losing. Awful. That’s why I want to win. Because you don’t sleep. You want to win for the players that bust their tail.”
The Titans’ five wins this season came against the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina Panthers, and Atlanta Falcons. They are fourth in the AFC South and are 0-5 in their division ahead of their matchup with Jacksonville.
Although the Titans’ coaching staff and players will not try to lose, many fans are rooting for a loss. The Titans currently hold the seventh overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Their quarterback. However, depending on the result in Week 18, they could get as high as second overall.
One of the major reasons for the Titans’ lack of success has been their quarterback situation. The season started with veteran Ryan Tannehill under center, but they pivoted to rookie Will Levis. Neither quarterback was able to spark the team enough. Now, in Week 18, the Titans are likely to start Tannehill after Levis suffered an injury.
The Jaguars are 9-7 heading into Week 18 and are in a win-and-you’re-in situation. The Titans will have a chance to play the spoiler against a rival team. The game will kick off at 1 p.m. ET.
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