Titans coach hopefuls ranked after wild-card round
There’s a 50% chance the future of Tennessee Titans football was on display in the NFL’s wild-card weekend.
The Titans have either interviewed or reportedly will interview 10 candidates for their coaching vacancy in the coming days, setting the new direction for the franchise after firing coach Mike Vrabel. Five of those candidates coordinated an offense or defense in the first round of the playoffs to varying degrees of success.
Here’s how those candidates fared, ranked from best showing to worst.
1. Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik
Result: Texans win 45-14 Slowik called a masterclass of a game against one of the NFL’s best defenses, gashing the Cleveland Browns for 8.1 yards per play with long gain after long gain to build an insurmountable lead.
Rookie QB C.J. Stroud threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns, completing five passes that gained at least 20 yards. Running back Devin Singletary had gains of 29 and 19 yards, waiting for holes to open at opportune times. And Cleveland’s dynamic pass rush was neutralized; the Browns never sacked Stroud and only hit him once.
2. Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson
Result: Lions win 24-23 Where Slowik’s Texans were explosive, Johnson’s Lions were methodical. Quarterback Jared Goff completed more than 80% of his passes. The Lions only went three-and-out once on eight possessions and, discounting kneeldowns, only went backward on two run plays.
This wasn’t the Lions’ best offensive showing of the season. But Johnson’s offense held onto the lead by adjusting in game. That kind of flexibility is key come playoff time, and the Lions rode it to their first playoff victory since 1992.
3. Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn
Result: Lions win 24-23
In a way, the Lions’ defensive showing against the Rams was awfully Titans-like. The Rams put up 425 yards, averaged 7.7 yards per play and got into the red zone three times but had to settle for three short field goals when the field constricted.
Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson was a menace, sacking Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford twice and hitting him five times. Beyond Hutchinson, the unit didn’t do much to create havoc. Instead, the bend-don’t-break Lions defense let the Rams falter on their own, limiting the opportunities Los Angeles’ explosive offense had to change the game.
4. Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson
Result:
Eagles lose 32-9
This was a poor showing even adjusting for injury limitations. Philly’s rushing attack averaged just 2.8 yards per carry. The unit finished a pitiful 0-for-9 on third down. The Buccaneers logged three sacks, six quarterback hits and five tackles for loss. Were it not for a dominant showing from receiver DeVonta Smith, this performance may have ended in last place.
The Eagles’ defense has trended downward for a while. It’s unfair to put all that on Johnson when there are players and other coaches to also blame. But as the Titans explore Johnson as a candidate, the disintegration of Philadelphia’s offense has to be a huge question mark.
5. Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn
Result: Cowboys lose 48-32
This was bad. Sure, Dallas’ offense didn’t do the defense many favors. But the Packers pounced all over Dallas’ defense for 7.7 yards per play, including a 118-yard performance from running back Aaron Jones and a near-perfect 157.2 passer rating from quarterback Jordan Love.
Even star edge rusher Micah Parsons was neutralized. Parsons accounted for two tackles and one quarterback hit with no sacks or TFLs.
Dallas’ showing was out of character for a defense ranked No. 5 in points and yards allowed this season. But this sort of showing in the biggest game of the year, especially as a No. 2 seed playing a No. 7 seed, is a huge disappointment.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com . Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.