Week 11 Reflections on the Tennessee Titans' Performance

The Tennessee Titans’ Week 11 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals wasn’t just a 27-24 defeat—it was a game that laid bare both the team’s greatest strengths and most persistent flaws. For players, coaches, and fans, the aftermath has been a time of reflection: What worked when the Titans had momentum? Where did they falter in critical moments? And what can they learn to avoid similar heartbreaks in the final stretch of the season? Week 11 Reflections on the Tennessee Titans' Performance dives into these questions, drawing on postgame interviews, film breakdowns, and insider perspectives to capture the essence of a contest that felt like a microcosm of the Titans’ 2026 season. For a team teetering on the edge of playoff contention, the reflections from this game could shape their trajectory in the weeks to come.

Week 11 Reflections on the Tennessee Titans' Performance begins with the offense—a unit that showed flashes of promise but ultimately couldn’t sustain consistency. The bright spot was Derrick Henry, who turned in a vintage performance with 137 rushing yards (6.2 yards per carry) and a touchdown, reminding everyone why he’s still one of the NFL’s most dominant running backs. Henry’s fourth-quarter, 3-yard fourth-down conversion—where he plowed through two Bengals defenders to keep the game-tying drive alive—was a masterclass in grit, and it became a focal point of postgame reflections. “Derrick is the heart of this offense,” quarterback Cam Ward said after the game. “When he’s rolling like that, it opens everything up for the rest of us. That fourth-down run? That’s the kind of play that makes you believe we can win any game.” However, the offense struggled when it mattered most: Ward threw a costly interception in the third quarter that set up a Bengals field goal, and the line allowed five sacks—continuing a season-long issue with pass protection. Offensive coordinator Todd Downing acknowledged the inconsistencies: “We have to be better at finishing drives. We’d move the ball well for three plays, then make a mistake—whether it’s a sack, a drop, or a bad throw—that derailed everything. That’s something we’re going to fix.”

Week 11 Reflections on the Tennessee Titans' Performance continues with the defense, which displayed resilience but couldn’t close the door on the Bengals. Defensive end Denico Autry was the standout, recording two sacks, six tackles, and a forced fumble—his best game of the season. Autry’s second sack, a 10-yard takedown of Joe Burrow in the second quarter, forced a Bengals punt and shifted momentum back to the Titans. “I just tried to play with urgency every snap,” Autry reflected. “We knew Burrow likes to extend plays, so I focused on staying disciplined and not overcommitting. That second sack felt good, but it would’ve meant more if we could’ve held on for the win.” The defense also got a crucial interception from safety Kevin Byard, who returned it 22 yards to set up a Titans field goal. However, the unit struggled in the run game (allowing 89 yards to Joe Mixon) and on third down (the Bengals converted 5 of 11 attempts), issues that defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson said would be addressed in film sessions. “We had moments where we looked like a top-10 defense,” Wilson said. “But we also had moments where we let them off the hook. Third down is where games are won and lost, and we didn’t get the stops we needed.”

Week 11 Reflections on the Tennessee Titans' Performance shifts to special teams—a unit that was both a strength and a liability. Kicker Nick Folk was perfect, making all three of his field goal attempts (47, 38, and 42 yards) and both extra points, extending his streak of made field goals to 12. Folk’s 47-yarder in the second quarter, which sailed through the uprights despite a 10-mph crosswind, was a reminder of his reliability. “Nick is a pro’s pro,” special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman reflected. “You never have to worry about him when the game is on the line. He’s the kind of player who makes everyone else on special teams better.” However, kickoff coverage was a problem: Bengals returner Andre Roberts averaged 28.3 yards per return, including a 37-yard runback in the fourth quarter that set up the Bengals’ game-winning field goal. Aukerman didn’t shy away from the issue: “Kickoff coverage cost us. We gave them too much field position, and that’s unacceptable. We’re going to tweak our scheme and make sure we’re more disciplined next week.” For the Tennessee Titans, special teams’ mixed performance was a reminder that even small mistakes can swing a one-score game—and that no unit can be taken for granted.

Week 11 Reflections on the Tennessee Titans' Performance delves into leadership moments that emerged from the loss—moments that could define the team’s culture down the stretch. After the game, Ward gathered his offensive teammates in the locker room to take responsibility for his interception and urge them to keep fighting. “I told them that the loss starts with me,” Ward reflected. “I made a mistake that cost us points, and I’m going to work twice as hard this week to make sure it doesn’t happen again. But I also told them that one loss doesn’t define our season. We’re still in this playoff race, and we have to keep pushing.” Henry echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the importance of unity: “This team has heart. We didn’t win today, but we fought until the end. Now we have to take this loss, learn from it, and come back stronger next week.” Head coach Brian Callahan (in what would be his final game before his firing) also focused on resilience in his postgame speech, telling players that “adversity reveals character—and this team has character.” For the Tennessee Titans, these leadership moments were a silver lining: even in defeat, key players stepped up to take accountability and rally the team—a sign that the locker room’s resolve hasn’t wavered.

Week 11 Reflections on the Tennessee Titans' Performance wraps up with the biggest lesson from the game: the Titans are a team of inches, and small improvements could turn losses into wins. Whether it’s fixing pass protection to give Ward more time in the pocket, tightening up third-down defense to get off the field, or improving kickoff coverage to limit opponents’ field position, the adjustments needed are manageable—not overhauls. Players and coaches alike reflected on this, with Byard summarizing it best: “We’re not that far off. We lost by three points to a good Bengals team. If we fix one or two things—like not giving up that big kickoff return or converting one more third down—we win this game. That’s the encouraging part. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel; we just have to be more consistent.” For the Tennessee Titans, Week 11 was a reminder that playoff contention is a marathon, not a sprint—and that every play, every decision, and every reflection matters. As they head into the final six games of the season, the lessons from this loss could be the catalyst they need to push through and secure a wildcard spot. In the end, Week 11 wasn’t just a defeat—it was a wake-up call, and how the Titans respond to that wake-up call will define their 2026 season.