If nothing else, a 19-14 loss to the Houston Texans provided clarity. The Tennessee Titans now know that they have to win at Jacksonville in Week 18 in order to finish first in the AFC South and reach the postseason for the fourth straight year. ... That means that Thursday's game against Dallas is meaningful, and Mike Vrabel has said he might rest some players to ensure their availability for the next one. Professionalism and the need to get a win after five straight defeats might dictate otherwise. ... Increasingly, the absence of big plays and consistent contributions from the wide receivers is becoming a problem. It is even more so with Malik Willis at quarterback given that the rookie needs guys to make plays for him. ... It also doesn't help that Willis is operating behind an offensive line without two (maybe three) starters because of injury. ... Then, there is the fact that the one thing the Titans could almost always count on to be a difference between victory and defeat no longer delivers in the same way. ... When the offseason comes, the Titans will hire a new general manager. An examination of whether that person should embark on an immediate rebuild or work to plug the obvious holes in the roster.

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