Mike Mularkey is not a good head coach, as evidenced by his career .377 coaching record. He offered even more evidence of this fact at the end of the Titans’ 16-10 loss to the Dolphins.

With Miami leading Tennessee by six with 2:39 remaining, Jay Ajayi was tackled near the first down marker on third down. The refs gave him a generous spot past the line to gain.

Given the situation — the Titans were going to use a timeout regardless of the outcome of the spot — Mularkey had no choice but to challenge the spot. Best case scenario: The refs overturn the call; worst case scenario: Tennessee is charged the timeout they were going to use anyway.

This freeze frame should have made the decision even easier…

Ajayi was a full yard short when his knee hit the turf.

So what did Mularkey do? He waited 30 seconds and called the timeout without challenging the spot. The Dolphins got the first down and ran another 1:47 off the clock.

Instead of getting the ball back with about 2:30 left on the clock, Tennessee got it back with 19 seconds left.

Mularkey’s response to a question about the decision not to challenge the spot is an even bigger sign of incompetence…

“Did I have any timeouts left? I don’t think I had any timeouts left.” (Mularkey is reminded he did have a timeout) “I thought he was should but I called the timeout before I had a chance to challenge it.”

Yikes.

Mularkey found a way to botch a situation that any middle schooler who has played Madden would know how to handle. That’s inexcusable and it cost the Titans a chance to win.