NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Wide receiver Terrell Owens caught a 46-yard pass and then took a bow, much to the displeasure of the Tennessee Titans fans.

Those fans got the last laugh and they let Owens know it by serenading him with mock chants

of "T.O., T.O." as balls thrown in his direction sailed well beyond his reach.

His body language said everything you need to know about the outcome Sunday. Despite a

couple of big plays, Owens was again unable to be a difference maker for the Bills' offense in

a 41-17 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

He finished with three catches for a season-high 85 yards, but was shut out after the

Bills' third play from scrimmage in the second half.

This has been perhaps the most frustrating season in Owens' illustrious and sometimes

controversial NFL career. He's not making the big plays everyone is accustomed to seeing from

him. The reasons include opposing defensive coverages designed to neutralize him, dropped

balls and the quarterback not looking his way.

In past years, Owens has not been shy about expressing himself when he didn't get the ball

enough. But for the most part this season, he has kept those feelings quiet.

Until Sunday.

Owens and fellow receiver Josh Reed were spotted on the sideline in a heated exchange with

receivers coach Tyke Tolbert. Owens said he and Reed saw something in the Titans' defense, but

quarterback Trent Edwards apparently didn't read the same thing.

"As receivers we have to assess the defense as well as the quarterback has to assess the

defense," Owens explained. "Josh and I saw the same thing, so we were just trying to get

everybody on the same page."

The Bills' offense has rarely been on the same page this season. It is the primary reason

the team is 3-6 and facing the likelihood of missing the playoffs for the 10th straight year.

Owens is not used to being on bad teams, and he certainly isn't used to being in an offense

this inept.

"This is definitely by far ... I've never been in this situation with a losing record at

this point in a season," he said. "I can probably go back to college, but every team that I've

been on has been successful. I've been involved everywhere that I've been as well.

"Guys, I have no answers. As I tell you guys on Wednesdays, every day I go out and practice

hard. I try to work hard, I try to communicate with the staff, the quarterback and try to be

on the same page. This team is banged up, so there are a number of reasons why we are where we

are right now."

Owens was supposed to be the spark that ignited a Bills' offense that has ranked in the

bottom seven in the NFL the past six years. He also was expected to make this team relevant

again. He has been unable to do either.

Given how badly this season has gone, a reporter asked Owens if he is looking forward to

this season being over. He answered by saying he's not as concerned about ending the season as

much as he is about wanting to end it on a high note.

To emphasize his point, Owens referred to a recent conversation he had with Frankie DeBusk,

who is the head coach at Tusculum College in nearby Jefferson City, Tenn.

"He reached out to me, and he had a rough season [Tusculum went 3-7]," Owens said. "He

asked me what does he do in these times. Obviously, we were struggling at the time and I just

said it is really not how you start, it is how you finish. That was the message Frankie DeBusk

delivered to his team and I have taken the same approach.

"Every day when you go out on the practice field I practice hard, and when I go out on the

football field I try to do the same thing. ... You've got to keep going and moving forward and

you just hope for the best."

Audio slide show: Allen Wilson's postgame analysis