Titans Week 2 Reaction

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I’m 0-for-2 on Titans score predictions this year (1-1 ATS), but it’s hard to be upset with the result from Tennessee on Sunday. The Titans without their starting LT, MLB, SS and TE went on the road to one of the loudest venues in all of sports and pulled off a stunning 33-30 upset in overtime. Let’s get into it and begin with some fun statistics from Sunday.

• Ryan Tannehill led his 10th game-winning drive as a member of the Titans. That is No. 1 in the NFL since Tannehill took over as starter for the Titans in 2019.
• Mike Vrabel is now 8-0 in games following a double-digit loss.
• Derrick Henry has gone for over 200 yards in his last three games following a sub-65 yard performance.
• The Titans had lost 62 straight games when losing by 14-plus points in the fourth quarter. Their last such win was in 2006, a game where Vince Young willed the Titans to victory over the Giants. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UztmR_5BGs)
• As pointed out by Nate Burleson, the Seahawks were previously 52-0 at home when leading by 15-olus points at any point in the game.

GEORGE WALKER IV / TENNESSEAN.COM

Despite shaky OL play, uncharacteristic drops, multiple busts in the secondary, and questionable early-down play calling, the Titans stars came to play in Seattle. Ryan Tannehill completed 27-for-40 passes for 347 yards. Julio Jones put his Week 1 blunders far away in the rearview mirror as he torched the Seahawks’ secondary all day long to the tune of six receptions for 128 yards. However, we truly are running out of superlatives for Derrick Henry. The King put the team on his back and rushed for 182 yards and three TDs. Henry also tied Jones for the team-lead in receptions with a career-high six for 55 yards. Worth every penny.

GEORGE WALKER IV / TENNESSEAN.COM

The Titans defense played well, despite what the scoreboard says. Obviously, we can’t just “take out” chunk plays, but two 60-plus yard bombs from Russell Wilson accounted for nearly 38 percent of all his yards on the day. The run defense was stout, anchored by David Long, Jr. and Rashaan Evans. And the pass rush was, dare I say, adequate. Three sacks with six QB hits is more than encouraging for a team who was bottom-five in sacks last year.

I am weary to anoint Randy Bullock as the savior for the Titans kicking woes, as he did miss a 44-yarder yesterday, but he made the one that mattered.

A big win for Tennessee finds them tied atop the division with Houston, of all teams. The Titans will head home for a crucial shot to bury their longtime rivals, the Indianapolis Colts. Carson Wentz rolled his ankle and missed the finale of their matchup with Rams, leaving his availability for Sunday’s contest with Tennessee in doubt. If I know the Titans, and I think I do, this is the type of game the Titans struggle in. Look no further than last year, when the 6-2 Titans hosted the 5-3 Colts for a TNF Primetime matchup in Nashville. Indianapolis blew the doors off Tennessee 34-17, and although the Titans claimed revenge in Week 12 en route to a division title, you would like to see them win when their suppose to.

For now, the Titans are 1-1 on the young season. None of their next three opponents have a win on the season, so we’ll see if the Titans can get healthy and get on a roll before their gauntlet stretch begins Week 6.