The Tennessee Titans hosted the Tamps Bay Buccaneers Sunday morning at Nissan Stadium with hopes of getting back to .500. Behind Ryan Tannehill’s arm and a solid defensive performance, they were able to do just that.
Tannehill Continues to Be Right Fit
Ryan Tannehill didn’t blow the numbers up on the scoreboard but did have a solid day for the Titans. He protected the ball and helped get his team in the endzone when in the redzone.
Tannehill was 21/33 for 193 yards and three scores. His first score went to Jonnu Smith early in the first quarter. Smith secured the ball and the lead that the Titans would hold on to until a roaring come back seemingly all from Mike Evans to close out the first half and open up the second half.
Smith is getting comfortable in the starting role while filling in for the injured veteran Delanie Walker. His six catches ties a career-high and his 78 yards marks a career-high.
Tannehill now has 649 yards as well as five touchdowns versus three interceptions in his three games for the Titans. He has filled in nicely and gotten the offense moving as good as it has been all season.
Defense Terrorizes Winston
Halloween might not be till later this week but the Titans defense might be the scariest thing Jameis Winston will see this Fall.
The Titans defense picked off Winston twice in the game as well as caused him to fumble three times losing two. Without Mike Evans’s 198 yards and two scores, Winston’s day would have been even worse if that is possible.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Bucs were once again marching down the field hoping for a touchdown to win it. The drive had gone for 39 yards and was all up to a 4th & 1 at the Tennessee 32. For the second week in a row, veteran Jurrell Casey came up with the huge stop to stall the drive.
The Bucs would get the ball back though wit 42 seconds left to go in the game and one final shot at winning it. After a 12 yard completion to get the drive moving the Titans’ Logan Ryan picked Winston off for the quarterback’s fourth turnover on a horrific day.
Close Call on Disastrous Play
Late in the fourth quarter, the Titans Cody Parkey lined up for what would have been a 45-yard field goal to put the Titans up seven.
Instead what would occur was a questionable play call by Titans coach Mike Vrabel that left fans wondering why they wouldn’t attempt the field goal. The Titans instead faked the field goal and attempted to gain the first down on the ground.
Titans had 46 yard FG to go up 7, but Vrabel, faked it, got punter killed, he fumbled, & Bucs scooped & scored to take lead. NFL somehow missed the fumble & score or mistakenly blew it dead. Not sure which. pic.twitter.com/nzbAJ1hySq
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) October 27, 2019
The Titans stuffed punter and placeholder Brett Kern and got the ball back on downs. However, the refs appeared to miss an apparent fumble by Kern that the Bucs would have returned all the way back, taking the lead late in the fourth. Had the correct call been made, the Titans may not have come away with the victory.
As it stands the Titans were fortunate and end the day 4-4 in a close race for the AFC South. Tennessee returns to action next week at the Carolina Panthers.
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