In front of 69,013 at Nissan Stadium, they were underdogs again, this time in their own building and against the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. The Titans hung around (again), did just enough offensively (again) and found an improbable path to victory (again).
Here are five things to know from the Titans' 26-23 comeback win in overtime on Sunday:
Titans flash resiliency in OT
In overtime, the Eagles won the toss, chose to receive and moved swiftly down the field before a pass breakup by Will Compton forced them to settle for a Jake Elliott field goal.
The Titans got the ball back with 6:19 left in overtime and converted twice on fourth down — Taywan Taylor had a 19-yard catch for a first, and Nick Williams drew a pass interference call for another — before the Titans found themselves in fourth-and-2 from the Philly 32. After a timeout, coach Mike Vrabel sent his offense back onto the field again, and it converted again: Mariota hit Dion Lewis on a screen for a first down.
Mariota then found Corey Davis for a touchdown just before the end of overtime to send the Titans to a dramatic win.
Marcus Mariota doesn’t appear limited
Still wearing a partially cut glove on his right (throwing) hand, Marcus Mariota didn’t appear to have many limitations Sunday. The Titans quarterback, who still is not fully past the elbow injury he suffered in the season opener, looked downfield early, connecting on a 28-yard pass to Corey Davis to help set up a field goal on the game’s opening possession. But he had plenty more in his arm: In the fourth quarter, he hit Davis on a 51-yard bomb that helped set up the go-ahead score.
Mariota threw an interception with under a minute left in the half, setting the Eagles up near the red zone (which they ultimately turned into a field goal to take a 10-3 lead into the break). But that was the only major blemish on a day in which he completed 30 of 43 passes for 344 yards, two touchdowns and an intercpetion, and also run in a touchdown from 2 yards out to pull the Titans to within 17-10 in the third quarter.
Corey Davis has career day
With no Rishard Matthews (who was released earlier this week) or Delanie Walker (who was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury after the season opener), the brunt of the Titans' pass-catching responsibilities fall on the shoulders of Davis.
The second-year receiver and former No. 5 overall pick didn't disappoint Sunday, hauling in nine catches for 161 yards, including, of course, the game-winning catch.
Defense steps up in crunch time
When the Titans needed big stops, they got them.
On the Eagles' second drive of the second half, linebacker Jayon Brown had a sack on first down, and rookie linebacker Harold Landry had a sack and forced fumble on third down that linebacker Derrick Morgan recovered to set the Titans up at the Philly 35 with 14 minutes left in the half.
The Titans' then forced a three-and-out on the Eagles' next drive, setting up a drive that ended with Mariota throwing an 11-yard touchdown pass to Tajae Sharpe that gave the Titans a 20-17 lead.
The defense then prevented the Eagles from finding the end zone on their final drive of regulation and their OT drive, forcing field goals each time.
Wesley Woodyard, Kenny Vaccaro leave with injuries
Inside linebacker Wesley Woodyard had 10 tackles and a sack in the Titans’ win over the Jaguars last week. But on Sunday, he left the game after only recording one tackle.
Woodyard injured his shoulder on a play in the first quarter and did not return.
Safety Kenny Vaccaro also left early after an elbow injury late in the first half and did not return.
Reach Erik Bacharach at [email protected] and on Twitter @ErikBacharach.
Source: Read Full Article