The Tennessee Titans were in Foxborough on Saturday to take on the Patriots in an AFC Wild Card matchup. The Titans came in after locking up the final AFC playoff spot last week with their win over the Texans while the Patriots came in after getting upset by the Dolphins, a loss that knocked them out of a bye week and into this matchup.
Coming in, the only chance the Titans had was to run Derrick Henry down the Patriots throats.
The Patriots got the ball first and Tom Brady moved his team down effectively, but the Titans’ defense cracked down and the Patriots were forced to settle for a Nick Folk 36-yard field goal. Patriots 3-0
The Titans responded with a 12-play, 75-yard drive. 49 of those yards coming on the ground by Derrick Henry. Ryan Tannehill would find tight end Anthony Firkser for a 12-yard touchdown strike. Titans 7-3
Brady and the Patriots responded with a 75-yard drive of their own. Julian Edelman scored on a five-yard run. Patriots 10-7
After the teams exchanged punts and the Titans’ defense got a key stop, Nick Folk was good on a 21-yard field goal attempt. Patriots 13-7
The Titans got the ball back with 2:16 left in the half. Derrick Henry drove 75 yards with 53 yards on the ground, including a 29-yard run on the first play of the drive, and a 22-yard catch that nearly counted for a score. After an official review put the ball at the one-yard line, Henry plowed in from a yard out. Titans 14-13 (Halftime)
Derrick Henry already over 100 yards rushing + this TD! 👑 @KingHenry_2 | #TENvsNE pic.twitter.com/7duIMaE9ey
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) January 5, 2020
The second half was a defensive battle for both teams. After exchanging a pair of punts, Tannehill was intercepted. But his defense stood tall and forced a punt. The Titans, clinging to the one-point lead, were beginning to drain the clock. After being stopped to set up a fourth down, Titans coach Mike Vrabel pulled a trick out of Bill Belichick’s playbook. With the clock running, the Titans took a delay of game penalty. Then, with the clock still running they took a false start on purpose. Finally, after 1:46 was run off the clock between the third-down stop and the actual punt, Brett Kern got a lucky bounce and the Titans downed the punt on the one-yard line. On the first play, Titans cornerback Logan Ryan intercepted a tipped Brady pass and sealed the win as he ran it in for a touchdown. Titans 20-13 (Final)
The Titans will travel to Baltimore to play the Ravens on Saturday.
AND TOTALLY REDEEMS HIMSELF pic.twitter.com/xWKS5HSqaE
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) January 5, 2020
Takeaways
- End of the dynasty
A pair of ex-Patriots in Mike Vrabel and Logan Ryan might have ended the New England stranglehold on the NFL, a dynasty they themselves were once a part of.
- Monkey off his back
Ryan Tannehill, although he wasn’t the quarterback we’ve seen since he took over the starting job, got a win in his first career playoff start. Further, it came while on the road in New England, a spot even the best quarterbacks have gone to and failed.
- Defense stands tall
No, they didn’t play a perfect game, but the Titans’ defense got the key stop when the team needed it.
- Even the best
Derrick Henry tallied 182 rushing yards against one of the stingiest defenses in the league. They knew it was coming and with the exception of two or three plays, they could not stop him, an issue that teams have been dealing with since he was in high school.
- Once a Titan…
Many former Titans were in attendance and on the sidelines. Family is family.
