Tennessee Titans' win wasn't pretty but now they're ready for Indianapolis Colts
There was nothing beautiful about the Tennessee Titans' 24-22 win Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Titans (1-2) gave up 303 passing yards to Derek Carr and were burned on fourth-down plays in the fourth quarter at Nissan Stadium. But there's something beautiful about avoiding an 0-3 start after the two weeks the Titans endured to begin this season. And coach Mike Vrabel will take the beauty in knowing his team's confidence isn't shot after those back-to-back losses to the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills.
Tennessee needed Sunday's result.
It got it.
For as much as the Titans' defense allowed Las Vegas to stay in the game, it never broke. Kevin Byard's interception midway through the fourth quarter kept the Raiders out of the end zone, and Dylan Cole's crucial pass break-up on Carr's 2-point conversion pass sealed the win.
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It was a gritty performance from a team that was underachieving, and talk of a playoff run can be restored for at least another week. Since 1979, only six teams have advanced to the playoffs after an 0-3 start. The last team to do it was the Houston Texans in 2018, according to Draft Kings. The Titans avoided that pitfall, but work remains.
Tennessee's offense was shut out in the second half as Vegas adjusted to the Titans' intermediate passing approach. Ryan Tannehill had 10 straight completions in the first half and was 14-of-17 for 195 yards at halftime. But he was 5-of-10 for 69 yards and an interception in the second half as the Raiders chipped away at a 24-10 deficit.
"We kind of got behind the chains a little bit, and they brought some different looks," Vrabel said. "We had to be anticipating some things would change at halftime. We just weren't able to make productive plays on first down and extend some drives."
Tennessee was never going to solve all of its issues with one win. Some of those problems returned, but the difference was the Titans' unpredictability with its play calls and Tannehill's patience.
While Derrick Henry's 85 yards rushing was a welcomed turnaround from Week 2's 25-yard performance, the coaching staff used Henry in the passing game with bubble screens and quick check-down passes. It allowed an offensive line, which lost Taylor Lewan to a season-ending knee injury last week, to gain confidence as Tennessee prepares for an AFC South game at the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
And confidence is everything.
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"I think it'll help everybody," Vrabel said about the win. "I think it'll just help everybody. Losing sucks, especially when you're used to winning and have high expectations. I'm excited for the players. We probably deserved one earlier in the season and we didn't end up with it, but you only get what you fight for in this league, and I thought we fought for it (Sunday)."
Tennessee will continue to tweak its roster ahead of the Colts game. Dennis Daley took over the left tackle spot for Lewan, and the Titans' offensive line held up against the Raiders defensive front. Tannehill was sacked only once, although he was hit five times.
The secondary continues to be a work in progress. Second-year corner Caleb Farley earned the start over Kristian Fulton in Monday night's game against Buffalo. Fulton returned to the starting lineup against the Raiders. The Titans also played Terrance Mitchell, who was signed from the New England Patriots' practice squad last week. Mitchell was in coverage when Mack Hollins caught a 48-yard deep ball from Carr on fourth-and-15 with over two minutes left in the game.
But Tennessee isn't going to obsess about what's in the past. A win gives it an opportunity to put together two straight, and that starts with Colts next Sunday in Indianapolis. They can find some beauty in that.