Ryan Tannehill better, Nick Folk kicks winner as Tennessee Titans beat L.A. Chargers in OT
Ryan Tannehill followed one of the worst games of his career with one of his most efficient, leading the Tennessee Titans to an overtime comeback win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Titans defeated the Chargers 27-24 Sunday at Nissan Stadium on a 41-yard kick from veteran Nick Folk just as the rain started to fall on the stadium's new turf field.
The Chargers drove to take a 21-17 lead early in the fourth quarter, but Tannehill generated a rally with a 49-yard completion to receiver Chris Moore with six minutes remaining, putting the offense across midfield. Tannehill finished the drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine with 2:22 left.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert responded with a clutch late drive of his own, just as he did when these two teams met last season. He drove the Chargers into the red zone, but Titans outside linebacker Harold Landry crushed him for a third-down sack that led to a field goal that forced overtime.
Tennessee's defense forced a three-and-out to start overtime, allowing the offense to take over at its own 39-yard line. Running backs Derrick Henry and Tyjae Spears took over from there, giving Folk his chance to again deliver on the Titans' faith in him.
Tannehill was 20-for-24 passing with 246 yards and a touchdown, plus a 12-yard rushing touchdown. Henry carried 25 times for 79 yards and a score.
The big play that opened everything up
Through three possessions, the Titans' offense had accumulated only 8 net yards. Sacks ended each of those drives, meaning Tannehill and the passing offense had accounted for minus-16 yards midway through the second quarter.
All of that changed on one long completion. Tannehill finally got some good protection and heaved a deep ball to Treylon Burks in single coverage down the home sideline. Burks tracked the ball and snagged it for a 70-yard completion, going down at the 5-yard line to set up Henry's rushing touchdown two play later.
The Titans converted for scores on their next two drives, bookending the series before and after halftime with points.
Poor pass defense strikes again
Playing without starting safety Amani Hooker and starting cornerback Kristian Fulton, the Titans' secondary was overmatched against Herbert and the Chargers' impressive passing attack. He was 27-for-41 for 305 yards and two touchdowns, finding star receiver Keenan Allen for both of his scores.
Herbert picked on second-year cornerback Tre Avery's side of the field on his touchdowns. Avery was called for a declined pass interference penalty on the first score and was sucked inside by a pump fake on the second.
Though Herbert was able to pick apart the secondary in his two-minute drill at the end of regulation, he was 0-for-3 passing to start overtime with a three-and-out, giving the Titans a chance to win with a score.
Shuffling on the O-line
Starting guard Peter Skoronski was inactive for Sunday's game because of an illness, forcing Xavier Newman into the starting lineup at left guard. Newman allowed an ugly sack on the first drive, and a second sack came from the left side of the line on the second drive, leading to a change.
After that, the Titans inserted third-year lineman Dillon Radunz at left guard, making his first appearance since tearing his ACL last December. The Titans went three-and-out on Radunz's first drive, but the offense started clicking after that, beginning with Tannehill's long completion to Burks.
That success didn't last long. The Chargers ended two more Titans drives in the second half with third-down sacks, forcing punts. Tannehill was sacked a total five times.
What's next?
The Titans visit the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for noon and the game will be televised on CBS.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.