The Tennessee Titans were unable to clinch or be eliminated from postseason contention on Sunday’s game against the visiting New Orleans Saints, but didn’t make anything easier on themselves as they fell, 38-28.
Next week, the Titans will look to finish out the 2019 regular season on a high note as they face the Houston Texans on the road.
Here are some quick observations we made throughout the contest.
– The Saints won the toss, and elected to defer.
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– Dion Lewis started at running back for the Titans, and the approach was hardly effective as the Titans were left punting.
– Tight end Jonnu Smith continues to be a factor. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill connected with Smith for an early touchdown.
– Kicker Greg Joseph was effective early, making a pair of PATs and a tackle.
– An AJ Brown run gave the Titans two score lead, and they led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
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– The Titans had some success getting to Saints quarterback Drew Brees, as outside linebacker Derick Roberson already had racked up 1.5 sacks early in the second quarter.
– The Saints added a Wil Lutz field goal, making it 14-3.
– New Orleans got themselves right back into the game with a 61-yard touchdown from Brees to Jared Cook, making it 14-10 at that point. There was a bad missed tackle by cornerback LeShaun Sims on the play.
– Tannehill was under constant pressure toward the end of the second quarter, and the Titans headed into the locker room at the half with a 14-10 lead.
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– The Saints took the lead after a 40-yard Alvin Kamara touchdown run, making it 17-14.
– With just over 11 minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Titans punted the ball away for the fifth consecutive time. Tannehill had been sacked five times at that point, and the momentum was securely in the Saints’ favor.
– The Saints offense drove down the field yet again, capping off the drive with another Kamara touchdown. That made for 24 unanswered points as the Titans’ offense definitely needed to come up with an answer.
– With 4:25 remaining in the third quarter, Tannehill scrambled and found wide receiver Tajae Sharpe for a Titans touchdown, cutting the Saints’ lead to 24-21.
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– It took the Saints hardly any time to respond, as Brees found Cook again for a 16-yard touchdown to give the Saints a 31-21 lead.
– The Titans got their third sack of the day on Brees on 3rd & 10, giving the offense another go at it in Saints territory with 10:42 remaining in the game.
– After a 14-yard Dalyn Dawkins run, the Titans made their way down the field and ended the drive with a Sharpe touchdown to make it 31-28.
– Thomas broke the single-season reception record with what was nearly a touchdown catch with just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter.
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– AJ Brown was a non-factor at wide receiver until the final two minutes of the game on a 34-yard reception.
– The Titans went for it on 4th &10, but the Saints broke up Tannehill’s pass and took over on downs to run out the clock and finish out the game.